Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1900-05-09
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
GIVES DEMOCRATIC De
CLAKATION ON SILVER.
Chicago Platform to BE Re.af.
firmed-Rati0 of I6 to 1 Will
Stand-NO Concessions to
Gold Democrats.

In an interview granted to
James Creelman, for the New
York Journal, William j. Bryan,
at Port Huron, Michigan, on
April 80, uttered his opinion re
garding the money plank IN the
platform to be adopted at Kansas
City, which puts an end to the
differences in the party on the
coinage question. Says Mr.. Creel
man in the journal of May lat,
referring to tne enunciatlon by
Mr.. Bryan of his opinion
"What he said. he said deliber.
ately, thoughtfully, slowly, with
full realization of the political
Nfect his words would have.
asked him to make a definite
statement on the money plank of
the platform that would clear the
atmosphere. ! have never seen
hir, more earnest, more full of
profound realization Of the politi
cal condition confronting him,
and | lay stress on this point IN
order to convey clearly the fact
what Mr.. Bryan said to me to day
represents his unchangeable pur.
pose.
NO CHANGE IN CHICAGO PLATFORM.
"Will the Chicago platform be
reattirmed at Kansas Cityw |
asked.
ut certainly will be reaffirm-
ed"
will any change be made in
the Chicago platform to concili-
ate the Democrats who are COM
ing back to the partyY"
mo. The Democrats who are
coming back must not expect
single departure to be made from
the position taken by the party
in 1896. First, because the posi-.
tinn taken then was right; sec
ond, it would not be wise to
ALLEVIATE those who we're with us
in 1896 in order to please those
who were then against u.s."
Mr.. Bryan stopped for q mo
ment; he seemed to feel that he
was making a statement that
! would have a serious effect. The
old lion look came into his face,
the look he used to have when he
led the dIsorganizsd Democracy
against the disciplined army of
Mark Hanna in 1896.
"The gold Democrats who come
back" he said, can defend their
coming on one of two grounds.
They can say that they are con-
vinced that the position taken by
the party in 1896 was right and
that they were wrong, or they
can say that because of the new
questions which have arisen, and
which will be included in the new
platform, they are now willing to
accept the platform as a whole. "
A CHANCE FOR SILVER LEGISLATION.
And now came question
which several of the strongest
gold Democrats in New York
have asked me to present to Mr..
Bryan.
"Mr. Bryan" l said, 1.-The pas
sage of the currency bill and it's
signature by Mr.. Mckinley take
1t out of the power of the next
president to change the status of
gold or silver. AS the senate will
have a gold standard majority for
five years to come, it ls impossi-
BILE for any president or any par.
ty to establish the free coinage
of silver during the next four
years. The currency question is,
therefore, out of the realm of
practical politics for the present,
or, at least, out of the sphere of
either legislative or executive
action. Why hould a dead issue
be reincorporated into the Dem
ocratlc platformp
"In the first place." said Mr..
Bryan. 81 do not admit that the
senate is Republican beyond all
hope of change. We are certain
to make large gains in the east if
We carry the country, whether we
shall secure enough to give us a
MAJ jority In the senate depends
on the size of the victory.
"If the gold Democrats really