New-York tribune., 1900-07-18
FRANK JONES ON BRYANISM.
FORMER NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMIT
TEEMAN SAYS FREE SILVER is
DIsHoNoRABLE PROPOSITION

Portsmouth, N. H. July 1.-THE Hon. Frank
Jones' Of this city, who formerly member Of
the Democratic National Committee and who to-
day is a stanch supporter of Mr.. Mckinley, has
given an interview. In which he explains the
son he attended the Philadelphia Convention be-
fore he knew the action the Democratic Conven-
tion would take on the platform. Mr.. Jones says:
I knew perfectly well that the Democratic Con.
vention would change its 16 to l declaration of
1896 Everybody knew this
1t admitted that there was no candidate Tor
the Presidency but MI Bryan. ana eNerypouy
knew the great thing he represented was l6 to by
the United States alone. without the help OF any
All the talk about modification of this unsound
money plank account of certain objections
which were 10 be made was mere nonsense; Sena,
Hils motive in going to the convention ana
must have known that he would not succeed, and
1t would have been better for him if he had stayed
The Convention. unlike that Of four years ago,
showed personal liking for Mr. Hill. but was
Immediately without waiting for any action by
The fight that was made in the Convention
against 16 to was only pretence. This Is shown
a change was made bY only one jority in the
Committee Resolutions. there was no minority
ffS in the con1ent6n P0fi Itself This proves that the
Convention overwhelmingly against any
Does any one suppose that if majority of the
fe they wod have stopped simply be-
cause Of one majority in the Committee on Resolu-
2is sRrs or m Hawaii? @ No it Was settled thing from
the beginning that Mr. Bryan would be @ nominated mate,
diate opening Of the mints of the United States
I did not Vote for Mr. Bryan four years ago on
that proposition; how could any one think would
a0G how @ could % anybody have | the sghest doubt
that this would continue to be the issue?
CONVICTIONS UNCHANGED.
DO you continue to believe that the restoration
Of silver to free coinage would be injurious, as
you did four years ago.
Most certainly I do. Ny convictions have grown
We are four years further away from the shut
have become separated so widely that it would be
a folly and crime to think of free coinage OF
The Americans would be insane II they opened
their mints to silver at the old ratio without any
The issue as TO whether this Government will
their debts. in 5o-cent dollars is more than ever
q real issue, according to the candidate and the
When it declared that Imperialism the para
mount issue ii did not in this way make 1t the
whether this nation shall repudate its debts to
the, extent of onehalf and allow or force private
individuals to do the thing.
An questions Of ailsgianGs to political PA party
dishonorable and calamitous proposition.
REGARDING IMPERIALISM
How do you regard the other issue between the
two parties-between expansion or imperialism and
anti-imperiasm?'
That issue is not so important as the question Of
national dishonesty. Indeed there is great issue
at all. Porto Rico is territory, Cuba is to be
delivered over to the Cubans shortly and as to the
Philippines Mr. Bryan does not propose to bring
our army and navy from those Islands i'm
mediately any more than Mr.. Mckinley does.
The attempt TO make the issue of Imperialism
seems to me TO be effort to force to the front
political quarrel to what this country ought to
do three, four or five years from now. when every
body agrees 10 what il ought TO do
Such controversy that will not pay. We cannot
bind the American people to what they shall do
five years from Parties in the future Con-
in the future AdminiStra future.
be depended upon to do what is right and what
it is honorable for the American people and the
American Government TO do. For one. I am not in
haste TO pull down the flag where 1t has once been
honOrably raised.
OF course. we will bring 1t away from any place
where II ought in honor longer stay, but there
should be no hurry in deciding what shall be the
final Philippine policy, and there is only a bogus
issue made between the political parties about to
cover up the real money issue
While Democrat never understood that the ac-
quisition of territory antl-Democratic Mr..
Jefferson obtained Louisiana for US, and Mr. Polk
obtained all the territory conquered from
Mexico.
Those two great acquisitions were ma de by Demo
Gratis. and am willing to take the risk of a little
expansion rather than submit National and ndi-
vidua reputation Of debts and the destruction for
years TO come Of prosperity in America