The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-20
Is BRYAN q LEADER

T. OLONEL WILLIAM J. BRYAN talked his
Y way to the leadership of the Democratic party.
For the subject of his faculty for talking he
chose question that is purely scientific Everything
concerning standard of value and the natural laws
that work in the circulation of money its represen
tatves in currency is purely matter of science. In
reference to a standard of value and a single STAN
dard for there be but one, the first scientific
clusion was reached in 1866 by the French phil
osopher, Oresme. He demonstrated that if many
standards OF value exist, represented by money or
currency OF different intrinsic value or purchasing
power that of the least value obsolees and drives out
of circulation and effect upon the volume of
rency all of greater value.
In 1926 this subject re-examned by Copper
nicus to whom the discovery OF the true
structure OF the universe with the sun as the center of
our planetary system He knew nothing of Oresme's
conclusions, but by purely original examination
reached entire agreement with them. In 1888 Sir
Thomas Gresham English philosopher re-
examined the whole question, subecting the reason
ing OF Oresme and Coperncus to every possible test
and affirmed their conclusions. In 1907 Sir Isaac
Newton and John Locke again subjected to the tests
OF science and experience the question of single
standard of value and the conformity OF all other
money and currency thereto, and affirmed the con-
clusions OF Oresme, Copernicus and Gresham.
truth OF the Heliocentric theory one OF the mightes
achievements OF the human intellect while Sir Isaac
Newton discovered the law of gravitation John
Locke gave to religious liberty and federation its
philosophical foundation in his Essay on the Human
Understanding" and his studies drove him into exile
in Holland, where he found the same atmosphere of
tolerance and that had refreshed the intellect
OF Descartes Spnoza, Erasmus, Grotius and Bayle
he withstood Shling1eet and Sergeant in philosophy
Cal controversy and brought everything to the of
science None OF these students and philosophers diff
fered on the issue that Colonel Bryan has made in
American politics They knew scientifically that what
the French called sic double etalon," and Henri Ger
nushi named THE bimetallic par, and Colonel Bryan
calls "bmetallisnl," could not exist They knew that
only one standard of value is possible and they
knew, further that necessity present in the
affairs of all civilized men, working its way through
natural selection would establish such standard
They knew that if statute law established two stan
dards, blmetalllsm, each with equal function and legal
tender power but varying in actual intrinsic value in
the market, the less valuable would obliterate and
obsolete that OF greater value and thus become itself
the single standard
Colonel Bryan stands opposed to this conclusion
of science and opposed to the philosophers who from
1866 to this date have affirmed that conclusion
1t is interesting to note his method of discussion in
contrast 10 their reasoning. lie addressed the BIZ
metallic League of Denver the 10Th inst and stated
his case in this form: The American people favor
bmetallism, mind where the silver is produced
Those who advocate the gold standard as rule know
that the gold dollar is stable nor honest Every
godbug denies this, however, and it is this denial
that gives me evidence of his insincerity. You
ask me why the gold standard is wrong? Because it
Is system Of grand larceny perpetrated upon mil
lions with no other purpose than to rob them"
Surely great party has pitifully fallen when it has
declined to the leadership OF man who in such
phrase discusses scientific subject
Since he asserted Democratic leadership the in
herent Judgment and capacity of the American peo-
pie for self-government have been shown in the re-
pudiation of his party. In that time the Democrats
have lost eighteen in the Senate and in the next
Congress there will not be single straight Demo-
cratic Senator from Northern State The party has
even broken in the South and eight Republican SEN
atorS come from that section
Mr.. Bryan's leadership has routed his party. and
it can have no survival long as he stands at the
front chewing his tongue philosophy and science
and hurting such explosives as grand larceny and
robbery" into the arena of scientific discussion
not II.