Iron County register., 1899-02-16
BRYAN TO CROKER.
Letter Written by the Champion OF
Free silver TO the Tammany
Leader Last March.

When, in March, 1898, it was proposed
that Bryan should make a speech in
New York under the auspices of Tam
many Hall, Willis j. Abbot went to see
Richard Croker about it. Mr.. Abbot
says:
..Mr. Croker asked me to write Mr..
Bryan and find out whether he would
be willing to speak in New York but re-
frain from discussing the money ques-
ton. wrote Mr.. Bryan accordingly
and received letter in reply. This let
ter I read to Mr. Croker in order that
he might have no illusion concerning
Mr.. Bryan's position. AS Mr.. Croker
has now definitely antagonized the
democrats who hold to the Chicago plat
form, it is the belief of many friends of
Mr.. Bryan that this letter, IN which he
declares that New York democrats
should show their hands or accept the
hostility of the members of the party
in the south and west, should be made
public"
This is the letter of Mr.. Bryan, dated
March is. 1898:
MY Dear Mr.. Abbot: am Just in receipt
of your letter. Please say to Mr.. Croker that
I shall not be able to come east until about
April 13.
''At that time shall be pleased to meet
him and talk over the political situation
If as I have heard, he is compelled to leave
for Europe before that time, express my
regret to him.
''Iappreciate his invitation to speak there,
bat he will, upon reflection, realize that
could not afford to make a speech upon the
lines suggested. The national platform de-
clares the money question TO be the para
mount issue, and I fully indorse that dec
laration. So believing, [ could not direct
~ or indirectly encourage any state to
abandon the national platform. While the
democrats of the west and south have no
right to force the national platform upon
the people of New York, vet the democracy
of the nation does have a right to expect
the democrats of New York to STAND by
the platform or announce their hostility.
We ought to know whether the New York
democracy means peace or war
ITO ignore the national platform in the
state convention will be notice that the
democrats of New York are hostile to that
Platform, but lack the courage to declare
It openly.
The platform of 80 will be reaffirmed
IN 1900, and I, for one, would like to know
as soon as possible whether we are to re-
gard the New York democrats as allies or
enemies. If the democrats of New York
invite me 20 speak in New York city while
in the east I shall accept the invitation
with pleasure, but it must be with the un-
derstanding that I shall not be restricted
as to subjects discussed. 1 do not care to
be a guest where the Chicago platform is
denied hearing.
II believe that the restoration of BIZ
nsetallism is necessary, and that sixteen
to one is the only ratio at which bimetal-
lism can be restored. and / have no right
to expect favorS from those who are hos
tile to this doctrine. can say to bimetal-
lism at sixteen to one as Ruth said TO
Naomi: 'Entreat me not to leave thee or
to return from following after thee; for
whittier thou goest / will &C; and where
thou lodgest 1 will lodge; thy people shall
be my people, and thy God my God. Where
thou diest will I die, and there will be
buried; the Lord do so to me, and more
also, if aught but death part thee and me-.
mo one is compelled to accept my
judgment, but I must myself be guided by
it, and in my judgment the attempt to chain
the nation to gold standard is so cruel
and wicked that I would be beneath con-
tempt if should trade my convictions upon
this subject for any political advantage
which the New York democrats might be
willing to offer.
Let me add another word: 1t is not only
right that the New York state convention
should stand by the Chicago platform. but
it is good politics. Bimetallism will be as
strong in New York when it is fully under
stood as it is now in the west and south,
and the sooner the democracy of New
York begins the defense of the Chicago
platform the sooher will the work of edu-
cation be completed. To ignore the plat
form when all the states west and south
indorSe it will have all the force of dec
laration against the platform, and such
course will make it more difficult to IN
dorse the platform hereafter
I'VE 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
pla tform. In urging this course upon Tam
ought to suggest that the party in New
York has something at stake as well as the
party in the nation.
Tammany needs the democracy of the
nation as much as the national party needs
Tammany, and Tammany should recognize
this fact
Democratic principles have too firm
hold upon the plain people to give the party
in any section any promise of success by
abandoning them.
Democracy was defined at Chicago, and
the definition is so satisfactory that no
material change will be made in that def
inition for years to come. / hope the New
York democrats--for their own good as well
as for the good of the party and the coun-
try at 1arge-wiIi speedily bring themselves
within the definition by giving an unquali-
fed Endorsement to the Chicago platform.
Yours truly, w. J. BRYAN"
ACCTTMTTT, ALTON OF WEALTE.