The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-07-20
BRYAN ON ISSUES.
He Has Surprise for Those Who
Think He Has
CHANGED POSITION.

But SAYS Question Has Been
Settled by the Discovery
of Gold.
William j Bryan, who Is still In
London, having had the opportunity
Of reading American newspapers, con-
sented Thursday to discuss some OF
the questions which have been raised
since he has again become prominent
as o presidential possibility. He said:
VI notice that l am now described
as q conservative, and in order that
there may be no misunderstanding on
that subj: ct permit me to say that In
one sense l always have been con.
servativc. The Democratic policies
are conservative in that they embody
old principles applied to new condi
tiOns. There was nothing new In pyin.
ciple In either Of the platforms on
which / stood. We were accused OF
attacking property, when In fact the
Democratic party Is the defenner of
property because it endeavors to draw
by honest methods on the one side
aud predatory wealth and immoral
methods on tile other. 1t is to the
interest Of every honest man that dis
honesty should be exposed aud pun
ished; otherwise the deserving are apt
to sutfar for the undeservlng. II,
however, by the word conservative
ihcy mean that have changed my
position on any public question or
moderated my opposition 10 corporate
aggrandizament they have surprise
wal ting for them. | am more radical
than l Was In 1896 and have nothing
10 Withdraw On economical questions
which have been under discussion.
The only question we discussed In
1896 upon which there has been any
apparent change, is the silver ques-
tion, and that has not been o change
In the advocates Of bjpaetallism but IN
conditions. We cOntended for more
money and urged the free coinage OF
silver as the only means then in sight
Of securing 1t, The increased produc.
lion Of gold has brought In part the
jf0enCh 40 XpS4h& h&d 70 secure from the
restoration Of silver. The per capita
volume Of money In the United States
Is almost s per cent. greater now than
it was in 1896, and the benefits
brought by this increase have not only
vindicated the quantitive theory OF
| money but have proven the benefits
of the larges amount OF money. No
advocate Of the gold standard can
claim the triumph Of his logic.
l~.>lt H. ~ Y
| believe that the restoration Of silver
would bring still further prosperity,
besides restoring par In exchange
between gold and silver using coun-
tries, but | recognize, as do all other
blmetalllsts whom | have met abroad,
that the unexpected and unprecedent-
ed increase In gold production has for
the present. removed the silver Ques.
tiOn aS an Issue.
While the money question has
waned in Importance other questions
have been forR ing to the front and to
those questions we must apply the
same principles we applied to the
money question, and seek TO secure
the greatest good to the greatest
NUM- ber by legislation which conforms
10 the doctrine OF equal rights for all
and special privileges for none.
"On the new questions many will
act with US who were against us on
the monay questions, for, notwith
standing the discussion Of that ques
tiOn, millions did not understand IT
and were frightened into opposition
We cannot expect the support OF any
one who 10 interested In taking ad.
vantage OF the people either through
trusts or through any other illegiti
mate form of business. Our efforts
should be to distinguish between
those corporations which are legiti.
mate and those aggregations Of wealth
which are organized for purposes OF
public plunder and appeal tor support
TO those only who are willing to have
the goVerDment protect each person
in the enjoyment Of his own earnings.
The newspapers have been trying
to create friction between what they
call old friends and new friends In
politics. Those are friends who are
working towards common end, and
each campaign brings to some extent
a new alignment. In 1896 the party
lost many Democrats and was re.
cruitcd by a great many who had been
republicans up to that time, and we
welcomed them. In 1900 some came
back who we're against us In 1896,
and we did not shut the door against
them. | have no idea that the party
Will require tickets Of admission In
the coming campaign. Usually par.
tl9S are 80 anxious to secure recruits
that past differences are not empha
sized II there 10 a sincere agreemen,
on present Issues
do not know that we can find s
better plan than the Bible plan, which
admits the eleventh hour comeer to {
, place In the vineyard aud to share TIN,
reward With those who began earlier
think this Is sound politics as wei
, as sound religion, provided tho nev
, recruit comes TO work and not to In
, terfere With the othor laborers. Blu
OF course when an oyerseer has to b
, selected, experience cannot be lei
out Of consideration. The worker win
came late would, If honest, be to-
naodest to assume an attitude Of supe
riorlty over those who had tOied dur
ing the earlier hours. While tn
F, question Is one OF purpose, man VIII
} recognizes the dangers that threate,
c our country and is anxious 10 aver
(. them will not find il diff ,uit to estat
!. liSh friendly relations with those VIII
saw dangers at an earlier date.
n VI tha nj f1nrauCea hntwaa tho al n