The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-20
SHEPARD ACCEPTS BRYAN.
Mo1R0B OF" CRIMINAL AGGREGATION"
OTERC0MEg THE REFORMER

0TERCoMEs THE REFoRMER
sPieass, Mister" He Says, "won't Ton
Kindly Take Free silver at 10 to Out
Of the Platform. and Put the Octopus
and the Philippines War in It's Placer"
Tho Duty OF Democrats to Their Party" was
the subject OF an address last night BY Edward
NJ Shepard before the National Civic Club OF
Brooklyn. OF which he 10 president. After
saying many hard things about President
Mckinley and the war in the Philippines.
which he said was q war OF. for and by the
Republican party. and OF. for and by the Presi-
dent" Mr.. Shepard continued:
As between President Mckinley. who voted
for free silver coinage whom the popular tide
seemed 10 run that way. who in 1896. down al
most to the last. feared to pronounce the word
gold lest he should ALLEVIATE some popular
support. and whose belief in silver or gold
seems TO depsnd uron his estimate OF its effect
upon the fortunes OF his party or Of himself. 40
between the President on the one hand and.
On the other hand. Mr.. Bryan. with his devo-
tion to q principle whom 1t stands and must
stand com pletely in the way OF tho success Of
his own legitimate ambition. I do not think
high-minded men will long hesitate as to
which. a. politician. deserves the greater re-
spect.
THE Democrats. like most OF us at the East.
esen no reason to alter our belief. that the pro-
posed alteration OF our standard OF value
would involve disaster to our country. have
no right doubtless. to ask Mr.. Bryan or those
who. upon principle. stood with him In 1895.
10 abandon their devotion to the doctrine OF
free silver coinage at the ratio OF Is to l. Nor
are they likely to ask their brethren who
differ from them on that subject to abandon
their sincere conviction. But over and above
this difference. within our party.-is the well
fare OF the American Republic. and no one.
believe will be sooner to recognize 1t than
Mr.. Bryan himself.-in dealing with which
silver can provide but one out OF many ques-
lions
Over and above any plank which the most
sympathetic OF popular tribunes may propose
for our platform next year IL the prime rule
OF Democratic politics that the Democracy
must itself ascertain what 10 the question upon
which IL desires to vote. that Its platform
should not put at the forefront a question upon
which 1t does not desire-or IL not now
ready-to vote. and that Its platform should
not include. at any given time plank not
Immediately practical. which would divide
those ready TO unite on the plank or planks
presenting the great question or questions
now to be decided. | shall not say that Demo-
Gratis OF the West and South. as we'll as Demo-
Gratis OF the East have lost interest in the silver
question. 1t may he that their interest is only
sleeping. But do say. and without the possible
ity Of contradiction. that the mass OF Democrats.
West. South and East. desire to-day that tho only
timely and. for the present tho only pressing
and practical questions. namely those Of our
foreign policy and OF our treatment Of trusts.
shall be decided. and that. for the present. the
futile effort to decide the silver question by
Democratic action shall wait. Again l say. as
have said before, that parties should adjust
themselves to issues and not attempt the i'm
possible task OF adjusting issues to their
own preference. 1t Is sheer imposslbility
for all the eloquent and influential silver advo-
oates BY their utmost diligence to obtain this
year. or in 1900. vote for their currency
proposition. They can. indeed. arouse a vote
Of hostility against their party because the
question is mooted: but upon the merits Of the
question they cannot obtain the vote they wish.
6uch being tho case. ID seems to me that
the very interest dear to them requires that
they let It's hAal decision watt Just a. tho wise
parliamentary advocate OF any question lets 1t
wait timely season for a decisive test. Our
appeal TO the patriotism Of Mr.. Bryan and his
associates. and to their loyalty to all the inter-
ests Of the Democracy. will not. believe. be
made In vain.
1.-THE Democratic platform OF 1900. in view
Of the certainty that the Philippine and Trust
questions must be dominant. should bs so
drawn as that all Democrats and. indeed. all
good citizens agreeing upon those questions
may heartily support the candidates nomi-
mated upon it. however they may differ on
questions not now timely For myself.
and I believe I speak for many Democrats
who have supported and still believe in
the gold standard. l should. indeed. II
1were constrained to decide between the risks
OF free silver coinage on the one side and the
risks OF the policy Of criminal aggression on the
other side. not hesitate 4 moment to take the
former rather than the latter But We we'll
know that many Democrats as we'll as many
Republicans who are strongly with us
upon the really timely questions OF to-
day. are not with us In this measure
OF the rival dangers OF free silver coin.
age and criminal aggression. That body
OF citizens in all probability holds the balance
OF power. II tho Democratic platform Of 1900
include silver plank. and II it's deterrent
effect upon the body Of voters. small in num-
Der but numerous enough to be the balance OF
power. shall defeat tho Democracy In 1900,
then not only will the advocates OF criminal
aggression and OF monopolies be successful,
but the silver proposition itself will be forever
defeated.
NO. the Democracy should in 1900 give .
distinct pledge that its Adm inistration from
1901 to 1908 will maintain the existing cur
kency situation /: that II will be hostile neither
to the gold standard nor to the silver stand
ard; that It will not thwart whatever discus
sion OF the currency question the limits OF
popular interest permit.
Since II is impossible for the question to be
decided favorably to the silver proposition In
1900. and can. in no event. be 30 decided be-
fore 1904. let us decide In 1900 the gu estion
which can be decided. II in that year those
natural public and economic conditions which
no political party controls make the silver
question dominant one. let 1t then be decided
and let Its decision then determine party lines
This disposition for the present OF the silver
question Is Democratic It respects the sin
cerity Of both sides. 1t respects the wish OF the
Democracy. 1t recognizes the memorable law
Of political conditions. Nor can the Rspub-
iIcans object. Having come into power with
an overwhelming majority pledged to end the
currency troubles. they have. with sinister lack
OF patriotism. deliberately kept the question
open IN order that out OF the apprehenslons OF
the business OF the country they may find their
selfish advantage"