The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-05-11

tackled in the New York Journal by a
writer accusing him of narrowness and
political intrigue. Bryan answered the
letter by one which only confirms the
writer's accusation. For what does that
letter prove as to Democracy having
been reformed? AS it substantially covers
the tri-partite address it is necessary
to critically examine.
BRYAN'S LAST LETTER EXPLAIN
ING THE NEW DE-
MOCRACY.
Bryan says the new Democracy Is Op-
posed to gold and in favor of bimetallism.
These are not two steps in advance as
he would imply. 1t is only one step and
constitutes the silver skeleton which Our
party has always labored to prevent the
Democratic party from burying. The
next claim Unsupported by his party,
is, that the new Democracy opposes the
retirement of the greenbacks and OPP
poses the Issue of paper money by the
national banks. Even should his party
admit this claim it would not be step
in advance. 1t is not enough to state
what one opposes unless some remedy is
offered. This, the "Mid-roaders," the
only true Populists, offer, in demanding
a paper money issued by the government
direct to the people which shall repre-
sent only labor or it's products. Bryan's
letter next states that the new Demo-
cracy is opposed to gold bearing bonds in
times of peace. He does not explain
how it happens that his manager, James
K. Jones, on January %, 1895, intro
duced senate bill, 2642, for the issue of
bonds in times of peace to the amount Of
$500,0OOO 900, for the express purpose of
retiring the greenbacks. But the Pop
ulists are opposed to gold bearing bonds,
not only in times of peace, but also In
war. They see no necessity for saddling
On our industrial classes interest bearing
bonds at the rate Of 325, 0OO, 900 week
as in our present war with Spain. The
next pretense OF reform is that the new
Democracy favors an income tax. 1t is
safe enough to favor it when the SUI
preme court will turn it down. While
the Populist platform demands an in
come tax, the Chicago platform merely
asks that congress uses what power re-
mains to secure equal taxation! They
have not explained the effect of the
tariff tax which they champion. The
tariff tax which they champion on such
necessaries as coffee, tea and sugar,
which we do not produce and excise
taxes on beer, whisky and tobacco,
amount to per capita taxes. The poor
man at 81 per day consumes as much OF
the necessaries of life as the rich man at
$1,000 day. The purified Demo-
cracy would therefore tax the
poor man thousand times as
on the other hand favor increasing the
tax according to mans ability to pay
it. The purified Fusionists would abol-
ish the trusts by merely removing du
IlOo. 40 tACOC uutlOc al q AAOl LILO ShuoCo
of the trusts they would not remedy the
evil. The Populists strike at the cause
of the evil which is largely found in rail
road discrimination. Democrats dare
not say, "The government shall own the
railroads." but I'VE let the railroads
own the government which is what
regulation amounts to- The FOpulists
would socialize public utilities by gov
eminent ownership. The new Democ-
racy claims to oppose government by in
junction. but it's present representatives
in congress have inaugurated no move
whatever against it. And lastly Bryan
tamely states that he is in favor Of arbi-
tration in labor difficulties What prac-
teal force would such a statement have
when his party is owned, supported and
controlled by the great corporations and
monopolies? The Populist would not
only make such corporations public
property but would also make arbitra-
ton COMPULSORY.
But they say that, indicating great adj
vance toward reform and Populsm,
stands the Chicago platform
(To be Concluded Next Week.