The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-20

We Cannot believe that Mr.. Bryan con-
templates bringing about that state OF
riot and disorder which his language
logically leads TO. But. however inno-
cent In purpose he may be. incendiary
propaganda like these tend naturally and
Inevitably to disorder riot. tumult. They
teach the ignorant poor TO believe that
those who have outstripped them in the
race OF life have thereby done them an
Injustice They are the foundation Of
sedItion. revolution and discomfort with
everything that is fixed and ordered in
society.
MIR. Bryan's teachings are precisely
that with which Catiiine appealed to the
| disconnected elements Of Rome. when he
fomented the most dangerous and de-
testabIe conspiracy against public peace
and order that has ever been known In
the history of the world. 1t was in tho
decay OF Roman power and virtue that
| this agitator melted the ignorant OF the
populace and the bankrupt of all classes
10 make common cause with the lazy
and the vicious against those possessing
property, with these same pleas that
property owned by some was necessarily
an injustice TO those who had none.
sallusts pen OF fire, and Cicero's gor-
geous orations have preserved us an
immortal picture OF the orgy which he
had met with success, end these we ear
nestly commend TO Mr.. Bryan's most at
tentive consideration.
What q striking similarity between Mr..
Bryan's rhetoric and the following pas
sage from the speech of Catiiine to his
followers, as Sallust has preserved 1t
to us:
For, who is there In the world, whose
manly spirit can tamely tolerate the
superabundant wealth OF the rich, which
they lavish in building inland seas and
leyelng mountains while for us even the
bare necessaries OF existence are lack
ing?
'Who can calmly view the rich, each
houses, while we have not even hearth
stone we can call our own?
Though they purchase paintings, stat
uary and embossed plate; though they
tear down houses but recently built and
erect others in their places; though they
lavish and abuse their property in every
imaginable way, yet with all their ca
price they cannot exhaust their wealth
But for us there is want at home, debts
abroad; the present situation is bad,
our prospects for the future are bitterer
still; IN short. what IS there left for us,
but a miserable existence?"
80
complete Catiline in one Of his public
addresses uses the following language
"Often have our forefathers, taking
compassion on the commonalty at Rome
relieved their distress by DEGREES; and
very lately, within our own memory.
silver, by reason OF the pressure Of
debt, and with the consent OF all respec-
table people, was paid with brass"
AS Catiline would pay silver debts with
brass, so Mr.. Bryan would pay gold debts
with silver; meantime changing 1t so as
to make the heathen's invocation an
address to the great and living God. We
might well adopt Cicero's prayer for the
delivery Of Rome and her people from
that which Catiline threatened to bring
upon them:
Then thou. o. Jupiter, who hast been
established by Romulus with the same
auspices with which this city was found
ed; whom we truly name the guardian Of
this city and Empire. wilt thou defend
from this Catiline and his companions
thy affairs and the other temples, the
roof trees and the walls OF the city, the
lives and the fortunes OF all the people;
and wilt thou destroy all the enemies
Of the good enemies OF the country. the
robbers OF Italy, united among them
selves by covenant of crimes and by
nefarious society. alive and dead, with
eternal punishment"
Mr.. Bryans teachings are not Demo-
cracy. II ne proposes to stand upon such
a platform as this his place Is with
the Populists. They are the enemies OF
nroDerfv. but Democrats are its friends.
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