The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-11
BRYAN's LATEST EXPRESSION.

Some days before Mr.. Bryan came East.
but after 1T had been given out that he
would ignore the silver issue in his speech
of acceptance, he expressed to a caller his
views on the silver question in The course
of a conversation. from which the follow
ing is taken:
MI Bryan, If you are inaugurated as
President next March, will you urge the
Congress to repeal the gol1 standard law
and pass an act providing Cor the free
coinage of silver at the ratio of Is TO 1?'
Il certainly will" replied MIR. Bryan.
I'm such an event, will il he your pur-
pose to use all your influence and power to
secure the passage of such a law"
Certainly. The Democratic platform
means what Ii says, and If we win you may
he sure 1 shall not be the first to abandon
that platform. On the contrary, II will he
my duty and my purpose to uphold 1t to the
very letter"
This statement was printed in the Chi
cago Times-Herald several days ago, so
that Mr.. Bryan's friends have seen 1t. and
If they had any doubt of it's authenticity
they must have shown it to him. The free
and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio
of Is TO l is the paramount fact In the po-
litical life of Mr.. Bryan. 1t made him, and,
under threat of refusing to be the party
candidate. he forced his own plank into
the Kansas City platform because he was
not satisfied with a simple reaffirmation Of
the platform of 1896. which was sufficient
for all other questions. Here is the Bryan
| plank:
We reafirm and indorse the principles of
~ Ns@.o ffnrVa odnnfnd
at Chicago in 1896. and we reiterate the de-
mand of that platform for an American
financial system. made by the American
people for themselves, which shall restore
and maintain a bimetallic price level, and
as part of such system the immediate res
toration of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
of 16 10 /. without waiting for the aid or
consent of any other nation.
1.-The immediate restoration of the free
and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of Is to 1'-there is
no declaration in Mr.. Bryan's platform
more emphatic than this. The restoration
is to be Immediate if Mr.. Bryan shall be
| chosen President. He would ask the same
extra session of Congress that he promises
to call to promise independence for the
| Tagalos to pass a free coinage bill. There
has been no change in the purpose of Mr..
| Bryan. He is more intent on his silver
hobby than upon any other part of his
platform. 1t has been his single theme for
five years. AT Tomlinson Hall he promised
the Republicans all the money discussion
they will want before the campaign shall
be over.
The same caller asked Mr.. Bryan If II
would not be wise to urge bimetallism upon
a commercial ratio rather than upon the
ratio of Is to 1. NO" was the emphatic
answer; sit is necessary to have a ratio in
order to have a battle; We have taken a
| stand upon a ratio. and the ratio we stood
for has become a part of the battle for
monetary reform, as vital as the principle
itself" This is the latest expression OF
| Mr.. Bryan-an expression made since he
agreed with his leaders to make imperial
ism. against his judgment. the paramount
4 SenA