The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-08
OLD IIICkORY'S DAY
Continued From Ffrpt page.

speaker of the EVENING" Congressman
w. H. Hinrichsen, who spoke in re-
Spouse to the toast Party Fealty"
Congressman Lentz explained to his
hearers What Makes a President
Great"
Capt. william P. Black, of Chicago,
followed, responding TO the toast The
Soldiery of the Republic"
Then came three visiting mayors,
Thomas Maybury, of Detroit; Taggert,
of Indianapolis, and Charles K. Ladd
of Kewanee, Ill., adj three making
brief talks William FaANIcKnight, Of
Michigan, then spoke on 'The Young
Democracy" and the. address Of Mr..
Bryan closed the evening. 1t was as
follows:
The Democracy of the nation Is still de-
Tending Jeffersonian principles with Jackson
ian courage and has thought of departing
from the principles enumerated at Chicago in
1896 That platform will live In history and
the hour OF it's adoption Will be remembered
the hour when the money changers were
driven from the Democratic temple. There
will be no turning back. The platform will
be added to as new conditions force new is
sues into the arena OF politics, but nothing
will be subtracted from 1t. Events have
vindicated every position taken by the plat
form. Arbitration was advocated in that plat
form, and arbitration is stronger today than
it was in 1896.
That platform denounced government by in
junction, and the sentiment against govern
ment by injunction is increasing. That plat
form denounced the trusts and declared them
to be menace; that menace is greater to-
day than ever before. That platform warned
the people that a conspiracy was on foot TO
give to the national banks monopoly Of
the issue and supply, of paper money; that
conspiracy is now known to every one.
That platform denounced international BIZ
metallism a delusion and a snare, and
its condemnation has been Justified. That
platform pointed to Independent free coinage
the only means Of restoring the double
standard; who doubts it now2 That platform
named 16 to l as the proper 'ratto and that
ratio stands today as the onlyrratie at which
bimetallism is possible.
Other platforms have been forgotten, but
that platform IS fresh IN the memory of friend
and foe. because it was clear and positive
upon every public question. To those who
believe in equality before the law, the Chi
cago platform is still an Inspiration; it is a
terror only to those who seek to use the gov
eminent for personal and private ends.
1t has been attacked at two points, but
posed the platform in 1896 have promised to
return to the party on condition that the
party will drop the money question and con-
fine the fight to the trusts. The offer will
not be accepted. What confidence would the
people have in our sincerity If we should de-
clare against trusts in general but enter into
a treaty OF peace with the greatest of all
trusts--the money trust? If we should at
tempt TO center the fight upon the trusts
the Republicans would adopt strong an
antitrust plank as We, because no party would
dare to defend the trusts. In such a fight
the trust magnates would be- found support
ing both parties and contributing literally to
both campaign funds, provided the trusts were
guaranteed the privilege fof naming the attor,
ney general and the judges. The trusts op-
posed the Democratic party in 1896 because
the Chicago convention took the party out
of the hands of the Wall street. crowd and
adopted Platform which precipitated the
p utocracy which the party had held in solu-
ton for several years. -
The Gold Democrats had -agSciance to crush
out the trusts during Mr.. Cleveiand's admin
istratiOn, but they did not do it. The Gold
Republicans are having their opportunity
now, but they are not improving it. The
trusts will fall when the gold standard is
overthrown. and not until then. The gold
standard means falling prices and falling
prices will create trusts more rapidly than
any gold standard party can destroy them.
SILVER RATIO
The second point of attack Is the ratio.
Why insist upon. 16 to 1, they ask? I reply
first. because it is the best ratio and, second,
because its opponents have no other ratio to
offer. No free coinage law can be enacted
until ratio is agreed upon because the ratio
is part of the law. Suppc sc we had a ma.
Jority Il congress favorable to bimetallism
favor Ii to 1, some "a to 1, some 80 to l.
and some even higher ratios; how could We
conditions? f.
hrnatfve relief is necessary and those who
favor remedial legislation must secure q ma
1orlty IN both house and senate for some
definite proposition. The gold bugs under
stand this they know that an ambiguous
platform is equivalent to a gold standard
platform. Mr.. Cleveland was elected in 1892
upon Platform which declared for the use
of gold and silver as the standard money of
the country, and for the coinage of both gold
and silver without discrimination against
either metal or charge for .mintage, and yet
Mr.. Cleveland found no difficulty In support
ing the single gold standard The Democratic
party will not return to the days of uncer-
tainty and evasion. When the opponents of
Is TO 1 agree upon another ratio it will be
time enough to compare the merits of the
new ratio with the merits of the old ratio.
But they will not be permitted 70 suspend
the party in mid-air, out OF the reach OF Is
toN1 and out OF sight Of anything else. To
surrender the ratio is to accept the gold
standard as final.
The Chicago platform was good when it
was adopted; 1t grows better with age. 1t
was strong in 1896; it IS stronger now.
But enough of old issues; what of the new
questions? Our party cannot ignore the is
sues raised by the war. 1t must speak out
against mll1tar1sm now, or forever hold it s
peace. large standing army is not only
an expense to the people, but it is a menace
to the nation, and the Democratic party will
be unite in opposing 1t. 81 &
A word in regard to imperialism. Those
who advocate the annexation of the Philip
pines call themselves expansienists, but they
al really l4upeIldnSLS. -ln5 WORD expansion
would describe the acquisition of territory
20 be populated by homogeneous people and
to be carved into states like those now
in existence. An empires suggests variety in
race and diversity in government. The i'm
pertalists do not desire to cIothe the Filipinos
with all the rights and privileges of American
citizenship they want to exercise sovereignty
over an alien race and they expect to rule
the new subjects upon a theory entirely at
variance with constitutional government.
Victoria is queen of Great Britain and
empress of India: shah we change the title
of our executive and call him the president
of the United States and emperor of the
Philippines?
The Democratic party stood for the money
of the constitution in 1895; it stands for the
government of the constitution now. It op-
posed an English financial policy in 1896; 1t
opposes an English colonial policy now.
Those who in 1896 were in favor of turning
the American people over to the greed of
foreign fnancers and domestic trusts may
now be willing to turn the Filipnos over
to the tender mercies OF military governors
and carpet-bag officials.
Those who in 1896 thought the people Of
the United States too weak to attend to their
own business NAV now think them strong
enough to attend to the business Of remote
and alien races; but those who in 1896 fought
for Independence fer the American people
will not now withhold independence from
those who desire it elsewhere.
PLEA FOR FILIPINOS.
We are told that the Filipinos are not
capable of self-government that has fami-
liar ring. Only two years ago 1 heard the
same argument made against very respecta-
BILE minority of the people of this country.
The money loaners who coerced borrowers
did it upon that theory; the employers who
coerced their employees did 1t for the same
reason. The Filipinos are not far enough
advanced to share in the government of the