The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-13
Mr., BRYAN ON CO. OPERATION.

The question of Mr.. Bryan's views Oh
cooperation having been raised. there j
but one man who can speak accurately
and that man is Mr.. Bryan. 1t is for
tunate that he is one public man Wht
has never learned that language wa
invented to conceal thought. He is as
jackson. He is transparently honest
He believes in doing what is right ant
in no politics except such that will carry
out principles that will help his fellow
men.
Mr.. Bryan recently wrote letter tC
the New York journal advocating {
policy of cooperation between all th(
parties that agreed upon the paramount
issues. That article in full is as follows
while it is always difficult to Sc
cure harmonious cooperation between
distinct and separate political organ:
cations, there are times when this CO
operation is both wise and necessary
In the campaign of 1896 the Democrats
PopuEsts and silver Republicans united
in demanding the immediate restora
tion of Independent. bnnetallism at the
existing ratio of sixteen to one, and
they agreed in declaring that the money
question was of paramount Importance
ut that time. The question now arises
should these political organizations act
together in the congressional campaign
of 1898? / answer without hesitation
yes. Those who answer no must assume
the burden of proving, first, that co-ope-
ration was unwise in 1896, or second
that conditions have so changed as t.
make unwisa now what was wise then
The defeat that befell the allied forces
does not prove cooperation at that time
to have been unwise. unless it can be
shown that some one party would have
been more successful than the three
combined.
'sCp-operation does not contemplate
the faibaInlionment lof lnrty Organiza-
ton or the surrender of any political
principles; nor is cooperation defend
ed ON the ground that the platforms OF
the three parties are identical. Cam
paigns generally turn upon Il few is
sues, sometimes upon one, and events
do much to determine which issue
shall most absorb public attention.
IF the Democrats, Populists and Sill
Yer Republicans were agreed upon but
one question, that question might be
important enough to justify co-opera-
ton, although the parties differed OF,
all other subjects; but those who adj
vocate the union of the principal re-
form forces against the common enc
my can point not to one but to mum
Der of reforms which are demanded
with equal emphasis by Democrats
poqulists and Silver Republicans.
"Iirst-They are unalterably opposed
TO gold recommendation.
Second demand the immediate
restoration of bimetallism at the pres
ent ratio by. the independent action or
this country.
Third They oppose the retirement of
greenbacks.
''Fourth-They oppose the issue OF
paper money by national banks.
"Fifth-They oppose the issue of in
terest bearing bonds in time of peace.
'Sixth-They favor the income tax as
a means of raising part of the revenue
necessary to administer the federal gov
eminent.
Seycnth-They favor the abolition of
trusts.
"Eightll-They are opposed to govern
ment by injunction.
"Ninth-They are in favor Of arbitra-
ton as means of settling disputes be-
tween labor and capital
Here are nine issues which are not
only important i'll themselves, but are
now prominently before the people. Are
not these reforms worth securing? These
questions were submitted TO the people
ut the last election, but they were not
settled, and will not be settled until
they are settled right.
THE Republican party is tryings TO
commit the country more thoroughly
to the gold standard. Even now II is
endeayoring to secure Legislative en-
dorsenent of the policy of paying all
coin obligations in gold. 1t pretends
10 be much concerned about the ma
tional honor and the public credit. The
leaders of the party know that the dch-
tor, whether q public debtor or a pr1
yate debtor, meets all tie requirements
of the law. moral as we'll as statutory
when he discharges his obligation ac
cortling to the terms Of the contract
They know that all through the war the
Rvernment. 1ahd private debtors as
well, paid coin obligations in gold, al
though gold was worth three cents on
the dollar less than silver.
And yet these leaders will accuse
Abraham Lincoln of dishonor rather
than incur the displeasure of the Wall
street magnates who now control the
financial policy of the Republican par
ty. These leaders know that if the
Federal government declares its pur-
pose to pay all coin obligations in gold
its example will be used as an argu.