New-York tribune., 1901-01-08
BELMONT ANSWERS BRYAN.
IN HIS CONC EPTIoN OF DEMO
CRATIC PRINCIPLES

IN HIS CONC EPTION OF DEMO
CRATIC PRINCIPLES
Perry Belmont. former president Of the Demo-
cratic Club. is apparently ready TO convince
William ]. Bryan that he Bryan) is sadly
twisted in his views Of Democracy in general,
and bimetallism and the income tax in par
ticuar.
Mr. Bryan has all along seemed determined
said Mr.. Belmont yesterday. ''to create imag-
mary classes and castes among the American
people. A plausible explanation may be that
he confuses with the people of Europe Of whom
he has read the American democracy which es-
tablished the thirteen Colonies, proclaimed the
Declaration of Independence. and created the
thirteen sovereign States the Constitution and
the Union. That explanation receives confrma-
tion in the name 'Commoner which Mr. Bryan
has taken for his newspaper. Such a name
would be well enough in England. but is out OF
place in our American democracy, where kings,
queens, House Of Lords, a nobility and orders
in Church and State have never existed
''In the last century Pitt and in the pres
ent Gladstone were each called the great Eng
lish 'Commoner.' What IS there in dispute in
American Democracy in the least similar TO
the ideas and controversies in which those two
men won fame and name? Mr.. Bryan seems TO
imagine an American democracy is French. Ger
order to defend itself, deems it necessary to use
Socialism, Communism or whatever other wea-
pom may be at hand. Very different from the
Americanism OF De Tocqueville. Schurz. Often
dorfer. is the European Socialism, which adoes
not understand and does not desire TO under
stand our American form of government. Can
any one seriously believe that the democracy
of Long Island for instance, needs such
weapons. or any weapons to defend itself
against autocraey, plutocracy or theocracy, or
against any other rule excepting the rule OF
those Republicans who now and then disregard
or dlsobey the Constitution Of New-YorS and
OF the United States?
''AIr Bryan complains. however, that those
who object 70 his nomination for the third time
as a losing Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dercy. have not stated their principles. while
we have We stand on the Kansas City plat
form; that is our declaration Of principles. but
we ask them 70 place theirs beside it. We are
ready TO fight as long as fusion forces remain
true to those principles.
THE voters have twice declared their repus-
nance to those fusion principles after more
than four wears of thorough debate and consid-
Grafton Certain parts of the Chicago platform
OF 1896 and the Kansas City platform OF 1900
were Democratic but much was Republican.
adopted by the Populists and inflicted on US
Democrats Such, for instance. was the advo-
cacv OF the full legal tender greenback. the
Allison Sherman silver dollar the Federal TAX
on incomes for adjudging which dlrect TAX.
the amount TO be declared and then appOtuonsd
or9oner the States: the Chicago platform threat
ened The Supreme Court. That was q RepuDH-
car cOntrivance. enacted in 1861 ana loO-- Inc
sole issue then decided was direct versus I lhGl-
Soo+ +ewstIou. hut the economical question could
NOT be determined. If our ConsItuIoh per
mitted II and the tax could De IeVleG at t lCS
source as in England, without 1nQulSitOn lIItO
tbe nrivata books and papers OF the cltlzen' lhe
same rate 70 be levied on each and every dOiIaI
on income taxed, the plan might 40. but VIA WllaI
ts nronosed would create class discrimination
1Tba income tax payers themselves. in consldera-
tion OF their special contribution 70 tne - G4.
ernnnent expenditure. mlght assume pTsi.IOn @
and privileges entirely ihcohSiS'e"' WIN
democratic ideas. .,, ~
''The attempt 10 establish internatohal, - uI-
metallism by the United states a foCsh as
would be the endeavor TO create an lnterna- lntL
tional postal system in that way. II Is I@IJI -
Tcatjor az the Mckinley treaty with SPAIN, 70
isCture ms Long Island Democrats ON Imperial
ism. inasmuch as some OF US v', T' bafrs
the Supreme Court long before he had made any
public mention OF them ii
"As much of the Chicago platform as was old
Vas Democratic but that which was new was
Republican or Populist. Mr. Bryan Will surely
NOT assert that what the Kansas City platform
declared in regard to the Philippine policy, the
FortO Rican law, Cuban imperialism the Mon
roe Doctrine the Mckinley tariff and the south
African question was invented by him. A great
deal of the novelty of both platforms regarding
Federal powers would have amazed the Amerl-
ican Democracy which more than a century
aeo insisted on the first ten amendments of the
Federal Constitution
s.The principles Of the fusion forces alluded
10 by Mr. Bryan are set forth In the platforms
OF the Popust party and OF the Silver party
in last May and June. There is much in these
rIatfornns which must be dealt with by each
STATE for itself and outside the OF Con-
gressoral power. Should Mr.. Bryan wish TO
exnloit those theories he should begin in his
own State Of Nebraska, and make IL an 'ex-
detrimental station of Populism. as New-Zealand
is of Socialism. and then the world could behold
and Judge what will come Of it,"