The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-27
HIS FOOLISHNESS HAS NOT DE-
PARTED.

While some of the ablest leaders in the
Democratic party are trying to sidetrack
Mr.. Bryan, and others are trying to keep
the silver question out of sight. and while
the gold Democrats of 1896 are preparing to
reorganize in opposition to the Chicago
platform, Mr.. Bryan himself continues to
pose as the inevitable candidate of his
party and to reiterate his adherence to all
the heresies in the Chicago platform and
especially to the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at 16 to 1. Whether he does this
in order to maintain the consistency which
he thinks should pertain TO a presidential
candidate. or because he thinks it neces-
sary to hold his motley following together
Is not material. The important point is
that he is unchanged and wants II UNDER
stood that he is u-nchangeable in his advo-
cacy Of free silver at 16 to l. Neither
newspaper editors nor any one else he
said, in an interview at Wichita, can sue
coed in getting me to abandon free silver.
I favor 1t as much as 1 did in 1885, He
thinks trusts and Imperialism will be the
paramount issues-that is, they will furnish
the best fighting ground and campaign ma
terial for a party that is always in search
of available issues and Willing to take any
side of any question; but" he added, II
shall never drop the silver question until
the little coterie of English financiers cease
to meet In secret and plan the laws Of this
country" Were it not that this expression
is taken from his own lips II would seem
incredible that any American with suffi-
cient intelligence to discuss public affairs
at all should talk of English fnanciers
debating the financial policy of this coun-
try at a time when our foreign trade shows
a balance in our favor during the last three
years of 81. 80. 600, eO0; when our stock OF
gold has increased during the same period
$500. 900. 900; when our gold stock at present
is upwards of $1,000. 900. 600 and more than
hat of England and Germany combined:
when our manufactures are being sold In
British colonies all over the world and
quite largely in England; when we are
sending locomotives and iron bridges, on
British orders. to Egypt. equipping electric
roads Inc plants in England, supplying
the British army in Africa with horses and
canned meats, shipping coal TO half the
countries in Europe and crowding them all
out OF their best markets; when American
capitalists are buying British war bonds
and when New York contests with London
the position of the money center OF the
world. Imagine a native-born American
with a mind big enough to appreciate the
greatness. the grandeur. the prosperity and
the commanding position OF his country.
and who regards himself and whom many
people regard as a fit man for President of
the United States. In the face of such con-
ditions as those above enumerated and at
a moment when the shadow OF the Ameri-
can flag reaches half way around the
world-imagine anybody but an insincere
! demagogue or an incurable crank talking
Of a little coterie OF English financiers die
tating the financial policy and laws OF this
country.
IL Is written Though thou shouldst bray
a fool I'm a mortar yet will not his foolish
ness depart from him. After braying his
: ls-to-1 doctrines in the ears OF the people