The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-01

HIS BRYAN SOLD OUT!
There Is a Way He Might
Ease His Conscience
10 WIN BACK THE EAST
While Grossly -Defrauding the
Western Silverite.
10 WIN BACK THE EAST

Especial correspondence of the Eagle.)
Washington, Jan. S1.-WhiIe it is q
settled fact that silver will be in the
national Democratic platform of 1900 as
strongly as in 1896, it will not be dis
cussed. 1t will be used as bait to catch
the western vote; the western silver
Democrat. Populist and Republican will
be duped for the benefit of securing east
ern votes for Colonel Bryan. This much
was settled last week in this city when
Colonel Bryan was here. He consulted
the leaders of the party; men in and out
Of congress. Nightly meetings were he'd,
and this policy decided upon Skeptical
Democrats; papers always looking for
chance to ridicule predictions made by
Republicans, will characterize this state
ment as a Republican lie" They win
say it has not the slightest semblanee OF
truth. Let US see.
From here Colonel Bryan went to New
York He took part in several meetings.
He was entertained at dinner by o. P. H.
Belmont. a millionaire and an aristocrat;
one whose tendencies are not in the direc
ton of the western Democrat and Popu-
list. He met all sorts OF Democrats Of
all sorts of faith there and at subsequent
entertainments This on its face would
appear suspicious. But there are more
tangible things to show the correctness
of the above assertions. a few days later,
Bourke Cochran, a Democratic leader OF
high degree; one whose sympathies have
not been with the silver wing of the
party; who supported President Mckinley
in 1896, came out in an interview. He
said in part:
''In 1896 I believed that fidelity to the
Democratic principles imposed opposition
to the Democratic party. Therefore I
supported the Republican candidate. NY
opposition however, was confined to the
platform. The issue in the next election
will be imperialism. or silver; it cannot be
both No matter what platform the con-
vention may adopt. if its candidate were
elected, the currency of this country
could not be reduced 10 a silver basis for
at least four years. The silver question.
therefore, will not play a decisive part
in the campaign. A question which can
not be decided by the election cannot be-
come one of its issues To unite the
Democratic party it is not necessary that
it should repudiate any of its former
expressions; that K should renounee,
Suppress or even disguise any of its beliefs.
The Democratic party would be tnvineible
if. recognizing the fact that the silver
question had been postponed by the people
for at least four years, reafirming. if
necessary, the faith of the majority I'm
the declarations Of 1896 and their deter
TO press them Whenever an oc-
casion again arises for obtaining a popu-
lar verdict upon them, realizing that this
election involves not any one policy but
the very existence of Democratic govern
ment. the convention should invite all
citizens who abhor the attempt to clothe
this republic In the tawdry rags of imper-
ialism to cooperate in maintaining the
territorial integrity of the United States
leaving ali questions effecting the finan-
cial integrity of the United States to be
settled hereafter. If Mr.. Bryan were
elected upon a platform declaring that
the financial status quo should be pre-
served for the next four years, have no
doubt that he would Loyalty abide by IT,
He would, of course be free to seek re-
eAettlCI IN ISVf Is an advocate OF Tree
silver, and If he were renominated on
such platform, I would oppose him again
as earnestly as I did In 1886
This interview was published after Mr.
Cochran had participated in a conference
With Colonel Bryan at the Belmont ban
Iuet and it is noteworthy that in the
he SAYS that The desire for
Mr. Bryan's denomination appears 10 be
unanimous In his party and predicts
not only his denomination but election
Nor is this all. A few days later. Colo
mel Bryan went to ePnnsyivanis. The /
Democratic conference that was held
embraced the Democratic committee OF /
he state. Colonel Bryan participated in /
all deliberations. This committee Is made I
lp Of opponents of silver: strong ones at /
nat. Yet, after the conference the com /
nittee publicly declared its confidence in /
he Nebraska warrior and pledged its sup /
port to him, and that Of the state
The colonel also ran up in Connecticut 1
lie had an understanding with the men
Who run things Democratic there. -Four