New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-19
MR. BRYAN AND THE NETWORK PRESS.

Mr.. Bryan has not yet fit to apologize for
the SANDER upon the press of New-York, which
on July oS was printed in The Omaha World
Herald" while that paper advertised him as its
editor. 1t declared under his name that Mr..
Whiteaw Reid had made public speech say
ing that the business of the NewYork journalist
was TO dlStort the truth. to lie outright to per-
vert. TO ylfv. to fawn at the feet of MammOn, TO
sell his country and his race for his daily bread
This fabricated speech was used to show that
the newspapers of Ncw-York were the corrupt
enemies of the people Since his failure before
a New-York audience. he has charged the papers
with misrcpresenting the facts and said: THE
great daily papers are not able to suppress the
Sentiment of the MASSES Of the people After
libclllng every New-York newspaper, charging
that there were no honest New-Iork editors. Mr..
Bryan came here to make the effort OF his life,
asked those newspapers, whose honor mad Decn
thus impugned, TO print his speech and TO tell
about his grca; meeting which was to stampede
the East for silver and after he had failed ut
tery and the papers had printed his address
verbatim, so that those who would not stay TO
listen 10 him and all others might read and, II
they would be convinced by his plea for free
coinage he continued to speak Of the great dailies
of this city as being dishonest.
This is not a personal matter. 1t makes lit
tie difference to the Editor Of The Tribune how
many faschoods Mr.. Bryan may allow to be
printed about him. His was only convenient
name which could be used in the effort TO i'm
pose on ignorance and to stir up the evil passions
OF sectional and class prejudice. The men who
nut into the mouth Of Mr. Reid words which he
never uttered did 50 for the sole purpose OF
using the falsehOOd against all newspapers
which did not advocate their views. They re-
peatcd the falsehood time and time again after
It's character had been fully exposed. To say
that Mr.. Bryan printed the charge really belev-
ing it to be true is to insult his intelligence If
he was 50 crcdulous as to believe so utterly inn
possible and prepostcrous Il story. he has since
had ample opportunity to acknowledge his mis-
take or TO say that the SANDER was printed with
out his approval. He has not done so. He pre-
fers to fall back on the usual practice of the
scandal-mOnger, who thinks that lies will travel
so fast that the truth cannot catch up with them.
and that their purpose will thus be accomplished.
Mr. Bryan is not in position to say concern
ing this matter that as a candidate for office he
cannot be expected to answer questions adj
dressed 10 him. or enter into explanation of in
!
Presidency does not make man Il chartered
libeller Nobody expects him to defend all his
speeches against faut-iindcrs or TO declare his
views to every inquirer. He has the same right
to immunity from such annoyance that every
other man has. But he has no more right than
any other man 30 allow the circulation in his
name Of falschoods about any man or class of
mon. l. is an unpleasant word that describes
the opinion in which decent people Of all parties
the world over hold person VINO wrongs others
ana Sneaks OUT of doing them justice. Every
Ncw-York newspaper man. friend and foe alike
has been published as a Tar and bribe-iaker
under Mr. Bryans name with the charge backed
up by fabricated testimony. The fabrication has
been exposed again and again. but Mr.. Bryan
keeps silence. confident that the old lie can yet
serve him. If he retraclcd his error, his follow
/ crs perhaps could not continue 10 circulate il
! and they might have TO :nswer arguments IN
/ New York newspapers with something else than
/ abuse. He apparently thinks that lie Is too use
! ful 10 catch.