The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-13

small in number when compared with
those who firmly believe in the ability OF
this nation to maintain the parity at 1i
to /. If it is proposed to leave the ratio
to Congress, it must be remembered that
those who desire bimetallism demand
affirmative action, and every one OppOs-
ed to the ratio fixed in any proposed bill
will be counted against any kind Of BIZ
metallism. Ii the ratio is left to be
determined by Congressman who run
upon different platforms, it gives IL
chance for a variety of ratios, which
will effectually prevent any legislation
favorable to bimetallsm, and will also
give a chance for friends of the gold
standard to slip into Congress under
the pretenco of favoring some undefin-
ed ratio, but who, as ii matter OF fact,
would use their positions to maintain
the gold standard.
The ration of Is to has been adopted
by the Democratic party in
convention which received its
authority direct from the peo-
pie The rank and file Of the par
ty, instead of leaving the ratio to the
leaders, expressed their own opinion up
on the subject, and that opinion has not
changed since the convention. This ratio
has also been indorscd by the Populist
party. the National Silver party 0iiG
the Silver Republicans. To abandon the
ratio would be wrong itself, and as inn
polite as it. would be wrong. If the
Democratic party were to allow its poll
icy on this question to be determined
by few doubling ThOmases, or by the
deserters who supported the enemy in
the great struggle between Democracy
and plutocracy, it would lose the respect
and confidence of those who now look
to it as an efficient means of restoring
government of the people. TO turn
from its clear and courageous enuncia-
lions to wdllow again in the mire of
ambiguity and deception would ALLEVIATE
those who have been drawn to it by the
platform of 1896 The Democratic par
ty could have retained within its folds
the deserters OF 1896 if it had consent
cd to a meaningless platform, but it
preferred to lose some members of the
body rather than have the whole body
destroyed. Regeneration did not como
too soon. The gold Democrats were
rapidly making the party a rival of the
Republican party for the favor Of trusts
and mOnOpOlies If the Chicago plat
form did nothing else, it drove from the
party those who had been manipulating
the party for private gain and using the
government for public plumber. There
are many Of these deserters whose re-
turn to the party would bring weakness
rather than add strength, and there are
millions Of Democrats who would not
surrender a single line Of the Chicago
platform to recover every deserter who
left because of real antagonism to- the
principles set forth in that platform. l
do not refer to those who were misled.
There were many who left because they
did not fully understand the issues rails
ed, and they are coming back of their
| own accord. because they find themselves
| in sympathy with out platform.
The party can win more voters by
steadfastly standing by the right than
| by weakly compromising with error. and
| those won back to the platform will he
useful when they return. while those
who who profess attachment to the
! Democratic name rather than to Demo-
| cratic principles will always require
| watching.
The Democratic party has put it's
hands to the plough, and unless mis-
take the spirit which animates the mem
| bers it will not look back
w. J. BRYAN.