The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-29
.REBUKED BY BRYAN.
Text Of a Letter Written BY Him to
Willis ]. Abbott.
WOULDN'T BOW TO CROKER.
The Tammany Chief Wanted the Chi.
caeo Platform Ignored.
THIS Mr., BRYAN WOULDN'T LISTEN 10
Under No circumstances Would He Abandon
Ills Convictions.
PLATFORM WILL &c RfAFFlRAfD IN 1900
stand by the rnrtS ot the Nation
mud oi the Common rcopic.

4 -------------
! New York, January 2s.4-Thc following
letter from William ]. Bryan 10 Mills ],
| Abbott. written IN March. lSeS,wya given
out by Mr.. Abbott today. Mr. Abbott cN-
| plains the circumstances IN connection with
| il rs follows;
| In March, 1895, some OF Mr.. Bryau's adj
mirers In New York learned that lie cx-
| p9cted 10 be iii the East IN the following
month and would pass through New York.
They came to me, saying that reception
had been rendered him and that he had
been asked to speak | responded that In
my opinion the regular democratic organi-
cation should be tho ono 10 give the re-
cepilou and thai Mr.. Bryan ought not to
speak under any other auspices. l ac-
cordingly consulted Mr.. Carroll and was
by him referred 10 Mr.. Croker Mr.. Croker
asked me to write TO Mr.. Bryan and aud
out whether he would be willing to speak
in New York but refrain from discussing
the money question wrote 10 Mr.. Bryan
accordingly and received the answer Which
follows atS frS
This letter wrote TO Mr.. Croker ut tho
democratic club In order that he might
have no Huston concerning Mr.. Bryansl
position. Az Mr.. Croker has now dotintie-
~ anyagonized the democrats who hold to
the Chicago platform II is the belief OF
many friends OF Mr.. Bryan that this Letter.
IN which he declares that New York demo
Gratis should show their hands or accept
the hostility OF the members Of the party
II the South and West. should be made
public
willis j. Abbott, New, York,
March 10, 1sgS,My Dear Mr.. Abbott:
am Just In receipt OF your letter, Fease
say to MIR. Croker that ] shall not be ablo
10 como East until about April IL. AZ that
time ] shall be pleased to meet him aud
talk oyer tho political situatio3. IT, as |
have heard he In compelled to leave for
Europe before that time. express my regret
to him.
II appreciate his invitation to speak
there but he VIII upon reflection reaIiza
that ] could not afford to make a speech
upon the lines suggested The National
platform declares the money question 10
be the paramount Issue. and fully indorlc |
that declaration. So believing ] could not |
directly or indirectly encourage any State |
to abandon the National platform. While |
the democrats OF the West and South have |
no right 10 force the National platform
upon the people Of New York, yet the de- |
mocracy OF the Nation does have n eight |
TO expect the democrats OF New York TO
stand by the platform or announce their
hostility We ought TO know whether the
Now York democracy means peace or war.
TO ignore the National platform In n
State convention viii be notice that the
democrats OF New York nre hostile TO the
platform. but lack the courage 10 declare
II openly.
The platform OF 1895 viii be reaffrnicd
In 1900 and for one would like TO know
AS soon as possible whether we are TO re-
gard the New York democrats as allies Or
onemies II the democrats of New York
In rftt lghtt In.
IN the East l shall accept the invitation
with pleasure but II must be with the ,in-
derstandins that shall not be restricted as
to the subject OF discussion. don't care
TO BE- & grcgt whore the Chicago platform
is denied hearing ! bplieyo thai the
restoration Of bin,oiallsn, IA necessary and
that 10 10 ] is the only ratio at which BIZ
,ncialIism ran be eYtorci ard ] have mo-
right 10 expect fayorH from those who are
hostile 10 this doctrirc. can say OF BIZ
metallEin at i6 to us Ruth said 10 Naomi:
'Enireat me not 10 leave thee, or 70 return
from following after thee; for whittier thou
goest I viii 20. and where thou lodgcst
VIII lodge Thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God. Where thou diest
VIII die. ard there VIII be buried. The
Lord do 30 10 me and more also II aught
but death part thee and me-
mo one III compelled TO accept my judg
ment and I myself mlist be guided By n
and In my judgment tho attempt 10 chain
The Nation 10 gold standard Is 80 cruel
and wicked that ! would be beneath con-
tempt II should trade ms convictions
,ipon this subject for nny political ndyan-
tage which tho New York democrats would
be willing 10 Offer.
LET me add another word II is not only
right that the New York state convention
should stand by the Chicago platform but
II IL good policy. Bimetallism will be as
strong IN New York when II Is fully under
stood as X Is now III the Wezt and South.
and the sooner the democracy Of New York
begins the defense OF the Chicago itltform
Ire sooner the work OF education Will be
Completed, To ignore The platform when
III the States West and South indorse II A
will have all the force of dec,aaiion
against the platform and such course viii
make Il more dlfhclIt 10 indorse the plat
form hereafter
I'VE were embarrassed In the last cam
paign by the fact that the demOci ats Of
your State went TO Chicago TO onpose the
platform which wax adopted. Unless the
experiment In 1909 !. should loss no time In
IakIng firm stand upon The Chicago plat
[orm In urging this course on Tammany
and the democracy Of New York ought
10 suggest that the party in New York
has something AZ ftake as we'll ~ tho party
In the Nation. Tsmmany ne<ds Tho dsmocs
raty Of the Nation as much as the National
party needs Tammany, and Tamlnany
should recognize this fact Democratic
rincipIes heve TOO firm hold on the plain
people TO give the party IN any section any
OF succers bv abandoning them,
Democracy was defined Al chicaxo and the
te6nition Is 70 satisfactory that 40 ma
Ititsl change VIII bs msds Y tas, drnni-
York Democrats, for their good A. well ~
for tbs good 81 the party and coustry -