Evening journal., 1900-11-03
BAYARD AND IHe CURRENCY

~ illSl Ambassador lhomaS II. Bay
ard, the foremost OF Delaware d mo
Gratis, is dead but his memory is green
in the affection Of thousands Of Della
wareans who followed his leadership
with implicit confidence in years gone
by, and who would do it now were he
alive, and engaged in active participa-
ton in the political affairs Of the ma
tion and state. To all such admirers
OF the dead statesman letter written
by him on February 8, 1898, makes an
earnest and pertinent appeal. He wrote .
1t is manifesuy the uncertain condi-
ton OF the currency OF the country.
the relations Of Congress thereto. ana
tho threat, scarcely yelled in its lam
guage, and boldly avOWed by many Of
the advocates OF the Teller resolu-
tion, of the right of Congress to al
will substitute silver for the gold
standard and measure of value for all
contracts
1t is this threat which casts its bale
ful shadow over all business transac-
lions. prevents daily labor from secur-
ing its just reward, and impairs that
sense of settled security which is the
very bedrock OF every honest human
effort to advance civilization-and this
depressing and distressful condition OF
affairs viii continue until the sober
second thought of an honest nation
instructed by intelligent reflection and
guided by an instructive sense Of self
preservation-shal lead them Gas they
Wild, to reject positively and finally
the counsels of wild and passionate ig-
norance and misinformed ambitions.
which, IL they prevailed, could only end
In anarchy AMI widespread misery.
Congress cannot too soon or too
clearly comprehend the profound inn
portance Of this issue, upon which
every citizen must take and maintain
A responsibility that cannot be escaped
| want my fellow-citizens to look
the truth in the face-to declare il
openly, AMI to stand by it persistently
And the truth is that to Congress was
delegated the power to coin money
and regulate the value thereof" But
not to create the value thereof; but &c
regulate the value of our own coins
and Of foreign coins as well. To "cre-
ate values Is not political or gov
ernmental pOwer--to attempt to dele
gate it would be impious and absurd
and all such efforts would prove as
futile as history everywhere has
proved them TO be. The illusions o
alchemy are not better attested thar
the illusions which have led to the at
tempts to advance the commercial
value of silver for the past twent.
years by congressional legislation, il
the face of which it has steadily de
clined.
In my judgment, "the need and duty
Of the hour" therefore, is to cause thil
simple, essential, historical truth to bl
clearly comprehended by our country
men in every occupation and walk o
! life-and the profound importance e
the happiness and welfare OF each in
! dividual TO have such question calm
/ ly and clearly comprehended and pass
I'd above the heats and passions of per
sOnal or party ambition and to entrus
1t TO the conscience. courage and self
respect of our fellow -countrymen; am
this will be a true test Of the wisdom
and capacities OF popular self-govern
ment.
Those were Mr. Bayard's words il
1898. If he We're alive, they would b
his words in 1900. Let every Delawar
Democrat read them and ponder owe
their sound sense and import befor
casting his vote for Bryan. Free Sil
yer and rcpudiation