Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-09


william ]. Bryan club. at the fremont
House. Chicago, Mr.. Bryan spoke il
part as follows:
The Democracy of the nation is still
defending Jeffersonian principles with
Jacksonian courage and has no thought
: OF departing from the principles enun-
ciated at Chicago in 1896. That plat
form Will live in history and the hour
Of its adoption will be remembered as
the hour when the money changers
were driven from the Democratic tenn
pie. There will be no turning back. The
platform Will be added to as new condi-
tons force new issues into the arena of
Politics, but nothing will be subtracted
from il. Events have indicated every
position taken by the platform. Arbi-
tration was advocated in that platform
land arbitration is stronger today than
it was in 1896.
That platform denounced govern
ment by injunction and the sentiment
against government by injunction is
| increasing. That platform denounced
the trusts and declared them TO be a
| menace: that menace is greater today
than ever before. That platform warned
the people that a conspiracy was on
foot TO give to the national banks
monopoly Of the issue and supply of pa
per money; that conspiracy is now
| known to every one
That platform denounced interna-
| tionaI bimetallism as a delusion and
| n snare. and its condemnation has been
justified. That platform pointed to in
| dependent free coinage as the only
| means of restoring the double standard.
/ Who doubts it now? That platform
/ named l6 to as the proper ratio, and
| that ratio stands today as the only ra-
ito al which bine taIlism is possible.
Clear and Positive.
"Other platforms have been forgotten
but that platform is fresh in the MEM
DRY Of friend and foe because it was
clear and positive upon every public
question. To those who believe in
equality before the law the Chicago
platform is still an inspiration: it is a
terror only to those who seek to use
the government for personal and pri-
vate ends.
1T has been attacked at two points,
but the attacks will not harm it. Some
who opposed the platform in 1896 have
promised to return to the party on con-
dition that the party will drop the
money question and confine the fight to
the trusts. The offer will not be ac-
cepted. What confidence would the peo-
pie have in our sincerity if we should
declare against trusts in general. but
enter ITO a treaty of peace with the
greatest of all trustS-the money trust?
II we should attempt to center the fight
upon trusts the Republicans would
adopt as strong antitrust plank as we,
because no party would dare to defend
the trusts. In such a fight the trust
magnates would be found supporting
both parties and contributing literally
to both campaign funds, provided the
trusts were guaranteed the privilege of
raining the attorney general and the
judges. The trusts opposed the Demo-
cratic party in 1886 because the Chicago
convention took the party out of the
Wall street crowd and adopted a plat
form which precipitated the plutocracy
which the party had held in solution
for several years.
THE gold Democrats had a chance
to crush out the trusts during Mr.. |
Cleveland's administration, but they |
did not Go il. The gold Republicans are |
having their opportunity now, but they |
are not improving it. The trusts will |
fail when the gold standard is over |
thrown. and not until then. The gold |
standard means falling prices. and fall |!
ing prices will create trusts more rapid |
ly than any gold standard party can |
destroy ttem.
The Best Ratio.
The second point of the attack is the |
ratio. Why insist upon 16 to 1? they |
ask. i reply, first, because it is the best |
ratio, and, second, because its oppon-
ents have no Their ratio TO offer. No
free coinage law can be enacted until
a ratio is agreed upon. because the ratio
is a part Of the law. Suppose we had
a majority in congress favorable to BIZ
metallism. but differing as TO the ratio?
Some would favor 10 to l, some "a TO 1.
some 81 to !. and some even higher ra-
tics. How could we make progress I'M
der such conditions? Affirmative relief
is necessary. and those who favor rene
dial legislation must secure a majority
in both house and senate for some def
mite proposition. The goldbugs under
stand this They know that an aubig-
uous platform is equivalent to a gold
standard platform. Mr.. Cleveland was
elected in 1899 Upon a platform which
declared fer the use of gold and silver |
as the standard money of the country. |
and for the coinage Of both gold and
silver without discrimination against
either metal or charge for nintage. and
yet M. Cleveland found no difficulty |
in supporting the single gold standard
The Democratic party will not return
to the days OF uncertainty and evasion. |
When the opponents of 16 to l agree !
upon another ratio 1t will be time |
enough to compare the merits of the old
ratio. But they will not he permitted
20 suspend the party IN fnlO-alr, out
OF reach Of 16 to l and out OF sight of
anything else. To surrender the ratio
is TO accept the gold standard as final.
The Chicago platform was good
when it was adopted II grows better
with age. II was strong in 1896; it is
stronger now.
But enough of old issues: what of
the new questions? Our party cannot
ignore the issues raised by the war.
II must speak out against militarism
now or forever hold its peace. A large
standing army is not only an expense
TO the people but it is a menace to the
nation. and the Democratic party will
be unit in opposing IL
Are Really Imperialists-
"A word in regard to Imperialism |
Those who advocate the annexation of
the Philippines call themselves expan-