New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-10
BRY4N'S LETTER or ACCEPTANCE.

BRYANS LETTER or ACCEPTANCE.
Mr. Bryan's letter Of acceptance is entirely
snperfuous. His long spe, ch on receiving noiif-
cation Of his nomination declared his acceptance
Of IT, and discussed the questions at iss'lc al great
length he has been talking nearly all the time
since expressing his acceptance 10 everybody
who would listen. whether audiences in large
buildings or knots of men at railway stations.
and there was occasion to notify publicly any
human being of his acceptance again. unless lie
had something both new and important to say.
But he has not On the "overShadowing issue
he simply says nothing whatever. ana II looks
as If he had been persuaded or ordered to omit
what he had chosen To say ahont silver WHO
asserting that "the American people will not
consent TO the consideration of any other i'm
''pOrtant question. he nevertheless proceeds 10
state his views about others in one Of the duileSt
and most perfunctOry papers ever issued. Ii IS
the rapidly growing impression that Mr. Bryan,
with the element of whangdoodle oratory elm
mated. is very ordinary person, and his letter
will only tend to deepen that impression.
Little need he said of his crude demagogism
In declaring again that he will never be can
dldate for reelection Neither have his solemn
platitudes about the value Of free institutions
any other visible object than to repeat the cheap
est possible captrap about Democracy represent
ing the common people without distinction of
poverty or wealth. pedigree or creed Any Tam
many orator of the cart-tail variety will say the
same thing as we'll TO any crowd Of hoodluns
His perfunctory approval of lis platform regard
ing economy. the Monroe Doctrine. the pensions
the interests OF labor, immigration. Cuba and
internal improvements requires no notice. nor
has he said anything or other topics 10 instruct
or enlighten the people, unless it be with regard
to his own tendencies Of mind and character.
Thus he tries TO soften the Anarchistic part
Of his platform by saying that everybody rec
ognzes The absolute necessity for the prompt
and vigorous enforcement of the laws" That
is exactly the reverse of true. Lynchers do
not recognize it, rioters who stop trains and
mails do not. strikers who forcibly rob labor
ers Of their right to work do not. the Convcn-
ton at Chicago did not, Governor Altgcld and
Mr. Bryan himself do not For he goes on 10
say that 1.-THE United States is not authorized
ito Interfere in the domestic affairs of any
State except upon the application of the Leg
"islature or the Executive" Apparently. he
has no comprehension of the fact that exccu-
ton of the United States Interstate Commerce
law during the Chicago riots not interfering
shallow pre,ext he would deprive the Nation Of
all power to suppress a rebellion winked ut by
State Executive Yet with power of selftcon-
tradicion all his own. when he comes TO argue
for the use of the force of the Federal Govern
mcnt in his war against corporations he says:
"The right of the United States Government to
regulate Interstate commerce cannot be QucS-
"tioned and the necessity for vigorous exercise
soc r;olt l. nd mo
"perative." His opponents may well be thank
full that this pant Of his letter was written
The denunciaton of all issues Of bonds leads
10 the fat declaration that government should
not surrender It's option to redeem bonds in
either gold or silver. Mr. Bryan is careful not
to say whether he would repudiatc the pledges
given by various administrations when selling
bonds or the moral obligation to pay back
the kind Of money borrowed but his language
plainly indicates thar he would. Those are not
in error. therefore, who have pronounced MIN
not only the candidate Of rcpudiatorS. hui a
repudator himself il his teachings and his
influence upon public opinion. His hostility 10
banks is strongly expressed. and rs The Trib-
une has repeatedly anticipated the effort of
some National banks TO get the grcenbacks re-
tired is treated as evidence Of their anxiety 10
secure larger room Tor issues OF Their nOicS.
Mr. Bryan notion of arbitration is as crude
as that Of Dcbs himself He calls II an "ex-
tension of the courts Of justice rs II the indi-
| yidual worker could be compelled N the de
c.siOn Of arbitrator to work on terms which
did not please him. or the railroad company
could he compelled by arhrators TO employ
men il did not consider trustworthy The right
fulness of settling such disputes by arhra-
ton as far as possible. when they affect inter
no man with level head and clear Intelligence
proposes TO make slaves either of railway ON
ploycs or Of railway managers. Avoiding tn
tariff question as If quite aware that il would
bite him. Mr.. Bryan refuses to say anything
about il except that until the money quesi ion
lis fully and finally settled the American peo-
ANY other important question:" We shall soc
about that when the people vote. man who
ina gincs he is going 10 carry New York may
not be accurately Informed as TO ihe intentions
OF the American people. He will probably find
that by lodging This question he has shown
the working millions Of the country that he is
very much afraid they will remember his FREQ
trade speeches ana vote against him rs they
would against any other enemy Of their indus
tries.