The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-25
BRYAN A DEMAG0GUE.
Hts Quotation From the Republican
Platform nf 1850 an Example of Ills

Platform Of iS6O an Example or Ills
DjsbDnsst Distortion Of ihr Facts OF
History.
TO the Editor OF the lntcllgCnCCr.
SlR:-Cnndidatc bryan. In his speech
yesterday at Brooklyn. New York. In at
tempting to rcpcl III" charge that the
Chicago Platform assalls the ndminls-
tratlOn Of President Cleveland for en-
lloylng the armed forces OF the federal
government In suppresslnE the railroad
riots Mt Chicago and elsewhere In 1893.
quotes section OF the Republican plat
form Of 1860. which reads rs follows:
That the maintenance nviOatc Of the
rights OF the states, and especially the
right or each state to order and control
us own domestic institutions according
TO itH own judgment exclusively. IL cs-
sential to that balance OF power on which
the perfection and endurance OF our pO-
lltical fabric depends; and we denouncc
the lawle!sS Invasion by armed force. OF
the soil OF any state or territory. no mat
ter under whit preteXt. as among the
gravest Of crimes"
The reading Of this plank OF the Re-
publican platform OF 1860 was greeted
by enthusiastic cheers by the crowd the
speaker was addressing. Now. permit
mo to say that II Candidate Bryan was
not deliberately trying 10 deceive his
hearers, he should have gone little fur
Their and quoted section OF that same
platform, which reads as follows:
THAT the new dogma, that the consti-
tuition OF It's own force carries slavery
into any any or all OF the territories OF
the United States, Is a dangerous polItl-
cnl hereSy. at variance with the provis-
ions of that instrument itself. with con-
tcmp0raneous exposition. md with leg
islauve and judicial pr1cadent-iS revo-
lutionary In !ts tendency and suhversive
OF the peace and harmony OF the coun-
try"
Now. perhaps. Candidate Bryan was
not old enough to remember. and has not
had sufficient leisure TO read history and
inform himself Of the fac, that the plank
OF the Republican platform OF 1860 quot
ed by him was intended as n denunciA-
ton OF the acts uf the pr1-slavery party
who sought to Invade Kansas and other
Free Soil territories. and by force OF
arms. and In defiance OF the will Of the
people OF such territories, establish sla-
very within their borders.
Candidate Bryan will search the plat
forms OF the Republican party In vain 10
find where they huv. ever denied the
constitutional authority Of the federal
government to enforce its own laws. and
TO protect It's own existence and the lives
and property OF Its own citizens.
He may fool the ignorant by misap-
pllcatl0n OF che principles of the Rcpub
lican party, and by preaching the doc
trine OF hate may inflnmc the passions Of
his dcluded followers. but the Intelligent.
law-abidlnG ana peace loving people OF
the United States. recognize that the
dangerous dogma OF States rights" as
advocated by the supporters OF slavery
In 1860. was riddlcd with bullets and
cannon balls and shot to death In one OF
tn" DlODdicSt civil wars OF modern times.
and they do not intend to disturb It's
grave or Ilsinter Its remains.
II Is time that Candidate Bryan was
learning that purely economic qucs-
ton like free silver" when presented
10 the American people. can be discussed
without prrvrrtIng and mIsrcpresrntInG
the fundamental principles 0f Grea,
political party at time In It's history
when 1t was graphing with the enemies
OF human freedom. and seeking to pre-
serve the integrity OF the Union md the
liberties OF Its people. Try again. Mr..
Bryan. "NERITAS."
Wheeling, Sept q, 1896