The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-07-13
The Key Note For 1900.
Mr.. Bryan at Columbus Lays Down
The Platform of Liberty.

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position taken by the democratic
party in 1896. The Chicago platform
applied JetTersonian principles to the
questions theu before the country.
Every plank in that platform was u
Democratic plank, and not one plank
could be taken from the platform
without injury to the party's chances
Of success. Sometimes we hear a
suggestion that the silver plank
should be dropped or amended, but
as n rule those who threaten to get
off the platform are really the per-
sons who were never on the platform.
Those who aided in the adoption of
the Chicago platform are still true
to its principles, and u multitude of
those who were opposed to its adop-
tion have been converted to it with
in the last three years.
'In 1896 the party was compelled
to choose between the people who
desire justice in government and
equality before the law and the ag-
gregations of wealth which seek to
use the lnstrumentalities of govern
ment for private gain, and the party,
true to the party named, chose the
side of the people. AS defender of
the rights OF the plain people it finds
no competition from the Republican
party. In a contest for the favor of
the privileged class it would stand
no chance of rivaling the Republi-
can party
"The war brought.into bold relief
the necessity for an income tax, so
that we may reasonably expect popu-
lar support in our effort to secure an
amendment to the constitution
specifically authorizing such tax.
"The money question is neither
dead nor sleeping. Can the gold
standard be regarded as satisfactory
when Republican President sends
commission to Europe to secure aid
in getting rid of it2
''In letter written to Lord Alden
hen, November 20, 1885, two years
after the Presidential election, and
two weeks after the last congress-
ional election, Secretary of State
Hay declared that the President and
a majority of the Cabinet still be-
lieved in the great desirability of an
international agreement. Every ar
gument made in favor of an inter-
national agreement is condemnat-
ion of the gold standard.
The failure of the commission to
secure foreign aid in the restoration
of bimetallism is conclusive proof
that we must act alone if we expect
relief from recommendation, while
the refusal of our opponents to sug-
gest any other ratio is evidence that
l6 to is the only ratio in which
bimetallism is possible. If our op-
ponents say that the increased rro-
duction of gold has made times bet
ter, they admit the correctness of
the quantitive theory of money,
whereas in 1895 they denied it, If
little more gold unexpectedly dis
covered in the Klondike has made
conditions better, how much greater
would be the advantage if silver
from our mountains was allowed to
flow through the mints into the ar
teries of trade.
Not satisfied with burying the
money question every week Repub-
li2ans are preparing TO retire green
backs, increase the privileges Of ma
tional banks and reduce the tax on
bank circulation. The substitution
of bonds for greenbacks will increase
the taxes upon the people already
overburdened while the reduction on
tax on circulation Will relieve the
banks already enjoying great
special advantages.
"The trust question is not a new
one, and yet it has grown in interest
and Importance because the trusts
have grown in number Attorney
General Griggs is reported as say
ing: IF anything is done to control
the trusts, it must be done by the
states. No one who has examined
this subject will believe that state
legislation is sufficient. The Feder-
al Government must deal with the
trusts as soon as its pernicious infu-
ence extends beyond the limits of the
state in which it is organized. The
President, through his Attorney
General, can enforce the law now in
existence. If that law is not suffi-
cient he can recommend laws which
are sufficient. If the constitution
Will not permit the eXtinguishment
of trusts he can recommend an am
endment to the constitution conferr-
ing upon the Federal Government
ample power to enable the Govern
ment to destroy the monopoly prin-
ciple in industry. The Republican
party, through its Administration,
could extjnguish its trusts if it de-
sired to do so. 1T is powerless to
deal with the question because it
mortgaged itself to the trusts to OBJ
tain the money necessary to carry
the last election.
1T would be difficult to overesti-
mate or oyerstate the danger which
attends militarism and Imperialism.
They attack the principles of our