Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-26

how could I let go, when 1t was all that
I could do to hold on?" The reason that
Mr.. Bryan does not drop the silver ques-
ton entirely seems to be the fact that
he has all that he can do to hold on.
If the silver men of this country have
heretofore pinned their faith to the 10y
atty of Mr.. Bryan, despite the cratic
conduct of the party to which he be-
longs, they cannot fail to realize the
hopelessness of their faith when that
gentleman throws away the opportunity
of his life to make free coinage the para
mount issue in 1900. His speech last night
will be accepted as a retreat from the
financial position that has heretofore
divided the democratic party into two
wings. 1t admits of no other interpreta-
ton. It is in effect a plea for a united
democracy on a platform that will omit
the free coinage ratio of 16 to 1. 1t push
ed silver into the background to make
room for the antitrust cry, though it has
long been the argument of silver men
that monometallism-a corner on the
currency of the country-gave birth to
the monopolies that af1ict our land. Ac-
cording to the arguments advanced by
Mr.. Bryan in the past, m~onopolies and
trusts can be prevented only by a return
to the free coinage system; yet he now
seems willing to take issue with the re-
suits Of recommendation rather than with
the cause of the condition which he SO
loudly deplores.
If Mr.. Bryan wishes to destroy the
trusts why did he not insist last night
that the paramount issue in 190O-the
issue of all ~issues-should be the free
coinage of silver and gold at a ratio of
IS to l by the independent action of the
American republic? The moment that
distinguished gentleman voluntarily rele-
gated silver to the background, and per-
mitted some other question to take prece-
dence, that moment he drove a nail into
the cofined hopes of the silver men. And
what did Mr.. Bryan gain by doing SO?
What will the democracy achieve in it's
hue and cry against trusts, when it is a
notorious fact that nearly every lead !
ing democrat in the country-from Maine
to Montana-is in personal sympathy
with trusts and more or less financially
dependent upon their success for the
wealth they hope to attain. Eliminate
the trusts and their representatives from
democracy of Montana, for instance, |
and how much would be left of that
1t would shrivel up to bacterian
proportions. To a greater or lesser de-
gree the same conditions prevail else
power behind the throne in the ~organiza-
ton of the gigantic rusts of which Mr..
Bryan complains, yet that party will
solemnly proclaim against such business
Institutions and seek by loud professions
Of political virtue to convince the public
it is sincere.
Mr.. Bryan made his first great political
NIlell ne from the army,
not to take up the fight for silver, but to
seek to build UP an issue that would
supercede it upon the foundationless
basis of anti-imperialism. Finding HIM
self laughed out of court on that ques-
ton, he made his second great mistake
in again crowding silver into the back
ground, when supposed to outline the
issues Tor 1900, to make room for another
proposition that is intended to reunite
the gold and silver democrats upon COM
mon ground in the next presidential con-
test!
The sickening insincerity of the demo-
cratic gathering in st. Louis last night
needs no further illustration than the
unfortunate speech of Mr.. Bryan. Yet
the fact cannot be overlooked that among
the prominent guests present who in
dorsed that gentleman for the presidency
in 1900, was a prominent New York capt.
talist who is reputedly up to his chin in
the work Of organizing trusts and COM
bines which the late silver leader so
vigorously condemned. Either Mr.. Bryan
or that capitalist was in bad company.
THE TRIUMPH UF HUMOR.