The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-03

port him In 1896. or VINO only gave MIN
a half hearted appropriateness who ana not
support him, or, perhaps. voted for him,
but never neglected an opportunity 70
stab the platform on which he stood. NO
stipport al all would have been preferable, |
more consistent and done less harm.
Bryan's defeat In 1896 means nothing
against him in 1900. Thomas Jefferson was
defeated in his first race. but was elected
In the next SO It was with General Har-
rIson Grover Cleveland was defeated IN
1855 on the tariff Issue and elected on
The same issue In 1892. Perhaps other
examples are equally in point. So ac-
cording to history or precedent, If Bryans
defeat in 1896 signifies anything al all,
It would seem TO presage his triumphant
election next year. Bryan himself seeins
10 be aware OF these charges which are
being made by his critics, who would
throw principle Ito the wind and resort
IN the old cowardly tricks of 'expediency,
and in his recent democratic dinner
speech in Milwaukee answered both argu
ments In the following telling words;
~
1--WE are near enough to the next CAM
paign to be able to form some idea of the
line along which the contest will be fought
and am taking no risk when | say that
those who in 1895 gave their allegiance
day in the determination that no step taken
in 1896 shall be retracted. The platform
applios TO the conditions then existing, the
principles which had been democratic from
! the beginning OF the government Sug-
aestions that we abandon the money ques-
/ lion sometimes comes from those who
deserted the party in 1896, but these sug-
| gestons are not supported by evidence
( tending to show that the position of 1896
80 tod
theory that the issues upon which the party
once lost could never be revived, and what
seems most strange, this argument is made
/ by those who have favored a different
course in the past.
"Iu 1888 Mr.. Cleveland was defeated on
the tariff issue and yet the tariff was made
the issue in 1892 ana Mr.. Cleveland was
elected. In 1892 Mr.. Harrison was defeat-
ed largely on account of the Mckinley
bill. and four years later the author OF
the bill was nominated upon a platform
realtirming the principles OF protection ana
was elected Thus it Is seen that in two
instances recently a losing issue in one
campaign became winning issue IN the
campaign following.
THE test ought to be- not whether the
issue has been presented before but
whether the position taken is right. II
the gold standard was unmerted in 1895
it is unmerited now. If its maintenance
was detriment to the interests OF the peo-
pie of this country then, it is detrimeni
now If in 1896 it was so hurtful that the
republicans promised TO put forth their
: best efforts to substitute international BIZ
metallism for it, aud after the election
was still so hurtful that the president
sent a committee to Europe to secure for
eign aid in abandoning It, what has hap
pened since then to make the American
people accept it as a blessing? If an in
, creased discovery of gold in Alaska has
been of any advantage to the United States
il is but another evidence that the guam
: titative theory of money is correct. If
= large balance of trade in favor of The
United States gives any relief because o
the money thus brought into the coun-
j try it is an additional argument in favcl
!, OF the quantitative theory of money. Bi'
! metallsts have contended that times vii
II be made better by the return of the double
standard and by the increased supply o
u standard money thus furnished for the
y business of the country"
y y + y
" These are brave words and are such al
y beft the great leader of great party
s. There is no lodging of issues, no resor
if to eXpedency no cavil, but a plain ant
n outspokon declaration of the principle o
], right not whether the issue has beef
Il presented before, but whether the position
e taken is right" a sentiment which al
~ who love truth aud despise hypocrisy viii
l. not hesitate to lndorse There can be NJ
n question that the grandest character il
~ the politics Of this country today, aad tn
e. most pronounced representative of tn
Is people as a whole as we'll as the mos
popular living American, is William j
Bryan of Nebraska, the almost assure
a nominee OF the National democracy TO
% president next year and if all who cal
" themselves democrats Will be true to them
selves and their party and the people
y there can be little doubt that the world
II prediction will materialize and that
J. will triumphantly win the election"
~
le One other thought, Mr. Editor and
y, am done, That is this: 1t is certainl
r. to be hoped that the disturbances of 1888
u in the democratic ranks will not be re
n peated in 1900 | am one of those who be
lieve that united democracy can wi
the election next year, and the way I
H. be united is for every democrat to go to th
IS primaries and conventions and make
le iigh. for what he believes to be right an
10 If he loses let him, as all good and tru
- democrats will do, submit to the party
ne will and cheerfuly and zealously supper
VI the nominees and platform. That th
~ majority shall rule" Is a cardinal prr
- ciple of democracy, and no true democr:
~ can consistently oppose it, No democri
should ever get bigger than his party
~ but should Cheerfully bow 10 the will
m the majority thereof. The judgment of tt
~ majority is apt to be right and the ind
" vidual can safely follow them and suppo
az their action. He should not put mis- ow
~ little augment against the mature cor
y, victions and deliberations OF the major
= lty and all who are democrats at hea
~ will stand by the action of his part
whether he thinks that all the party HI
~ done is best or not 1t is rare that a ms
% gets a platform that suits him in ever
- particular, and because ne does not Dug
n. not he sufficient nrovocstion to justif
~. him to "kick out Of the traces" and lie.
ID assistance TO the enemy.
ss ~
Id, And along this line 1t is to he regrett,
us that spirit Of hostility and disorgai
% izaton is already observable in corta
lief quarters unless certain policies are adop
ay ed. desperate effort is being made
MS divert public attention from the par,
he mount and oyershadowing issue OF fir
'ty silver coinage 10 other and less impor
a ant questions, and, failing in this. dislo