Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-06-08
l. E A D r r S HIP
W. j. BRYAN REPLlER TO CRITICS
IN THE COMMONER.
Gives Lucid Explanation to the Springfield
Republican. The Financial Changes Advo.
Gated by Financiers. Clevelandsm the
Most Difficult Thing for Democracy to
Get Rid OF.

Get Rid OF.
Mr.. Bryan has net thought it proper to
use the columns Of The Commoner to
make answer to criticisms which are
purely personal, for he desires to make
the paper an exponent of IDEAS rather
than OF persons. There would be no
room for anything else if he attempted TO
reply TO the many republican and gold
papers which contain unkind comments
and groundless criticism. He has felt at
liberty, however, to take notice OF some
editorials which, in condemning him,
condemn the ideas which he advocates.
In the same issue Of The Commoner,
Mr.. Bryan takes occasion to say: The
Springfield Republican opposed the
democratic ticket in 1896, but in 1860
supported the ticket because the
question of imperialism was made
paramount. The editorials Of that
paper, while they have often found fault
with the editor OF The Commonar, are
usually written IN a friendly vein aid
with more fairness than many papers
show. Attention is called to this edi-
torial in order to point out fact which
must be horne in mind by the advocates
of the Kansas City platform. 1t will be
noticed that the main charge made by
the Republican is that Mr.. Bryan needs
"a sane opportunism." 1t is panied that
Mr.. Bryan does not bury the silver ques-
ton and thus become the ''leader" OF the
radical movement. The Republicans
position is easily expla; ned. Its editor
has never shown any comprehension OF
the real issue between the republicans
and the gold democrats on the one side
and the Kansas City platform democrats
on'the other side-namely, the issue be-
tween Mammon and man. The Repub-
lcan thinks that the silver question
should be buried, but the force of its
opinion on this subject is materially
weakened by the fact that it thought the
same thing in 1896 and the years pri to
that. When the dollar was constantly
rising in value because Of legislation
hostile to silver, the Republican was in
no wise alarmed. The appeals OF the
wealth. producers and the debt payers
never reached it's sanctum. 1t treated
the subject in calmer manner than the
ultra.gold standard organs, but it treated
it from the side of the money lender and
the money changer. 1t is hardly fair for
a Paper that could see no life in the
money question prior to 1896 to pose as
an expert physician and give an opinion
upon the vitality of the issue now. The
editorial quoted from shows that the edi-
tor does not understand today the issue
between those who want money scarce
and those who want a sufficient quantity
between these who want a financial
system, made by the snanciers for THEN
own profit, and those who want fihan-
cial system made by the people for them
selves. Tie editorial contains not the
slightest reference to the gold standard
plan, still uncompleted, which contem'
plates, first, the making Of the silver
dollar redeemable in gold; second, the
withdrawal OF full legal tender qualities
from it; third, its final retirement
fourth, branch bank system; fifth, the
comnlete retirement of tie gr1enbacks
and, sixth, an asset currency. These
propositions are very important ones
and are being considered by the tinan
ciers and will be pushed as rapidly as
possible.
Ii the editor OF the Republican was as
well informed on the subject OF money rs
he is on the subject Of imperialism, Or i
his sympathes were as actively Wi h The
masses OF America, who are the victims
OF Wall streets financial legislation, a
his sympathies are actively with the
filipinos who are the victims OF American
exploitation, he would understand tina
the money question can not be dropped
without criminal disregard OF public
interests. Ii he understood the money
question or il his sympathies were on The
right side of the question, he would know
t'"C ~ COilpioiulsC eioit Va So'iP'SNN
surrender can be made with the finan
ciers.
At this moment there is such a scarcity
OF money in the United States that tina
very scarcity is being used as club tt
beat congress into the passage OF an asse
currency law. That scarcity is suil
Gent reason for insisting upon openin,
Throughout the world there is a scarcit.
OF standard money and that scarcity il
evidence that silver is still needed. These
things can be disregarded by those wh'
do not understand the subject or by thos'
who understand the subject, but sympa