The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-26
est. hard-workinx men and women of the

est, hard-working men and women Oh uo
West and South.
The Chicago platform is a direct mem
ace 10 orderly government -" III
doucy ard temper Of the ChicaEV Con
veriion were rurely agrarian ana anar-
chistic. The purpose 81 the proceedings
vas TO unite every element OF niSdnc,-
ton. TO array the moor against the Zen,
the needy against the well-to-d0 10 hoii
out specious promises OF renei, anu az
this. not on lines OF reform put III i"l,,
~ revolution. Very great latituue snv"i,
e. allowed tho expression OK political
discomfort. But even I'm our countr 'here
are bounds within which partisan critl-
cism mus, Iln,, i,selr. The spirit OF all
that was said and done az Chicago much
exceeded those bounds md justifes the
apprehension of conservative people.
zone may hold the course OF the gu
preme Court n me matter or the IN
come tax IN roprohafion without want
ing 20 abolish the court. One may not
approve tho manner o. the bond sales.
yet be unwilling 70 20 the length Of
interdicting such sometimes necessary
transactions. II one should cut off n
finger every tine y finger pains him he
would soon 10 wanting n hand. But
the omen sympathy for the rioters 81 two
summers ago. and the implied censure or
the administrator FOR the use OF the
army and tho courts 70 suppress those
rioters. strikes directly M the root Of or
DERBY government.
"Ts'ahlish tho principle laid down hv
the Chicago platform IN his regard and
y hocomes only n question Of time when
the law IS AZ the mercy Of the mob. only
a question OF time when any community
may be thrown into n state ~ insurrec-
ton without hope Of rescue: only q ques-
tion % time whom civil war NAV be pre-
cinitated upon me country by any we'll
organized BODY Of m~alconfen's. IT two
years ago Governor Altgold had been
President. instead ~ Mr.. Cleveland. can
II be doubted that what was n local
disturbance merely would have grown
into n general confederation. involving.
before ~ could be suppressed. the public
peace from ono end Of the land 10 the
cthor2
Truly Mr.. prvqn's attitude toward so
serious ana go dangerous an element Of
combustion IS very like n child's playing
with fire. IT he should 10 elected. sup
posing him and his platform 10 he sim
core. life and property would possess no
guarantee NJ law and order anywhere.
but. I'm room NJ the firm execution ~ tho
enc and Tho fixed tenure Or The other. we
should have n chaos or official i%nacfion md
mawkish sentiment eliminating I'm Sim
pie anarchy
TN n republic such nc ours the cxtrom-
ISL programme Of revolution promises
NOTHING. % simply DELAYS. n q does not
defeat the sfafesman's programme ~ re-
form. Mr. BRYAN is nm o~hsfrurtionist.
nor p progressive. Tile platform ie 20
trne Democracy. n dolusion and snare"
Though far better put than we have
been able 70 PVT a.. this Is. In substance.
just what wo have been saying an along
about the Chicago platform. from the day
81 was adopted. Free silver would be too
disastrous 10 the country 10 be ovon
thought Of for n moment. but disastrous
as it would he. we could vet recover from
its fell work. But the Chicago platform
strikes. as Mr.. Watterson says. directly
at the root OF orderly government. II we
are TO say that men may defy the laws
and overturn the courts. then We shall
have grated upon our institutions a prin-
ciple that goes 20 the direct destruction
Of them. The whole theory Of Anglo
Saxon civilization and liberty rests upon
the proposition that the law. whatever 10
IS. must Doe accepted and respected by
every person. however high or however
low. When once that principle IS aban-
doned we have nothing but chaos and
NIGHT ahead.