Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-08

COINAGE OF SILVER, THE
FIXED RATIO, AND THE DE-
MANDS AND PLATFORM OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY DISCUSSED
Chicago, January THE third an
nual banquet of the Andrew Jackson
League was held at the fremont House
tonight and on this occasion, as on
the two former, William ]. Bryan was
the guest OF honor. Mayor Carter H.
Harrison, of Chicago, acted as presid-
ing officer, and at the table with him
and Mr.. Bryan were Congressman
Lentz, of Ohio, and Hinrichsen, of Il
linois, Mayor Maybury, of Detroit;
Mayor Rose, of-Milwaukee; Mayor Tag
CART, of Indianapolis, and others.
The exercises of the evening were
opened with a short address by Mayor
Harrison, who, before he resumed his
seat, introduced as the first formal
speaker of the evening Congressman
w. H. Hinrichsen, who spoke in re-
Spouse to the toast Party Fealty.'
Congressman Lentz explained to his
hearers what makes a President
great"
Mr.. Bryan closed the evening. His
speech was as follows:
THE Democracy of the nation is still
defending Jeffersonian principles with
Jacksonian courage, and has no
thought of departing from the princi-
pies enunciated at Chicago in 1896.
That platform will live in history and
the hour of it's adoption will be remem-
bered as the hour when the money
changers were driven from the Demo-
cratic temple. There will be no turn
ing back. The platform will be added
to as new conditions force new issues
into the arena of politics, but nothing
will be subtracted from it. Events
have vindicated every position taken
by the platform. Arbitration was ad-
vOcated in that platform and arbitra-
ton is stronger to-day than it was in
1896.
That platform denounced govern
ment by injunction and the sentiment
against government by injunction is in
creasing. That platform denounced
the trusts and declared them to be a
menace; that menace is greater to-day
than ever before. That platform warn
ed the people that conspiracy was on
foot to give to the national banks a
monopoly of the issue and supply of
paper money; that conspiracy is now
known to everyone.
THAT platform denounced interna-
tional bimetallism as delusion and a
snare and it's condemnation has been
justified. That platform pointed to in
dependent free coinage as the only
means of restoring the double standard,
who doubts it now? That platform
named 16 to / as the proper ratio and
that ratio stands to-day
AS THE ONLY RATIO
at which bimetallism is possible.
"Other platforms have been forgotten
but that platform is fresh in the men,
DRY of friend and foe because it was
clear and positive upon every public
question. To those who believe in
equality before the law the Chicago
platform is still is an inspiration; it
is a terror only to those who seek to
use the government for personal and
private ends.
1T has been attacked at two points
but the attacks will not harm it. Some
who opposed the platform in 1896 have
promised to return to the party on con-
dition that the party will drop the
money question and confine the fight
to the trusts. The offer will not be
accepted. What confidence would the
people have in our sincerity if we
should declare against trusts in general
but enter into treaty of peace with
the greatest of all trusts-the money
trust? If we should attempt to centre
the fight upon the trusts the Republi-
cans would adopt as strong antitrust
plank as we because no party would
dare to defend the trusts. In such a
fight the trust magnates would be found
supporting both parties and contrib
uting literally to both campaign funds
provided the trusts were guaranteed
the privilege of naming the Attorney
General and the Judges. The trusts
opposed the Democratic party in 1896
because the Chicago convention took
the party out of the hands of the Wall
street crowd and adopted a platform
which precipitated the plutocracy
which the party had held in solution
for several years.
'The Gold Democrats had a chance
to strike out the trusts during Mr.
Cleveland's administration. but they
did not do it. The Gold Republicans
are
HAVING THEIR OPPORTUNITY
now, but they are not improving it
The trusts will fall when the gold
standard is overthrown and not until
then. The gold standard means fall
ing prices and falling prices will Gre
ate trusts more rapidly than any gold
standard party can destroy them.
THE second point of attack is the
ratio. Why insist upon 16 to l. they
ask? l reply first, because it is the
best ratio and, second, because its OPP
ponents have no other ratio to offer
No free coinage law can be enacted I'M
til a ratio is agreed upon because the
ratio is a part of the law. Suppose
we had a majority in Congress favor
able to bimetallism but differing as to
the ratio. Some would favor 16 to l.
some to /, some 80 to l, and some
even higher ratios; how could we make
progress under such conditions
Affirmative relief is necessary and
those who favor remedial legislation
must secure majority in both House