The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-25
Circulation statemen,
ur. Bryan and the Gold Standard.


In marked contrast with the refusal OF
Mr.. Roosevelt to answer questions pro-
pounded by people in the audiences he ad-
dresses, the Democratic Presidential canol-
date invariably treats such interruptions
cautiously and recognizes the right OF the
people to know exactly where their cham-
pfon stands on every issue Of the cam
pafgn Thus. at Wilmington, Del, yester-
day, he took up and discussed questions
which had been prepared by local lawyer
of the Republican persuasion, and his an
swer to one of them is important enough
to be noted with interest. as defining Mr.
Rryaus position in regard to a matter
which has been much exploited by his op-
ponents The question was whether, II
elected, he would pay the obligations OF
the Government in silver or gold?' In
answer, Mr. Bryan said:
II want the Republicans who want that ques-
ton answered to first find out what the law re-
auircs and then l want them TO know mat II
elected President viii enforce that Jaw JUST Is
Will enforce the law against trusts and put
striped clothes on big thieves as we'll as little
thieves But If you Gsk me to construe ne
publican. law l reply that / shall not coTStrue
law until it becomes my duty to enforce II
What more could anyone ask? Mr.. Nc
Kinley. Mr.. Hanna, Mr.. Gage, and their
various satellites. executive, legislative,
and unofficial. not so long ago declared vo-
ciferously that the Fifty-sixth Congress
had settled the currency question for the
next generation. and had fixed the gold
standard upon the country so firmly that a
change Of Administration and party con-
troll of national affairs could have no eff
feet upon the decision. Doubtless they
were right. There is no probability that
radical bimetalIists would be able to secure
such a majority in the two houses Of Con-
gress during the next decade TO change the
existing law, unless monetary conditions
should be SO altered as to make it plain
that the increased gold production of the
present and recent years had been made
quate to supply a volume of metallic money
proportionate to the requirements of the
American people. All talk to the effect that
Mr. Bryan would be false to his oath of
Office and violate the law in order to en-
force his personal opinion that the double
standard is best for the country has been
the most transparent sort of Hanna non
sense.
Mr.. Bryan is an honest man. He is no
more capable of violating the law which
established the gold standard than he
would be of violating and defying the Con-
stitution of the United States at the die
tation of the trusts.
As he is honest. so Mr.. Bryan is a man
of business sense. The currency question
is not one of morals or ethics; it is solely
economic. We do not suppose for mo-
ment that the peoples candidate is a wor-
SHIPPER of the white metal intrinsicaiy
considered. Aside from some sentimental
OF strictly CONSTITUTIONAL regard for the
money of the Constitution, We doubt if
there are a hundred bimetailists in the
United States who would not be fully con-
tented with the single standard were the
volume of gold demonstrated to be suffi-
ciently large to satisfy the demand for
money of redemption. Whether it can be
SO demonstrated or not, is a mere question
of statistics into which it is unnecessary
here to enter. The important consideration
is that the currency of the United States,
as now defined and fixed by statute, Is
settled for years TO come and cannot De
disturbed except for causes which do not
yet appear upon the financial horizon.
Whether he likes the law or not, no one
who knows William Jennings Bryan, not
even his political enemies, viii say that,
if elected President, he will not obey and
enforce it with loyalty and conscientious
devotion to his oath and his duty.