The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-14
LETTERS TO EDITOR.
Reply to CONGRESSMAN RIchardson

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
In your daily of February g. 1904. page
8, appears an interview with Representa-
tive Richardson of Alabama, reinforced
by his picture. Referring to the demo-
cratic platforms of 1896 and 1900, Mr.
Richardson said: IF these platforms are
affirmed We might as well nominate
Bryan and throw up our hands in despair
Sometimes | think Mr. Bryan Is again a
candidate for the democratic nomination.
We have good chance to win this year,
but not on an absolutely dead issue"
Please ask Mr.. Richardson to point out
specifically what clauses or paragraphs
of the platforms of 1876 and 1900 he dis
approves. "Splutter' won't do; we must
get down to brass lacks"
Mr. Richardson speaks of Mr. Bryan
with much impotence. Why? Has not
Mr.. Bryan right to express his opinion
about democratic policies and point out
what he thinks for the best interests OF
the party? II not Mr.. Bryan, who shall
speak? He certainly Is honest and intel
ligent Shall the six and half millions
who voted for him in 1896 stand back and
let the one hundred and thirty thousand
who voted for Palmer and the so-caled
democrats who voted for Mckinley shape
the platform and select the candidate?
Suppose this is done and we are again
defeated (and we certainly will be-, what
then?
He says. I'VE have a good chance to
win this year" Win; yes, win. Win
what? Simply an office? One would sup
pose so, for he lays down no definite line
of policy and enunciates no settled prin-
ciples to contend for.
He says. 1--WE cannot win on an absolute
ly dead ISSUE" What issue Is dead? Is
II the silver question? If so, then BIZ
metalism Is dead. If he thinks b-metal-
ism is dead. then he fails to comprehend
the significance of the war against the
silver dollar. This war is not because the
silver dollar Is a deprecated dollar, for
there never was time In the history of
this republic when it was not good as
a gold dollar No, no. my friend the
whole and sole object of this crusade
against silver since 1872, has been to get
rid of the silver dollar, that cireulates
among the people, and of the greenbaclS
dollar that crculates among the people.
and have gold alone, as the legal tender,
which does not circulate among the peo-
pie; and these out of the way, to give
the national banks. organized for private
gain. the right to issue and determine the
amount of money that shall be used as
the circulating medium-a grant of power
that Jefferson, Jackson, Benton and Cal
houn fought
changers" don't think so, for they are
striving right now to give these national
banks the power to issue "asset cur
rency' in addition to one founded on
bonds. The republicans and their allies
are still tinkertng with the money ques-
ton. and yet it is a dead issue, some
would have us think.
For over forty years we have been de-
feated on the tariff issue. Shall we aban-
don our position because of defeat,
We were defeated on the issue of i'm
perialism" Shall we surrender the doc
trlne that no people should be ruled out
side of and beyond the constitution? In
a word we have been defeated on every
issue we have presented What then shall
we do? Abandon. I suppose, every issue
and every democratic principle and sim
ply Ego In for the spoils of office. This
is the logic of every argument made by
the "reorganizers," who are simply teas
ers for the republican party.
o, no. Mr. Richardson, you are deceived
as to the feelings and sentiments of the
millions of democrats. They are honest
and sincere and wish definite results.
They know no man who is inconstant and
Inconsistent commands the respect Of his
neiehbors and that no political party
commands or is entitled to the confidence
of the people that is "fopping about
simply to gain office. without any set
tied convictions or principles to carry out
in the administration of national affairs.
For nearly eight years the republicans
and .'reorganizers" have been trying to
cast disrepute on Bryan and the platform
of 1896. knowing that Bryan Is an honest
man and power to be reckoned with,
and that every line, sentence and para
graph in that platform meets responsive
cord in the heart of every poor man.
C. DAVIS.
Huntsville. February IL. 1904