Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-08-31
BRYAN AT TOPEKA.
He Formally. Accepts Nomination
of the Sioux Falls Convention.
THE POPULIS1s As EDUCATORS.
He Says They Have Done Much to Arouse
the People to a Study of Economic and
Industrial observation-disclosures Ex-
haustlvely Discussed.

the People to a Study of Economic and
Industrial observation-disclosures Ex-
haustrveIy Discussed.
Topeka, Kan, Aug. 23.-William j.
Bryan, replying to notification by the
populist notification committee of his
nomination as presidential candidate,
said:
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the Noti-
fication Committee:
In accepting the presidential nomina-
ton which you tender in behalf of the
populist party, desire to give emphatic
recognition to the educational work done
by your party. The populist party, an
organization, and the farmers alliances
and the labor organizations from which
they sprung, have done much to arouse
the people to a study of economic and in
dustrial questions. Believing, as I do,
that truth grows, not in seclusion but in
the open field, and that it thrives best
in the sunlight of full and free debate,
I have confidence that the discussion
which your party has compelled will aid
in reaching that true solution of pending
problems toward which all honest citi-
zens aim.
I desire also to express my deep ap-
probation Of the liberality of opinion and
devotion to principles which have led the
members Of your party to enter the ranks
of another party in the selection of
candidate.
which the populists have expressed in
me, I am not vain enough to regard as
personal their extraordinary manifesto
aons of good will. The ties which bind
together those who believe in the same
great fundamental principles are stronger
than ties of affection-stronger even than
the ties of blood; and cooperation be-
tween the reform forces is due to the
fact that democrats, populists and sill
yer republicans take the side of the people
in their contest against greed, and agree
in the application of Jenersonian princf-
Piles to the questions Immediately be-
fore us.
In 1896 the money question was of par
amount Importance and the allies in that
campaign united in the demand for the
immediate restoration of silver by the in
dependent action of this country at 16
to 1, the ratio which had existed since
1884 They were defeated, but that did
not end the discussion The democrats
were defeated in 1888. but that did not
put an end to tariff reform The repub-
licans were defeated in 1892, but that did
not permanently overthrow the protec-
tive tariff. Defeat at the polls does not
necessarily decide a problem. Expert
ence and experience alone settles ques-
lions. If an increase in the volume of
the currency since 1896. although un-
promised by the republicans and unex-
pected, has brought improvement in in
dustrial conditions, this improvement, in
stead of answering the arguments put
firms the contention of those who in
sisted that more money would make bet
ter times.
The republican party, however, while
claiming credit for the increase in circu-
lation, makes no permanent provision for
an adequate supply of standard money.
1t denies the necessity for more real
money. while it permits national banks
to expand the volume of paper promises
to pay money
If the populists felt justified in oppos-
Ing the republican party when it sought
to conceal it's gold standard tendencies
under the mask of international bimet-
allism, the opposition should be more
pronounced in proportion the repub-
ican party more openly eSpouses gold
recommendation.
In 1896 the reform forces charged the
republican party with intending to re-
tire the greenbacks. This charge, de-
MED at the time, has been confessed by
the financial bill, which converts green
backs, when once redeemed, into gold
certificates, and extends privileges
to banks of issue. If populist opposed
the republican party when it's hostility
to greenbacks was only suspected. that
opposition should be greater since no
one can longer doubt the purpose of the
republican party to substitute bank notes
for greenbackS.
1t is true that the populists believe in
an irredeemable greenback. while the
democrats believe in greenback redeem
able in coin, but the vital question at
this time, so far as paper money is con-
cerned, is whether the government or
banks shall issue it. There will be thine
enough to discuss the redeemability of
the greenback when the greenback itself
is saved from the humiliation which now
threatens it. The republican party is now
committed to a currency system which
necessitates perpetual debt while the
populist finds himself in agreement with
the democrats who believe in paying off
the national debt as soon as possible.
If belief in an income tax justified a
populfst in acting with the democratic
party in 1896, what excuse can he find
fer aiding the republican party now when
even the exigenc;es of war have not been
sufficient to bring that party to the sup
port of the income tax principle?
Populists believe in arbit ration now as
much as they did in 1896, and are as much
opposed to government by injunction and
the black list as they were them and
upon these subjects they have as much
reason for cooperation with the demo-
cratic party to-day as they had four years
ago.
Democrats and populists alike favor
the principle of direct legislation. If
any difference exists to the extent to
which the principle should be applied,
these differences can be reconciled by ex-
pertinent. Democrats and populists agree
that Chinese and other Oriental labor
should be excluded from the United
States. Democrats and populists desire
to so enlarge the scope of the interstate
commerce act as to enable the commits
sion to protect both persons and places
from discrimination, and the public at
large from excessive railroad rates.
The populists approve the demand set
forth in the democratic platform for
a labor bureau with cabinet officer at
its head. Such an officer would keen
the administration in close touch with
the wage-earning portion of the popula-
ton, and go far toward securing such
remedial legislation as the toilers need.
In 1886 the populists united with the
democrats in opposing the trusts. al
though the question at that time appeared