The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-05
BRYAN'S EXACT POSITION.
me Democrntic Leader Declares
Him~eif for Good and ALL

|
Himself for Good and All.
NEW YORK, July 4.-The World this
morning prints she following autograph
letter from Mr.. Bryan, dated Lincoln,
April 30: al
Whenever you see in the newspapers
that l have abandoned silver. or side
tracked. or tried in any way to evade it.
You can set It down as false. While men
differ as to THE relative importance OF the
money question, the trust question, and
imperialism, l regard all of them as i'm
portant, and have not attempted to decide
which is most important 1t seems to me
that The World ought to be able to see
tbs folly of my taking sides in the dispute.
Why should discourage those who OPP
pose the gold standard ard the trusts mere
ly to crafty those who think the ques-
ton of imperialism the all-important
question? Why should / discourage the
im9erialists by saying that the trust ques-
tion is all important?
why should discourage the opponents
of trusts and Imperialism by saying that
the money question is the only question to
be considered? Others may emphasize
one question or the other. but shall en-
phasize them all. II we are to win in No
vember We must have the cooperation of
all who oppose Republican policies, and
that corporation can only be secured by
making a fight all along the line The
people who oppose the gold standard also
oppose the trusts and imperialism, and
there are nine who oppose all three to one
who favors the gold standard and yet OPP
poses the trusts CIR Imperialism. Why al
fenate nine in order to please one?
The men who demand the abandonment
OF the silver question did what they could
10 make the party gold standard party.
and when they were outvoted they left the
party and did what they could to defeat
the ticket. Now they want TO drive away
the foruists and silver Republicans who
came to us when the gold Democrats de-
serted.
Whatever influence may have will be
exerted to holding what we have and gain
ing enough from the outside to defeat the
Republicans, but 1 do not want it to be
barren victory.
Il want the party to accomplish the re-
forms to which it is pledged. l want the
fiiipinos to have chance to celebrate the
Fourth of July. and want every private
monopoly destroyed. but also want silver
restored at the ratio of l6 to l. and | want
the national banks deprived OF the power to
issue paper money
ba
ed as to authorize an income tax and
the election Of Senators by the people In
addition to these l want to see the sys-
TEN known as government by injunction
abolished. and arbitration between labor |
and capital established
Those who favor free silver favor all
these reforms. Those who favor the gold |
standard favor few of these reforms. bu.
are against most of them l am not will
ing to trade larger number Of people
who are all right for a small number who |
are part right. / am not anxious enough
for the nomination TO purchase 1t by sacri
ficing what l believe to be right. II my
Gratis think, why not nominate a gold
democrat!
When you look into the matter you
will find that my strength OF / have any
Is not at all personal. but is due to the
principles / advocate. The only part that
Is personal is the belief among our people
hat l am honest and will fulfill every
pledge / make.
IF gave chem any reason to doubt my
willingness 10 go down to defeat rather
han abandon my convictions they would
urn against me in a moment.
But they shall never have reason to lose
aith.
Il have written at length and frankly.
ecause IL tie World supports me
yant it to do so with a full knowledge Of
that to expect. I would much rather have
he World support my platform than
Import me, If it cannot do both.
Il do not care to hold office unless 1t
nables me to do something to aid the
eople in their fight against organized
'ealth, and to make peace with the money
rust would render all effort frutless.
"W. ]. BRYAN"