The sun., 1900-09-27
TEE ISSUE.
Abram s. Hewitt Urges His Fellow Psrussns
to Bury the Fraud and the vioieusness OF
Bryanism--yIsus OF q southsrn Bryanite.

to Bury the Fraud and the vioieusness OF
Bryanism-visvs OF q southsrn Brysnite'
From The Nev York Osstsrveiehisch-U Un0drtsehs
Zatuno.
NEW YoRK. July ~.
DEAR MRScHNrzHR: am very glad 10 be re-
minded by your letter OF the 7th inst. OF the
fact that you were good enough TO ask my ad-
vice In the political exigency which then existed
The political situation at this time Is OF a very
different character from that which presented
itself four years ago. At that time II
seemed possible TO maintain a distinct Demo-
cratic organization. based upon the funda-
mental princii les enunciat ed by Jefferson. and
which had continued to govern the party
In all previous Presidential elections The
nomination OF Palmer and Buckner was not
made with any idea that they could he
elected. but In order to preserve an
organization about which sound Democrats
could rally, IN case the herssies Of the Chicago
platform should berepudiated by a subsequent
convention protesting TO be Democratic. The
recent convention held at Kansas City has. how
ever. rendered all such expectaton hopeless.
The party which calls itself Democratic Ia In
reality Populstc and hased upon doctrines
which, II carried into effect, would produce
political anarchy No doubt you are familiar with
Taine's History Of the French Revolution"
In the second volume, entitled Democracy"
you will find all the heresiss Of the Chicago
Platform practically announced and the dread
ful consequences Of striving TO put these false
doctrines into operation are recorded in
language which should become the text for all
political education
We are compelled by every confederation OF
honor, OF duty and Of interest TO repudiat'
Bryansm and all that It represents The coin
age OF silver at the ratio Of 10 to is the least Of
the false doctrines in this platform. but II
necessarily occupies the first place. You ask
whether believe In the coinage " silver in the
ratio cf 10 to 1. You might as well ask me
whether ] believed that an ounce should be
made to pass for pound IN the ordinary rams
actions of commerce. The ratio T. false ratio
The value OF silver measured by gold Is. as
every one knows not 10 10 |. but 80 to1. The
proposition, therefore. OF the platform IL TO de-
clare that so cents shall by law be made equal
10 one dollar. This absurd proposition is based
upon the professed belief that IN 1873 when sill
yer was demonetlzed crime was committed,
by which creditors benefited at tho expense Of
debtors. The facts thai silver was then overval-
ned. and hence It's demonetlsadon was a relief
Ia debtors and Of no benefit 10 creditors, The
extraordinary thing 10 that the Kansas City
platform proposes 10 commit the very crime
WHICH u falsely u'nOunCs~ as ndN1nR Denn per-
petrsted in 1873 II proposes 10 substitute a
nfty-oent dollar in payment of debts which
ought to be discharged with 100 cents 10 the
dollar. This Is robbery and therefore a
crime. In which no honest man can have any
part. The pretenoe that the bullion value
OF silver could be raised To its coinage
value by the nat OF the Government IS
ridiculous In fact we have tried the ex-
pertinent by chasing more than six hundred
millions OF dollars worth OF silver In order
10 preserve the parity between silver and gold
at the ratio OF 10 70 /. We have seen the price
Of silver steadily fall In tho face OF these large
purchases. The United Stat.s strained It's abn-
ity TO the last thread Of tenion in this effort
Universal distress existed and We were only re-
lieved from general bankruptcy by the repeal
Of the sherman act. To repeat this experiment
In time when business ia good Is an act Of folly
so Rlarins that It ia dinicult for a sane man 10
understand the proposition could have received
single vote in the convention.
You ask me whether the pre- sent Admlnistra-
ton Il likely to establish an impertalistic form
OF government over this country or IN It's new
possessions
Ianswer that the Constitution OF the Unlted
States Is too strongly infrenched in the arec-
tions Of tn" people to permit its possible VIOLA
ton by the Administration, and that II such an
attempt were made, the Supreme Court Of tho
United States will surely interpret the Constl-
tuition In the spirit OF its founders and for the
preservation OF the Constitutional government
TO which We owe our stability and our pros
perty. Personally ] regret very much that
we have acquired the Philippine Islands. and
so far as might have any influence would !
exert II for the purpose Of divestlng ourselves |
OF the ownership OF these Islands.
Lastly, you ask whether a Democrat by vot- |
ing for McKinley and Roosevet could be con-
sdered false 10 the interests OF Democracy. I !
answer that do not see how a Democrat who |
IA true TO the interests Of Democracy can in tie
present cIlgency take any other course than n |
vote for the Republican ticket. I propose my
sel' 50 70 vote and do this because am =
Democrat who feels that Bryanism and all .
that II stands for Is diamntrlcaly opposed |
10 the principles OF the Democratic party. |
rs they were enuncsted by Jefferson. and |
ns they have been construed BY all |
the great men who have led the Demo-
ocratic party up TO the time Of the holding Of
the unhappy convention Of sos. when the old |
organization was broken up. have but little
sympathy with the Republican party and as a
rule have found its leaders to be opportunlsts
and not statesmen. Nevertheless. In the pres
ent crisis the Philadelphia platform Is much
more acceptable than the platform Of the
Kansas City Convention. II may be a choice
of evis. but It II certainly lesser evil TO con-
iinue the Government in the hands Of the Re-
publican party for the next four years than to
the perils which would confront US in
ease Bryan and his followers should have the
opportunity OF putting ia practice the insane
policy 10 which they are committed. Very
ruly yours ABRAM S. HEWITT.