The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-20
crease the strength Of the Democratic
party In the election Of y Pre- sident.

party In the ele ction Of Pre- sident.
81 have read the interview and wa
greatly surprised and mortified" sal
the ex-senator. "Senator Morgan say
} no man can question his fidelity to tn
free coinage Of silver, or deny the ne
cessity for It's restoration In our mon sy
system.
"The question he asks and answ or
is: How is this most important resul
to be accomplished He answer
that the first and Indispensable thin(
to be done is to unite bring together
and solidify the divided and antagon
istic elements Of the Democratic part,
now existing in the East, South and
west on the money question and
secondly, that such union can best be
effected by nominating O man who ha,
no extreme views and has expressed
40 extreme' opinions on the coinage
question.
u 40 not question the sincerity or
honesty OF Senator Morgan's convic
tons, but feel constrained by my
sense OF duty to the Democratic party
and the country TO enter my earnest
protect agains. and condemnation OF
Morgan's interview.
What are we TO understand by an
extreme position on the money or
coinage question p Is that part OF the
Chicago platform extreme? Does an
lndorsement of the Chicago platform
put Democrat In an extreme posi-
tion? What shall the next Democratic
convention do after it shelves Bryan ?
10 be consistent the convention should
amend the platform of 1896 as to get the
party out OF It's so called present 'ex.
treme pos tiOn on the coinage question
and pace it In harmony with the con-
nlctlng elements, and especially 80 rs
and broad gauge position of the new
nominee on the coinage question. How
ls such feat to be accomplished?
My conviction ie,' said ex-senator
Pugh, that II the conflicting elements
Of the Democratic party can be united
and brought into harmonious action on
the coinage question, which Is a mani
Test impossibility, by shelving Bryan
and making new platform, broad
enough to take on and satisfy all gold
standard advocates, and be endorsed
by any nominee who may have to re-
nounce his lifelong opinions against
free coinage and pledge himself to ap-
prove any bill on that subject the De-
mocrats might pass through both
houses OF Congress, the party cannot
be- very much divided, and can GER
talnly be very easily united, as it would
show itself withoutany fixed principles
on any subject.
If the Democratic party would SO.
cure more strength by trusting q no.
mlnee who had been lifelong enemy
OF Tree silver coinage on his pledge to
waive the veto power and approve
such bill IL passed by the party that
elected him, 1t would be a spectacle
unprecedented In history, but it would
prove there would never bs any free
coinage OF silver II such a President
WAS elected.
What influence would Democratic
President with gold standard convic-
tlons that he waived to insure his cleo
tlon exercise In this great Office !?
Would he be silent pending free
coinage bill in Congress How would
he distribute his appointments How
many Democrats who had urged
Bryan's nomination and favored the
Chicago platform would receive ap-
pOintments
No. sir, it is o grave mistake Of my
old colleague. have had much poll
tical experience. l have watched par
ties and know their history. My poll
tlcal career has ended but am as
uoIA 90 0fOI uoNObou Uuo DCulO-
cratic party and its principles as de-
clared In the Chicago platform.
believe that William j. Bryan ia
the best organizsd aud wisest and most
reliable Democratic statesman now
living, and he Is now better establish cd
IN She confidence Of toe American peo
pie rs such statesman, and is now
stronger than he ever was, and can be
elected when nominated, as he will
surely be, by the next Democratic ma.
tional convention.
AS to the next Democratic plat.
form, with additional declarations
against the manifold trusts growing
out OF the existence Of the gold
standard and prohibitory tariff du.
ties also in favor OF vigorous
prosecution OF the existing war in
the Philippine Islands until peace
and order Is established and the gov
erning power and jurisdiction of the
| United States Is fully recognized
throughout the archipelago; also that
peace and order and the governing
power OF the United States is to be
established, not for territorial expan.
sion or dominion Of tho United States,
but Tor the sole purpose Of securing tC
the people Of those islands better and
more stable government, with all the
rights, liberty and privileges they
show themselves by trial to be capable
OF exercising and enjoying In condi
tion OF Independent self government