Daily inter mountain., 1900-02-08
DEcE/YiNC THE EAST or VEST

DEcs/vfNc THE EAST or WEST
When the leading newspapers of Bos-
ton are quoted to show that Bryan ala
not dignity the free coinage ratio OF 10
to / with a mention in that city, thougn
he was supposed to be outlining the
issues of the campaign. the democratic
press of the west sarcastically inquire
if he is expected to talk bimetallism
"every time he opens his lips?' While
no one would impose upon the colonel
the duty of talking silver when he opens
his lips for the sole purpose of engulf-
ing a beefsteak. or expect him to dwell
upon the ratio when he is whistling at
mark. there are occasions when it be-
comes not only a privilege but a bounden
duty for him to talk silver, if he is sim
cerely in favor of it's restoration. Such
an occasion arose in Boston, one of the
It was, in truth, a golden opportunity to
talk silver.
BRYAN was avowedly engaged in the
work Of laying the foundations for the
coming campaign, and yet he did not
even mention free coinage in his long
and eloquent dissertation on democratic
principles in the Athens of America. The
western democratic press excuse this in
territorial and absurd omission, by declar
ing that Bryan had previously gone on
record on the silver question. Suppose
he had. Does that make it any less his
duty to convert the Bostonians to that
faith? Why should he deprive them of
the law and the gospel of finance when
he is on proselyting mission in the
"enemy's country?"
No legitimate excuse can in fact be
urged in behalf of Bryan, when he wholly
omits the free coinage question from his
discussion of the national issues in one of
the greatest American cities. He was
guilty of cowardice, on the one hand, or
of recourse to the cheap tricks of the
politician on the other. Either he lacked
the courage to publicly proclaim the
doctrine of free coinage in the heart of
the single standard country, or he was
trying to convince his hearers that he
looked upon that issue as of too little
Importance to waste time on when more
momentous questions appealed to the
people! The political friends of the
colonel are at liberty to accept either
horn of the dilemma which affords them
the greater advantage.
The effect of his course was to con-
vince the Bostonians that while he was
committed to silver in a general way,
having been the standard-b bearer of that
faction in 1885, he looks upon anti-im-
peralism, and questions of that charac-
ter, as of infinitely more Importance to
the country than the subordinate side
issue of national bimetallism! Bryan
was not ignorant of the fact that there
is a strong sentiment in New England
against expansion and all that it implies
The development of the west, with it's
promised commercial supremacy and in
dustrial leadership, as the result of the
activities created by the policy of expan-
sion, is looked upon with jealous eye
by the inhabitants of Yankeedom. They
foresee the financial independence of the
west and the coming day when fewer de-
mands will be made upon the New Eng
land pocketbook for money with which
to promote the industrial enterprises OF
this section. The vast body of none,
lenders, great and small, Throughout
New England, whose surplus is handled
by the financial brokers of New York
are opposed to expansion, and welcom,
with open arms the advent Of the Mes
siah of anti-imperialism in the shape O
William Jennings Bryan.
Had the colonel made free coinage tn
paramount issue, and anti-expansion ,
question Of lesser Importance to tn
American republic, he would not hav
met the cordial reception that was &C
corded him in the single standard eas,
BY mentioning silver as a future possi
bility, when the time becomes ripe 70
its readoption. and bringing the horror
of expansion to the front with all tn
energy of his intense nature. he strength
ened his standing among the goldites q
New England and frightened his hope
for q denomination for the presidency