The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-05-11

Satisfaction 10 MS ADMIRERS anu
friends, than does William Jennings
Bryan. No man ever gave more
constant trouble and annoyance TO
his enemies, than does this same
gentleman. He satisfies his friends
because they believe In and trust
him, and because he never deceives
or disappoints them. He apparently
has no secrets from the people, no
ends to serve save the general good.
He answers promptly, plainly, un-
equivocally, any questions put to
him. and by his honest candor,
draws the people to him.
These very methods give constant
worry to his enemies. II he would
squirm and twist and straddle like
other cheap politicians, 1t would
please them nightly. II he would
only remain silent, they could con.
strue his silence 70 suit themselves.
II he would only be ambiguous, they
could make the most Of that. But a
man, statesman aud politician
who will talk. who will tell the
truth, who will persist Ia being
straigh and right--that IL
entirely too much for his enemies.
If Mr.. Bryan Is silent week, the
corporation papers begin to say that
he no longer emphasizes the silver
question; that IL Ia dead issue, and
will be left out of the Kansas City
platform; and the oddities begin to
chuckle. But about this time Bryan
emphasizes 1t again-and there you
are.
Mr.. Bryan has recently given our q
very pronounced interview, express
Ing his opinion of what the Kansas
City platform will be. At Port
Huron, Michigan, he consented to
an interview with Mr.. James Creel-
man, the well-known correspondent
for the New York Journal. A part
of this interview follows below.
Note the candor OF the answers to
these Important, pertinent questions,
and mark the sound, logical reasons
for the same. To-wit:
win the Chicago platform be re-
affirmed?n SA
1T certainly will be reaffirmed.n
"Will any change be made in the
Chicago platform to conciliate the
Democrats who are coming back to
the party?'
mo. The Democrats who are
coming back must not expect a sim
gle departure TO be made from the
position taken by the party ia 1886.
First, because the position taken
then was right; second, 1t would not
be wise to alternate those who were
with us in 1896 in order to please
those who were then against US.
Mr.. Bryan stopped for moment,
he seemed 20 feel that he was max
ing state ment that would have q
serious effect. The old lion look
came into his face, the look he used
to have when he led the disorgan
lied Democracy against the disciE,
lined army OF Mark Hanna ia 1896
THE gold Democrats who come
back he said s'can defend theil
coming on one Of two grounds
They can say they are convinced
that the position taken BY the party
In 1896 was right, and that they wers
wrong, or they can say that because
of the new questions which have
arisen, and which will ak BIZ in
clnded In the new platform, they
are now willing to accept the plat
form as a WHOLE"
The correspondent then, referring
to the passage Of the currency bill
and the impossibility of any Presi
Gent or any party establishing tn,
free coinage of silver during tn,
next four years with gold STANDARD
majority in the Senate, aske
why should a dead issue be incor
porated into the Democratic plat
form?r
SIN the first place." said Mr.
Bryan, II do not admit that th'
Senate Is Republican beyond al
hope Of change. We are certain t
make large gains In the East II W
carry the country. Whether we shall
secure enough to give US q majorit.
in the Senate depends on the size o
the victory. II the gold Democrat
really believe that 1t Is impossible Il
gain the Senate, then they need no
worry about the silver plank. The
ought not TO ask the party to aban
don the silver plank on the groun'
that 1t cannot be carried out. Il
other words, they should not ask u
to give up all hope OF free silver 8,
long as they are afraid of it,"
"Will q specific declaration for tn
free coinage OF silver and gold at
ratio Of 10 to be put in the plat
form ?"
"Certainly. To drop the rati
would be equal to dropping the ques
tion, because no one would beiIev
that the party was very sincere Il
its advocacy of bimetalism IL W
abandon the only ratio advocated b,
any considerable number OF people.
WE do not know how the ordl