Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-08
BKYAN IN SAW FRANCISCO.

Colonel Bryan was welcomed by a
large audience in San Francisco last
Wednesday night, according to the adj
vices of the Inter Mountain, but found
little sympathy with his tall against
expansion. He blamed President McKin-
ley for not acting regardless of congress.
and advocated an extra session of con-
gress to promise independence to the Fill
ipinos. Propositions of this type do not
touch a responsive chord on the Pacific
coast. where expansion is already stim-
ulating business to a wonderful degrees
and giving the promise Of a most remark
able growth. Every intelligent man on
the upbuilding of the west until it will
approach the east in commercial prosper
ity and industrial wealth, n enjoys a
population second to no section OF this
great republic. When Mr.. Bryan opposes
expansion in California he is talking to
no purpose. The policy Of expansion has
become a fixed conviction in the west,
where the people long for emancipation
from the financial and political domina-
ton of the more %populous east.
Mr.. Bryan talked in favor of bimetal-
references to the ratio of 16 to /. Since
his recent interview with Mr.. Creelman
in Nebraska. the colonel has had nothing
to say in a public a in favor of the free
coinage ratio. AS this question is the
point in issue between the two wings of
the democracy. and must be definitely
other before the contemplated reunion Of
the forces can be effected, it is passing
strange that Nj. Bryan does not proclaim
the merits of free coinage from the house
tops, if he has a fixed purpose TO sustain
that idea at all hazards. To discuss BIZ
metaliism in the abstract, and omit the
free coinage ratio, is meaningless, and
portends an acquiesence in the demands
of the gold wing Of the democracy on the
part Of the late standard bearer of the
silver forces.
ihose democrats whose oppose free
coinage declared for bimetallism" in
1892, and are willing to again go before
the country on hat proposition, but they
will fight to a finish the 16 to idea.
Knowing this, it would seem to be the
duty of Mr.. Bryan to persistently pro-
claim the necessity of the free coinage
ratio, IN order to align the democracy
with that idea and strengthen the cause
for the forthcoming battle in the national
convention of his party. That he refrains
from mentioning the ratio. and making
an argument in its favor, when sowing
the seeds of democracy in San Francisco,
IS suggestive of a compromise that will
jusgle with the question in the platform
next year.
In 1896, Mr.. Bryan thought no argument
in favor of bimetallism complete without
showing the absolute necessity of the free
coinage ratio OF 16 to l; in 1899, Nj. BRYAN
thinks every speech which he makes in
public in favor Of bimetallism covers the
question fully without any reference to
the free coinage ratio of 16 to l. 1t is i'm
material what his personal views NAV
be, or what he may see fit to express in a
newspaper interview, il he lacks the
courage TO take a definite and consistent
position OF that question In his nnblic
addresses.
To subordinate the silver question ia
the utterly indefensible issue of anti-im-
pefialism, Which is nothing but a Pigment
of an over-worked imagination, is bad
~enouSh-to still further huIniliate the
White metal by dropping the arguments
i'll defence of the free coinage ratio is in
ilnitely worse. Ii Colonel Bryan wishes
To retain his reputation for honesty and
eandor in the expression OF his views on
public questions he will either drop the
ratio entirely, and favor a compromise
between the two wings OF his party on
other issues, OF he will herald the virtues
OF IL to !, in season and out of season.
untii-as he used to say in 1S9G-the aues-
tioa is settled and settled right.
49,