Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-13
MONEY STILL An ISSUE
Bryan Writes q Letter in Which
He Defines Issues
for 1904.
Believes Silver Issue Will Be
the Leading Question at
That Time.
Says Imperialism and the Trust
Question Also Remain to
Be Settled.

Question Also Remain to
Be Settled.
Lincoln. Sept. 13.-In letter to
George w. Harris president of the Bry-
an Travelling Mems Club of st. Louis
just made public. w. j. Bryan outlines
what he believes will be the leading po-
litical issues Of 1904.
Mr.. Bryan insists the silver question
is not settled, that the fight against
trusts must continue, together with OPP
position to government by injunction
and finally that the Kansas City plat
form bids fair to be as sound declara-
ton of democratic principles three years
hence as at the time it was adopted
The letter, which is in answer to one
requesting suggestions, begins by adj
vising the club to change its name from
Bryan" to democratic" and cnntin-
ueS:
Conditions make issues; parties must
meet issues as they arise. The tariff
question occupied the largest share OF
ing the irritating cause. Before 1896
rolled around, however, Mr.. Cleveland
and his republican and gold democratic
associates had forced the tariff ques-
ton into the background and created
conditions which made the money ques-
ton paramount. The democratic party
was compelled to meet that issue and 1t
met it fairly and honestly.
Between 1896 and 1900 the republican
party, by its inaction on the trust ques-
ton and by its un-American action on
the Philippine question, compelled a
consideration of individualism, which
was attacked by private monopoly, and
of the fundamental principles of gov
eminent. which were attacked by inn
perialism. The tariff question was not
settled in 1886 when 1t gave way to the
money question, neither was the money
question settled in 1900 when imperial
ism and monopoly took precedence over
1t.
THE position taken by the democratic
party on the money question is as sound
as Its position on the tariff question. No
Orc is able to say what new issues may
arise between now and 1904; neither can
any one say what relations the various
issues may bear to each other.
1T seems probable that Imperialism
will again be prominent, and probably
paramount. for the republican party
shows no disposition to abandon it's CO.
lonial policy. ana we can not accept CO.
lonialism without repudiating all that
we have been taught to regard as demo-
cratic in government.
The trusts are increasing in number
and magnitude. and we must resolutely
oppose them or forfeit the confidence of
the common people.
The republican party is determined
to retire the greenbacks and substitute
bank notes to be controlled by them for
their own advantage. The paper money
issue is entirely separate and distinct
from the silver question, and yet 1t is a
significant fact that those who declare
the silver question dead have nothing to
say about the irreconcilable conflict be-
tween government paper money and ma
tional bank notes. The influence Of the
money power Is such that whenever 1t
can bride or terrify man into the sup
port of the gold standard 1t can Silence
his opposition to banks of issue.
Whether the silver question will
play an important part in the next
campaign is question which cannot
now .,a determined. The gold stand
ard is not yet complete; it remains
yet to make silver redeemable in gold
and limit its legal tender qualities.
The republican party has these further
steps in contemplation. We cannot
abandon the democratic position until
we are ready to accept the republican
position, and we cannot accept the re-
publican position until we are sure that
the worlds supply of gold is sufficient
to furnish all the nations with enough
primary money. AS the influence of
our nation, If cast on the side of the
yellow metal, would tend to hasten
universal gold standard, we can
not afford to join in the crusade against
silver until the world is ready to do
without it as u money metal.
The Kansas City platform covered
a number of other important ques-
tons. among them the dangerous and
tyrannical system known as govern
ment by Injunction. This judicial
abuse is growing more and more
threatening to liberty, and no one can
say at what moment some Judge may
SO shamefully exceed his authority as
to make the settlement of the question
imperative
The Kansas City platform is sound
turnout. because 1t applied democratic
principles to the conditions then exist
ing. Those principles are still demo-
cratic, and we must apply them to pres
ent and future conditions.
The line between the republican par
ty and the democratic party is the line
between plutocracy and democracy, and
we can not afford to obliterate that line
or make II less distinct. If we abandon
the Kansas City platform, we shall lose
the support OF the plain people without
gaining the support of those who are
opposed to that platform. We may de-
serve to win and still lose, but 1t re-
mains true that to deserve success is
the surest road to victory.
Those who boast of their willingness
to do anything to win are unsafe pi-
lots because they throw away the
compass when they discard democratic
principles. The party now stands for
positive principles and definite policies.
II the party is right, as / believe It is,
we can confidently expect to wait for
that vindication, and we can better af-
ford to wait for that vindication than
prove recreant to the trust reposed in
the party by more than 6,00o0o voters.
Very truly yours,
''w. J. BRYAN"
Cute and ar,,;... o..:.L,.