Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-04-25
BELMONT TO BRYAN
Perry Writes a Letter to the Boy
Orator. Telling Him a Few
Things.

- ANOW loFh, Apfii AO'-IlOh. EelIy
Belmont added another chapter to the
noted controversy between himself and
Mr.. Bryan today, by addressing the
latter letter, which in part is as fol-
lows
New York, April 20.
Hon. w. ]. Bryan--Dear Sir: The
dispute we are in over the Chicago
platform was not begun by any word
or wish of mine. You were invited to
dine with the Democratic Club on the
anniversary of Jefferson's birthday,
which the Club has heretofore cele-
brated. Instead of accepting or de-
cfining the invitation you asked my
present opinion 81 the Chicago plat
form of three years ago. / replied for
the club that individual opinions had
nothing to do with the invitation.
Thereupon you sent me personal let
ter describing me as Republican
masquerading as a Democrat, as unfit
to celebrate the anniversary of Jeffer-
sons birthday because condemned
the Chicago platform and your candi-
dacy, and altogether displaying a dig
nified intention to be offensive while
ostenslbly answering a dinner invita-
tion.
Influence of Populism over the DEM
ocrat party is to be condemned, be-
cause the Populists promote repudia-
tion Of debts by advocating the issue
Of Government unlimited, unredeem-
able full legal tender paper dollars
Populism assails not only wealth or
ganized In the hands of corporations,
syndicates and trusts, which, when so
held, is too often Inscriptions, cor
rupt and oppressive, but it goes fur
ther; it assails wealth dn the hands of
individuals, honorably acquired and
used, salaries and wages.
You have clearly indicated in your
recent volume, entitled The First Bat
tle,' wien and where was the origin of
the conspiracy to repudiate that Dem
ocratic policy of 1892 The time was
May, 1894, Omaha the place, and the
first step was a call to the Democrats
to assemble at that place June 81, 1894
which led to nominal control OF the
ensuing Nebraska Democratic State
Convention, on a platform substantial
ly like the Chicago platform of two
years later. There was a Democratic
bolt from your silver platform be-
cause 1t was in violation of the Nat
ional Democratic policy of 1892 The
candidates of the bolters had at the
next State election more votes than
your candidates received. In two or
three chapters of your book it is plain
that you conspired with the Populists,
Republicans and Silver Democrats of
all shades of opposition to the Demo-
cracy and its platform of 1892. You
mention Senator Teller as one of your
fenow-conspirators both before, dur
ing and after the Republican Conven-
ton OF which he was a member. The
Nebraska Democrats whom you and
your -conspirators denounced,
declared in their platform of 1895 your
financial plan meant poorer money,
and less of it, less wages for the labor
ing man and bankruptcy for all save
the mine owner
Did not that convention sympathize
with labor?
You condemn me because did not
support the platform of 1896, and be-
cause | would prevent such dellrium
in 1900 Had the Chicago platform
not urged the immediate free and un-
limited coinage of silver and gold at a
ratio of 16 to /, but awaited the COM
mercial bullion parity of the white and
yellow metals before compelling cred
itors to accept the former, the scheme
would have been more tolerable.
May l ask what is your plan and
hope for persuading the country
North, East and West-to vote for the
Chicago platform and yourself under
the prosperous farming, mining, labor
ing, manufacturing and exporting con-
dition now in prospect?
On the issue raised by yourself over
Jefferson you endeavor to make not
his state papers the test OF Democracy,
but the innovations your co-consplra-
tors, chiefly Republicans, inserted in
|
the Chicago platform. You complain
of our first Democratic platform, which
was Jefferson's inaugural address, that
1t dealt only with general principles
OF course it did. 1t is the function of