The Portland daily press., 1899-01-30
BRYAN AGAIN.
Croker woaIdnr Let HIN Preach Free
silver.

ndmlrers IN new Iotk learned that he
expected to be- In the East the following
month and would pass through New
York. They came to me saying that
reception should be rendered and that
he should be asked to speak. responded
that in my opinion the regular Demo-
cratic organization should give the reoep.
tion. accordingly consulted Mr.. Carroll
and was by him referred to Mr.. Croker.
Mr.. Croker asked rue to write to Mr..
Bryan and find out whether he would
be willing to speak In New York, but
refrain from discussing the money ques-
he answer which follows This letter
seut to Mr.. Croker at the Democratic
club in order that he might have no illu :.
sion concerning MIR. Bryan's position.
As Mr.. Croker has now definitely antago-
nized the Democrats who hold to the Chi
cago platform, 1t Is the belief of many
friends of Mr.. Bryan that this letter, In
which he declares that New York Demo
Gratis should show their hands or accept
the hostility of the members Of the party
in the South and West, should be made
public
The following Is the letter:
MY Dear Mr.. Abbott:
~ am just in receipt of your lettsr
Please say to Mr.. Croker that shall not
be- able to come East until about April
10. At that time shall to pleased to
meet him and talk over the political stu
alton. II, as have heard, he is COM
PEELED to leave for Europe before that
time. express my regret o him. l ap-
preciate his invitation TO speak there, but
he will, upon reflection, realize that l
the lines suggested. The national plat
form declares the money question to be
the paramount issue and l fully en-
dorse that declaration. So believing,
could not directly or indirectly encourage
any state to abandon the national plat
form. 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 right to expect the Demo
Gratis Of New York TO stand by the plat
form or announce their hostility. We
ought to know whether the New York
Democracy means peace or war To ignore
the national platform in q state conven-
tion will be notice that the Democrats
of New York are hostile to that platform,
but lack the courage to declare IL open
ly. The platform of 80 will be reaiiirmed
in 1900. and L, for one, would like to know
as soon as possible whether We are to re-
or as enemies. II the Democrats of New
York invite me to speak in New York
city while in the East, l shall accept the
invitation with pleasure, but 1t must be
with the understanding that shall not
be restricted as TO the subject to discuss.
l do not care to be guest where the Chi
oago platform Is denied n hearing.
II believe that the restoration of bime
tallism is necessary and that 10 to is the
only ratio at which bi-metallism can he
restored, and l have no right to expect
favors from those who are hostile to this
doctrine. / can say to bi -metallism at IL
to as Ruth said to Naomi: 'Entreat me
not to leave thee or to return from fol
lowing after thee, for whittier thou goest
l will go; and where thou lodgest | will
lod ge; thy people shall be my people and
thy God my God Where thou diest will
| 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 com
PEELED to accept my Judgment. but /
10. Aad hx- -
judgment the attempt to chain the nation
TO gold standard is SO cruel and wicked
that / would be beneath contempt II ]
should trade my convictions upon this
-bjeot for any pledge which tho New
York Democrats might be willing to
offer.
"Let me add another word. II is not
only right that the New York state con
vention should stand by the Chicago
platform, but 1t is good policy. Bi-me.
taiism will be as strong in New York
when 1t is really understood AS IL Is
Low in the West and South, and the soon
or the Democracy of New York begins the
defense of the Chicago platform, the
sooner the work of education will be
completed. To ignore the platform when
all the states West and South endorse 1t
will have all the force of q declaration
against the platform and such course
will make 1t more difficult to endorse the
platform hereafter.
"We were embarrassed in the last cam
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 Tammany 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.
"Iammany needs the Democracy of
the nation as much as the national party
needs Tammany, and 1ammany should
recognize this fact. Democrats have 200
firm hold upon the people to give the