The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-04
BRYAN.S LETTER.
To New York World Defining
His Position.

New York. July 4.-Wn. J.. Bryan, In
response to a private telegram urging
him to drop the silver issue, wrote a
letter to the managing editor of the
World which was received on May 2.
The World today requested Mr.. Bryan's
permission to print the following ex-
tracts because they gave, eastern Demo-
conception of his character than any of
his published letters or speeches. Mr.
Bryan gave his permission and the
World will print the following:
whenever you see in the papers that
I have abandoned silver or ,sidetracked
it or tried in any way to eyade 1t, you
can set it down as false. While men
differ as to the relative Importance of
the money, question, the trust question
and Imperialism, L regard all of them
as important, and have not yet attempt-
to decide which is most important It
seems to me that the World ought to be
able to see the folly of my taking sides
in the dispute.
why should I discourage those who
oppose the gold standard and trusts
merely to crafty those who think the
question of imperialism the all-import-
ant question: Why should discourage
the anti-imperialistS by saying that the
trust question is all-impOrtant?
why should l discourage the op
ponents of trusts and Imperialism by
saying that the money question is the
only question TO De considered. OtuefS
may emphasize one question or the 9TH
er, but [ shall emphasize them ALL II
we are to win in November we must
have the cooperation of all who op-
pose Republican politics, and that CO.
operation can only be secured by MAX
ing a fight all along the line.
The people who oppose the gold STAN
dard also oppose the trusts and inn
perialiSm, and there are nine who OPP
pose all three to one who favOrS the
gold standard and yet opposes the
trusts, or imperialism. Why ALLEVIATE
nine in order to please one?
1.-The men who demand the abandon
ment of the silver question did what
they could to make the party a gold
standard party, and when they were
outvoted they left the party and did
what they could to defeat the ticket.
Now they want to drive away the Pop
ulists and Silver Republicans who came
to us when the Gold Democrats deserted.
whatever influence 1 may have will
be exerted to holding what we have
and getting enough from the outside to
defeat the Republicans, but 1 do not
want it to be a barren victory. 1 want
the party to accomplish the reforms to
which it is pledged want the Philip
pines to have a chance to celebrate the
Fourth of July and l want every private
monopoly destroyed but l also want
silver restored at the ratio of Is to 1,
and | want the national banks deprived
of the power to issue paper money.
Il also want the constitution amended
so as to permit an income tax and the
election of senators by the people. In
addition to these 1 want to see the sys-
tenn known as government by 1njunc-
ton abolished and arbitration between
labor and capital established.
Those who favor free silver favor all
these reforms. Those who favor the
gold standard favor a few of these re-
forms, but are against most of them.
I am not willing to trade large num-
Der of people who are right for a small
number who are part right. / am not
anxious enough for the nomination to
purchase it by sacrificing what 1 be-
Heve to be right. If my principles are
as unpopular as Gold Democrats think,
why nominate a Gold Democrat?
when you look into the matter you
will find that my strength Gf I have
any is not all personal, but is due to
principles l advocate. The only part
that is personal is the belief among our
people that I am honest and will fulfill
every pledge l make. If L gave them
any reason to doubt my Willingness to
go down to defeat rather than abandon
my convictions they would turn against
me in moment.
But they shall have no reason to lose
faith.
Il have written at length and frankly,
because if the World supports me 1
want it to do so with full knowledge
want it to do So with full knowledge
have the World support my platform
than support me-. if 1t can not do both.
Il do not care to hold office unless il
enables me to do something to aid the
people in their fight against wealth, and
to make peace with the money trust
would render all efforts fruitless.
wv. J. BRYAN"
Best Prescription For Malaria.