Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1899-05-03
BELMONT ANSWERS BRYAN.
Says Great Republican Gains In 1898
should sober His IG toI
L.

Perry Belmont has sent TO William J.
Bryan an answer TO the latter's recent
letter. In the course of his reply Mr..
Belmont says:
1.-THE dispute we are I'm over the Chicago
platform was not begun by any word or
wish OF mine. You were invited To dine
with the Democratic club on the annivcr-
sary OF JeTerson's birthday. which the
club has heretofore celebrated Instead OF
accepting or declining the Invitation. YOU
asked my present opinion OF tn" Chicago
platform 90. three years ago. ! replied for
the club that Individual opinions had not h
ing 20 do with the invitation. Thereupon
you sent 90 m" personal letter dcecr. hing
me as republican asqueradIul. as "a lem
ocrat. aS % nj TO celebrate the anniversary
Of Jen"rson's birthday because CON
d"mucd the Chicago platform and your
candidacy.
Had more consideration been given 20
your accusations YOU woui6 have seen that
mos" who endeaVorcd TO persuade the
democracy TO use the mosc or less discard
ed inventions of republicans are the mas
Queraders. and not those who stand in the
old paths hallowed by the footsteps OF JEFF
ferson. Madison and jackson.
Influence OF populism over the democrat
fc party h 10 be condemned. because tine
populsts promote reputation OF debts by
advocating the issue OF government unlim-
tied. unredecma BILE full OF legal tender paper
hbilsl n. ioiNllSh dSHdllN not OIllN wealth
organized In the hands OF corporations. syn
dicates and trusts. which when so held is
too of'en inscriptions, corrupt and op-
pressive: but populism goes further IL as
sails wealth in the hands OF individuals
honorably acquired and used. salaries and
wages.
The Chicago platform plan was not 20
swat the opening Of our mints 10y CON
gress and the arrival OF parity. but for the
treasury to begin AZ once to pay the pen
sioners officers Of the army and navy.
laborerS ana all government creditors in
silver dollars. You condemn me because
did not supper, that ia 1876. and because I
would prevent such "a delrium In 1900. Had
the Chicago platform not urged the imme-
date free and unlimited coinage Of silver
and gold on a ratio Of sixteen TO one. but
awaited the commercial bullion parity OF
the white and yellow metals before com
pclling cr'ditur- to accept the former the
. h"mg would have been more tolerable.
The great republican plurality gains in
1895 in California. Idaho. Kansas. Nebraska,
North Dakota. Utah. Washington and wy
oming. amounting in totals TO l5O. 500. should
at least sober your sixteen to one optimism.
1T is a Misrepresentation pure and sim
pie to aver that have resisted all forms OF
taxation Of income | condemned the in
come tax which the supreme court declared
unconstitutional There is "A similar mis-
representation when YOU describe me as
advocating gold monometallism. | have
platform of 1882.
Il infer that you condemned. as | do. a
proposed an alliance between the two Eng
disappearing nations. II such an alliance
be entanglirr in the sense denounced by
Jefferson. and II IL ALLEVIATE the present
honest friendship OF powerful nations. ii
should not Toe encouraged. a really demo
cratic president chosen i'm 1900, having a
secretary of state and of the treasury in
spired by intelligent faith IN. and zeal for
International bimetallism. might out OF the
desire of the two nations to promote the pol
icy OF the United States and the welfare OF
both governments. accomplish even more
than the Wolcott commission might have
achieved had IL not been for the sudden and
uneN peCted resistance which came from
Calcutta. That first and common interest
of the United States and the united king
dom you appear not TO perceive.
You 70 out of your way as a defeated
presidential candidate OF three years ago
and an asprant for denomination, to con
denim my democratic opinion. I have nC
wish to suppress what | did at Chicago anC
have subsequently done in that regard.
am perfectly content with my course
The platform of 1896 came from the ma I'd
times which disappeared when the peri
Of populism and silver me aometallism haC
passed. That powder cannot by YOU be
burned again I'm a democratic natior al con-
NeutiOu"