New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-10
BRYAN ANSWERS BELMONT
DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENCES Which,
EXIST BETWEEN THEM.
CHICAGO PLATFORM SHOULD BE THE TEST
OF DEMOCRACY. He ARGUEs-RE'
STATEMENT OF FREE-sIL-
-.a. n YER VIEWS


lincoln Neb. April 9-CoIonel W. J. Bryan
to-day mailed his answer to the last letter re-
ce,ved from Perry Belmont some weeks ago.
The correspondence thus far has dealt largely
with the rival jefferson dinners 10 be held IN
New-York but Mr. Bryan ignores that matter
and devotes his attention 10 the differences ex-
listing between himself and Mr.. Belmont on ques-
lions of Democratic party policy. His letter In
part follows:
Lincoln. Neb. April 8.
Hon. Perry Belmont, NewYork.
Dear Sir: Upon my return 10 Lincoln found
your letter containing the original letter ana
postscript given to the press some days before.
l cannot find anything in my letter to which you
can consistently object.
You began your speech in Madison Square
Garden on August g. 1896 by saying IT was
time for plain speaking. and proceeded to ac-
cuse the CHICAGO Convention OF A. betrayal
Of the Democratic party. In your Brooklyn
speech on September -. 1895. you spoke Of
the Chicago platform as the strange doctrines
born in Chicago Of coalition between the un-
thinking element Of the old party and the
Socialists. who masquerade as Populists.
II seems that in using the words betrayal
and incorporating / unconsciously fell into
the STYLE which You employed in 1895. but
did not reflect upon the intelligence OF the
gold-standard advocates by characterizing them
as an "unthinking element
You ask first that ] point out wherein your
utterances are "unpatrotic. un-Democratic un-
American. and in conflict with the Democratic
creed set forth in Jeffersons first inaugural
address" We have no accepted standard by
which to determine whether given opinion s
patriotic or American. but we have means Of de-
termining whether an opinion IL Democratic and
in accord with the teachings OF Jefferson. pre-
sumo you use the word Democratic in the party
sense. otherwise that term would be as difficult
to define patriotic or American"
WHAT DETERMINES DEMOCRACY
The right to determine what is Democratic In
a party sense belongs to the Democratic party.
The Chicago convention was more purely rep
resentative than any other convention held in
recent years because the rank and file Of the
party spoke on public questions through in
structed delegates. The Chicago platform is
the latest authoritative definition OF Democracy
as applied TO existing conditions. II a minority
of the delegates to National convention. rep
resenting a minority OF the members of the
Democratic party. has a right TO determine what
is Democratic, then each member OF the party
has right to define Democracy for himself, and
to assert that he is a better Democrat than
any else.
Let me apply this principle to three questions
upon which you have taken a position in the
volumes sent me: First. standard money: sec
ond. paper money; third income tax
Jefferson favored the double standard. as
against the single gold standard. and during his
Administration our Nation had the free and
limited coinage OF gold and silver at the legal
TauO or 10 10 j. Ine ratlO was changed 10 10
to l during Jacksons Administration.
The Chicago platform pronounced against the
gold standard and in favor Of the return to the
free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at
the ratio of 16 to / without waiting for the aid
or consent Of any other nation. AS a delegate TO
the Chicago Convention you voted for a minor
tty report which declared against independent
free coinage on the ground, that It would not
only imperil our finances. but would retard
entirely prevent international bimetallism to
which the effort Of the Government should be
Af1..A 80 l1tA
apolis Convention two months later. you sup
ported n platform which declared in favor of
the gold standard without any declaration in
favor Of international bimetallsm. You may be
able to explain why the minority rejected at In
dsnapolis the plank for which It fought at
Chicago.
REFERENCE TO Mr.. MKINLEY.
Mr.. Mckinley, in 1891. charged in a public
speech that Mr.. Cleveland during his first Adj
ministration was dishonorng one OF the pre-
cious metals. discreditng silver and enhancing
the price Of gold. He insisted that Mr. Cleve-
land trying 10 make money scarce and
therstors dsar." and added: "Hs would have