The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-04-29
BELMONT ANSWERS BRYAN.
Says Great Republican Gains I'm 1sos
should sober His 10 To
Optimism.

Perry Belmont has sent 10 William j.
Bryan an answer TO the latter's recent
letter. In the course of his reply Mr.
Belmont says:
''The dispute we are In over the Chicago
platform was not begun by any word OF
wish OF mine. You were invited 70 dine
with the Democrats club on the annivcr-
saiy OF Jeffersons birthday, which the
club has heretofore celebrated. Instead OF
accepting or declining the invitation, you
asked my present opinion OF the Chicago
platform OF three years ago. replied for
the club that individual opinions had moth
ing 20 do with the invitation Thereupon
you sent TO me personal letter describing
me as a republican masquerading as dem
ocrat as unfit 10 celebrate the anniversary
OF Jefrerson's birthday because l con-
demned the Chicago platform and your
candidacy.
HAD more consideration been given 20
your accusations you would have seen that
those who endeavored 10 persuade the
democracy 10 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 JEFF
ferson. Madison and Jackson.
Influence OF pcrplism over the democrat
&c party Is 10 be condemned, because the
populists promote population OF debts by
advocating the issue OF government unlim-
tied unredeemable full OF legal tender paper
dollars. Populism assails not only wealth
organized In the hands OF corporations. syn
dicates and trusts. which when so held Is
too often INSCRIPTIONS. corrupt and OPP
pressive: but populism goes further IL as
sails wealth In the hands or individuals
honorably acquired and used. salaries and
wages.
THE Chicago platform plan was not 10
swat the opening OF our minis by con-
gress and the arrival OF parity. but for the
tTaa nv 10 agf af "a M v hn men
sioners, officers OF the army and navy.
laborers and all government creditors in
silver dollars You condemn me because
did not support that In 1896, and because
would prevent such delrium In 1900 Had
the Chicago platform not urged the imme-
date free and unlimited coinage Of silver
and gold on a ratio OF sixteen 10 one, but
awaited the commercial bullion parity Of
the white and yellow metals before COM
polling creditors TO accept the former. the
scheme would have been more tolerable.
THE great republican plurality gains In
1925 In California. Idaho. Kansas Nebraska.
North Dakota, Utah. Washington and wy
oming. amounting In totals TO 10000, should
at least sober your sixteen 10 one optimism.
1T Is a Misrepresentation pure and SIM
pie 10 aver that have resisted all forms OF
taxation OF income. | condemned the In
come tax which the supreme court declared
unconstitutional. There is similar mis-
representation when YOU describe me as
advocating gold recommendation. have
always stood by the national democratic
platform OF 1892.
~ infer that you condemned, az ] do.
proposed an alliance between the two Eng
disappearing nations. III such an alliance
De entangling In the sense denounced by
Jefferson, and II Il ALLEVIATE the present
honest friendship OF powerful nations, II
should not be encouraged. a really demo-
cratic president chosen In 1900 having
secretary OF state and of the treasury In
spired by intelligent faith IN and zeal for
international bimetallism. might out OF the
desire OF the two nations 10 promote the poll
Icy OF the United States and the welfare OF
both governments. accomplish even more
than the Wolcott commission might have
achieved had n not been for the sudden and
unexpected resistance which came from
Calcutta. That first and common interest
OF the United States and the united king
dom you appear not TO perceive.
You go out OF your way as a defeated
presidential candidate OF three years ago,
and an asprant for denomination, 10 con-
denim my democratic opinion. / have no
wish TO suppress what did at Chicago and
have subsequently done In that regard.
am perfectly content with my course.
THE platform Of 1896 came from the hard
times which disappeared when the peril
OF populism and silver monometallism had
passed. That powder cannot by you be
burned again IA a democratic national con-.
ytntion."