Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-14
(By Telegraph to virginlan-Pnot.)

(By Telegraph to Virginian-P ilot.)
Milwaukee, Wis, April 13.-Thc JET
ferson Club of Milwaukee observed the
natal day OF the founder of Democracy
by a banquet at the Planlkinton House
tonight, attended by over four hun
drcd guests.
Col. William Jennings Bryan. of Ne
braska. was the guest OF honor and
delivered The principal address. Dele
cations Of Democrats were in attend
ancc from many towns throughout the
State and nearly all the Democrats
from the state Legislature were pres
cnt The banquet hall was beautiful,
decorated with the national colors and
back of the guests OF honor, above n
mantel. was hung a large portrait in
oil of the third President.
COL. BRYhN's ADDRESS.
Col. Bryan spoke on Democracy"
lie eaid, in part:
we are now near enough to the ncXt
campaign to be able 10 form some idea
OF the lines along which the contest
will be fought ana L am taking no risk
"''N' soy llifil lilbSt WHO, Ill ISJb, gave
their allegiance TO the CHICAGO DInt-
form arc as united to-day in the deter
minatOn that no step taken in 1896
shall be rctraccd. That platform an
pileu 10 the conditions then existing
the principles which had been Demo-
cratic from the beginning Of the gov
crnment. Suggestions that we aban.
doh tho money question sometimes
come from those who deserted the party
III 1876. but those suggestions are not
supported by evidence tending to show
that the position in 1896 was wrong.
but was predicated upon the theory
that the issue upon which the party
once lost can never be revived, and
what seems most strange this arcu-
mcnt is made by those who have fol-
lowed Il different course in the past.
TWO NOTABLE INSTANCES.
I'm 1883 Mr.. Cleveland was defeated
on the tariff issue, and yet the tariff
was made the main issue in 1892, and
mr.. Cleveland was elected. In 1892 Mr..
harrison was defeated largely on ac-
count OF the Mckinley bill and four
years later the author of the bill was
nominated upon Il platform reanirminy
inc belief in protection and was sue
ccsslui. Thus it IS seen that in two
instances recently Il losing issue is one
campaign became Il winning issue in
the campaign following
WHAT TEST OUGHT TO BE.
The test ought to he not whether the
issue has been presented before. but
Whc'hcf the position taken is right. If
the gold standard was unmcrited i'm
lS@b III Is unmcrited now If it's main
tcnahcc was q dctriment to the inter-
csts 0t the people OF this country then
IL IS Il detrimert now. II in 1896 i. 1vae
so nurtlul that the Republicans prom
lsJu 10 put lorth their best effort to
substitute international himetallisu, ro,.
IT, ana after the election was ctil ca
hurttul that the President sent n con-
MISSION to Europe to secure foreign oid
IN aoanaohlng 1t. what has happened
since men 70 make the American peo-
pie accept 1t as a blessing? If nm in
creased discovery of gold in AlaslIn bne
been OF any advantage to the TTnitnd
States, 1t is but another evidence In,
the cumulative theory of money is CIR
rect. III large balance Of trade i'm g,
vor of the United States gives any TO-
lief because of the money thus brougbt
into the country it is an additionol ar
Eument in favor of the uuantitotiva
theory of money.
BIMETALL1STS CONTENTION
"Bimetallists have contcnded tho,
times will be made better by the re-
turn OF the double standard and by tho
increased supply of standard money
country.
while 1t is unnecessary to discuss
the question Of ratio now. 1t may not
be out of place to suggest that 16 TO
l. being the ratio at which the present
goin ana silver coin circulate is the
natural ratio al which the minis should
De reopened. To increase the ratio by
increasing the size of the silver dollar
would necessitate the recoinage of our
present silver dollar into n less number
OF doiiars and the increase of the ratio
maze throughout the world would re-
suit IN large decrease in the volume
OF standard money and since the value
OF a dollar depends upon the number
OF collars such n change would neces-
sarliy lncrease the purchasing power
OF dollar and increase the burden of
oeots; 1t would be equivalent to a
transfer by legislation of a vast amount
ol wealth. from the producing classes
TO me money owning classes.
EFFORT TO RETRIEvF, GREEN
BACKS.
nc attempt OF the Republican oar-
~ 10 retire the greenbacks and substi-
tute TOT them national bank notes. will
give 10 tnat question greater promi-