The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-24
BELMoMT'S REPLY TO BRYAN.
SAYS POPULIsM Is WHAT REPUDLI-
CANISM USED TO RE.

mont HeNteNS Ills OWN hecofhs
Asks Why Bryan Failed to An
s,ver Certain Questions.
New York. April 23.-The following is an
extract from a letter sent to Hon. w. J.
Bryan by Mr. Perry Belmont. in answer
TO the last letter from Mr.. Bryan 10 Mr.
Belmont-the correspondence growing out
OF the refusal of Mr.. Bryan to accept the
invitation to The Jenersonian dinner of the
Democratic Club of New York city:
New York, April 2O.-Hon. w. J. Bryan:
Dear Slr-The dispute we are in over the
Chicago platform was not begun by any
word or wish of mine. You were invit-
ed to dine with the Democratic Club on
the anniversary Of Jefferson's birthday,
which the club has heretofore celebrated.
Instead of accepting or declining the in
vitation, you asked my present opinion
of the Chicago platform of three years
ago / replied for the cub that individual
opinions had nothing to do with che invi-
tation. Thereupon you sent to me per
sonal letter describing me as a Repubi-
can masquerading as d Democrat, as IN
fit to celebrate the anniversary of Jeffer-
sons birthday because 1 condemned the
Chicago platform and your candidacy.
and altogether displaying an undsguised
intention to be offensive while ostensibly
answering a dinner invitation.
Had more consideration been given to
your accusation you would have seen that
those who endeavor to persuade the de-
mocracy TO use the more 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
Jefferson, Madison and Jackson.
POpUIism Once RepubIicnnism.
Influence of Popullsm over the Demo-
cratic party is to be condemned. because
the Populists promote reputation of debts
by advocating the issue of government I'M
limited unredeemable full legal tender
paper dollars. Populism assails not only
wealth organized in the hands of cor
porations, syndicates and trusts, which
when so held is too often INSCRIPTIONS
corrupt and oppressive. But Populism
goes farther, il assais wealth in the hands
of individuals honorably acquired and
used, salaries and wages.
Republicans invented the full legal ten
der greenback, put the invention on the
statute books in 1862 against a united
Democratic vote, packed the Supreme
Court with Republican judges TO reverse
a previous condemnation of the legislation
by a Democratic bench. 1t was by Demo-
cratic conventions throughout the country
that this enactment was denounced.
Republicans I'm Congress later on re-
fused TO keep the promise to pay and can
Gel greenbacks, and by refusal made them
of changing value in the markets and IN
payment of debls as tie Democratic plat
form of 1876 declared.
Republicans created the National Sank-
ing system, and by 10 per cent tax On
the circulation OF 70 es of state banks.
which tax was not laid for revenue, drove
out Of existence ali state institutions ia
suing hnnk notes. which issue Dcno-
cratic Supreme Court had decided was
their constitutional right. The Democratic
nation convention of 1892 urged the repeal
of that tax.
Republicans i'm Congress put an end In
1873 to free bimetallic coinage.
Republicans. led by Sherman I'm the
treasury and Allison in the Senate i'm 1878
substituted for BANDS restoration of free
bimetallic coinage, which had passed the
House, the Allison law authorizing the
treasury to purchase silver bullion in linn
tied quantity and TO coin it only for the
government into full legal tender silver
dollars. Under this influence silver mart
ed company with gold. Then the gold
price of silver bullion was S.15; now il is
less than 90 cents.
Republicans, led by President Harrison
IN 1880, reopened the silver question. dou-
pled the quantity of the treasury silver
purchases, intending thereby to absorb
the whole American product and lift the
price of silver. Then silver was S.O5 an
ounce
Democratic Policy in 1892.
1t was the democracy of New York
which denounced the Sherman silver Iegls-
iation as a "cowardly makeshift" a
phrase so apt and true that 1t was adopt-
ed by the Democratic national convention
which made the goal of Democratic effort:
!. Repeal of the Sherman silver law of
1890 which repeal you resisted in Con-
gress by speech and vote.
2. The use of both gold and silver as
standard money
3. Coinage of both metals without dis
elimination against either.
4. The dollar units of coinage equal In
intrinsic and exchangeable value
b. That value TO be adjusted in one of
two ways, to wit: either by international
agreement or by such Safeguards" of
congressional legislation as will insure
.. The maintenance of the parity of the
wv hAStdiS' ana the equal power of every
dollar at all times In the markets. ana
IN the payment of debts.
In the law repeating the Sherman silver
enactment Congress inserted the sub
stance and legal effect of the Democrats
platform of 1892, "A safe system of hi
metallism" was thus proclaimed bv Con
gress to be the object of the United states
and the only essential change from the
Democratic platform of 1892 was a slIbstl-
tuition of parity in the value of the coins
of the two metals for parity of the
two metals" Parity" always parity"
was the test.
Reputation in 1896.
You have clearly indicated in vour ra-
cent volume, entitled 1.-THE First Rattle I"
when and where was the origin Of tho
conspiracy 10 repudiate that Democrats
policy of 1892 The time was Nov 1eqt
Omaha the place, the first step was n cali
TO silver Democrats to assemble at that
place June p, 1891, which led to a nomina !
control of the ensuing Nebraska Demo
cratic State Convention, on platform or
two years later There was a Democratjc
bolt from your silver platform becanse
II was in violation of the national DEM
cratic policy Of 1892. The candidates Of
the boilers had, at the next state election