Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-02-01
The Bryan meeting.

WnhteVef may udVo been buo Ohar-
aoter Of other features Of Mr. William
j. Bryan's yisitsto Delaware, his recep-
tion at the Grand Opera House, Friday
night, was generous and enthusiastic,
and fine tribute to bis drawing powe n
as an orator. True, the size Of the
audience twenty-five hundred
was not especially significant 10 city
containing nearly $1,000 qualified
voters, fully one-half of them Demo
Gratis upon straight party issues. but it
was an excellent audience in every re.
speot. 1t was composed of thoughtful,
intelligent citizens, who gave close at
tention to all that the speaker said, and
generously applauded those portions Of
his address that met with their appro-
baton. And in this connection, it was
a matter of note that the applause
attending Mr.. Bryan's remarks upon
the financial question and his laudation
Of free silver coinage, was not as nearly
as generous and emphatic as the ap.
plause that greeted the real Democratic
portions of his address, in denunciation
Of trusts, Imperialism and other Re-
publican iniquities.
In many respects Mr.. Bryan's address
was very able; in some parts it was de-
cidedly demagogio and thoughtless !;
to considerable degree it preached the
essence of real Democracy; but upon
the money question it was absolute rot.
1t is plain that Mr.. Bryan is still
welded to free silver coinage, and from
what he says upon the subject, IN his
attempt to show that it is ques-
tion that commands the support of a
large majority Of the American people,
1t will be seen that he is building his
reasonings upon the cowardly and
makeshift policy of the Republican
National Convention OF 1896 with re-
specs to the money question. Mr..
Bryan points out that the Republican
platform, upon which Mr.. Mckinley
was elected President, declared en-
phatically for bimetallism through in
ternational agreement, and pledged its
best efforts to secure such International
agreement; and that upon this platform
Mr.. Mckinley received over 1000, 900
votes and was elected. That the Demo-
ratio platform, declaring for "the free
and unlimited coinage of silver, at the
ratio of l6 to l., without waiting for the
aid or consent Of any other nation, I"
was endorsed by the votes Of over
6,000,000 people. And that the only
platform that declared emphatically in
favor of the gold standard-the plat
form of the Gold Democrats-was en-
dorsed by only ] PER cent of the popular
vote and carried but a single election
district in the entire country. Upon
these promises, Mr.. Bryan bases the
conclusion that over 13, 900, 900 voters Of
the country declared in favor of bimet.
allism, and only an insignificant per
centage in favor Of the gold standard.
ut the election in 1896. This is the
argument furnished him by the COW.
ardly weakness of the Republican party
upon this great question in the last
national campaign.
But take Mr.. Bryan's proposition
from another standpoint: The Demo
cratic party, with platform and candi
dates committed unreservedly to fret
silver coinage, received about 5000, O0(
votes, including the thousands who
stood by it upon the powerful plea o.
PARTY regularity, and was overwhelm
ingiy defeated. 1t failed to carry thu
country, and was rerudiated, upon tht
issue of free silver coinage alone, il
States that previously had been sclidly
Democratic.
Therefore, 1t is pertinent to ask o
Mr.. Bryan and of those who believe il
him: How can the issue of free silvel
coinage, proved by facts and figures t,
be an issue of Democratic disaster, b,
made potent for Democratic victory
the election for President next Noyem
ber2
On the issue OF free silver coinage ca,
the Democratic party carry New York
Can it carry ConnecticutP
Can it carry New Jersey?
Can 1t carry Delaware?
Can it carry Maryland?
Can it carry West Virginiap
Can it carry Indiana?
New York, upon the issue Of fire.
silver coinage, at the election in 1896
gave Republican plurality of 1853, 469
Connecticut Republican plurality @
53,545: New Jersey a Republican
plurality of s7,G92; Delaware Re
publican plurality of 1850; Marylan,
Republican plurality of b, 224; Yves
Virginia Republican plurality q
10, 1888; Indiana Republican rluralit
of Is, ls1.
And yet, upon straight Democrati
issues. all Of these States are Demo
cratic, and can be depended upon
cast their electoral votes for the Demo
cratic nominee for President. Ne,
York has already given large ma
jority for Democratic State ticket
with the disturbing issue of free silye
coinage relegated to the past, and a
the election of last November, Roosev ell
with all the prestige of his war record
received plurality of only abou
1900 votes, which, according to vel
informed observers, was due more
Boss Croker's injudicious utterance
and audacious interference with til
election Of certain members Of III
judiciary, than to any other caus,
Maryland, at the election of last NJ
vember, proved herself Democratic /