The Forrest City times., 1899-02-24
BRYAN'S ANSWER.
Letter Written by the Champion of Free Silver to the Tammnny
 Leader Last March.


 that Bryan should make a speech in New York under the auspices of Tam many Hall, Willis J. Abbot went to see Richard Croker about it. Mir. Abbot says:
 MT. Croker asked me to write Mr. Bryan and find out whether he would be willing to speak in New York but re- frain from discussing the money ques- tion. l wrote Mir. Bryan accordingly and received letter in reply. This let ter l read to Mir. Croker in order that he might have no illusion concerning MT. Bryan's position. As Mir. Croker has now definitely antagonized the democrats who hold to the Chicago plat form, 1t is the belief of many friends of Mir. Bryan that this letter, in which he declares that New York democrats should show their hands or accept the hostility of the members of the party in the south and west, should be made public"
 This is the letter of Mir. Bryan, dated March 15, 1898:
 My Dear MT. Abbot: am just in receipt ofyourletter. Please say to Mir. Croker that shall not be able to come east until about April 13.
 At that time shall be pleased to mee, him and talk over the political situation If. as have heard, he is compelled to leave for Europe before that time, express my regret to him.
 "I appreciate his invitation to speak there, but he will, upon reflection, realize that | could not afford to make speech upon the lines suggested. The national platform de- clare5 the money question to be the para mount issue. and fully indorse that dec- laration. So believing, I could not direct ly or indirectly encourage any state to abandon the national platform. While the democrats of the west and south have no right to force the national platform upon the people of New York, yet the democracy of the nation does have a right to expect the democrats of New York to stand by the platform or announce their hostility We ought to know whether the New York democracy means peace or war
 To ignore the national platform in the state convention will be notice that the democrats of New York are hostile to that platform, but lack the courage to declare it openly.
 ''The platform of 'Ss will be reaffirmed in 1900. and I. for one. would like to know as soon as possible whether we are to re- gard the New York democrats as allies or as enemies. If the democrats of New York V in the east l shall accept the invitation with pleasure, but 1t must be with the un- derstanding that shall not be restricted as to subjects discussed l do not care to be guest where the Chicago platform Is denied a hearing.
 believe that the restoration of bi- metall1sm is necessary, and that sixteen to one is the only ratio at which bimetal- lism can be restored. and I have no right to expect favors from those who are hos- tile to this doctrine. I can say to bimetal- lism at sixteen to one as Ruth said 10 Naomi: 'Entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest I will go: and where thou lodgest I will lodge: thy people shall be my people. and thy God my God. Where thou diest will l die, and there will be buried; the Lord do so to me. and more also. if aught but death part thee and me.
 No one is compelled to accept my Judgment but l must myself be guided by 1t, and in my Judgment the attempt to chain the, Ination to gold standard is so cruel and wicked that I would be beneath con- tempt if should trade my convictions upon this subject for any political advantage which the New York democrats might be willing to offer.
 Let me add another word: It Is not only right that the New York state convention should stand by the Chicago platform, but 1t is good politics. Bimetallsm will be as strong in New York when it is fully under stood as 1t is now in the west and south and the sooner the democracy of New York begins the defense of the Chicago platform the sooner will the work of edu- cation be completed. To ignore the plat form when all the states west and south indorse it will have all the force of a dec laratton against the platform. and such a course will make 1t more difficult to in- dorse the platform hereafter.
 "a h paign by the fact that the democrats of your state went to Chicago to oppose the platform which was adopted. Unless the party in New York expects to repeat this experiment in 1900 it should lose no time in taking firm stand upon the Chicago platform. In urging this course upon Tam many and the democracy of New York ought to suggest that the party in New York has something at stake as we'll as the party in the nation.
 Tammany needs the democracy of the nation as much as the national party needs Tammany, and Tammany should recognize this fact.
 Democratic principles have too firm a hold upon the plain people to give the party in any section any promise of success by abandoning them.
 Democracy was defined at Chicago, and the definition is so satisfactory that no material change will be made in that def milton for years to come. I hope the New York democrats-for their own good as well as for the good of the party and the coun- try at large-will speedily bring themselves within the definition by giving an unquali- he'd indorsement to the Chicago platform. Yours truly, w. J. BRYAN"
 To suppress the will of the neo