Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-02

ticipantS in any distribution of political
favors We are here because we love the
democratic party and because we love our
country. That is the inspiration " oh has
drawn US together and encourages our &C
ton. That is the fact which evidences our
sincerity and makes our cause strong with
the people.
Danger Of the Chicago Platform.
THE danger of the Chicago platform lies
not alone nor chiefly in its declaration for
a financial policy which would be ruinous
The danger lies in the revolutionary in
fluenoes which controlled the convention
and animated it's platform. Men may
justly differ to the best scheme of ma
tional finance, and may debate their differ
ences without recrimination or without
questioning the honesty of motives. But
when men, led on by ambitious politicians
their minds fired not by the example of
American patriots, but by that of the radi-
Gals of the French revolution, overtura
party precedents and pack convention to
secure an effective majority, then by aid of
that majority raise aloft the incendiary
banner of the poor against the rich, attack
the integrity of the Supreme Court threat
en- the subversion of national institutions
and the indirect perVerSiCn Of conStitu-
tlonal guarantees. incite disreSpect to law
and authority, suggest and in substance
recommend the Reputation of national and
private debts, and reject by intended impli-
cation the fundamental principle of democ-
racy that that government governs best
which governs leaSt-then 1t Is time not
only for democrats to forsake that motley
ana un-American gathering, to reject that
undemocratic and un-American enuncia-
ton of doctrines, and to join, in such man.
ner as may seem best, with all patriots
who cherish their country's honor and wish
to protect the welfare of its people.
Il mistake the moral sense of the Ameri-
can people If the action of the populists at
Chicago, reinforced and empha sized by the
action of the populists at st. Louis has not
rob tyr la1 trif oF
and awakened the American conscience to
the national dangers which lurk in the
forces and influences behind Bryan and
Sewall, or Bryan and Watson. The real is
sue in this campaign is an issue of pa
triotism. In many presidential election
has the fight waged fiercely between the
advocates of different political doctrines,
and the ruin of the country has been freely
pI edicted II either set of doctrines were es-
tablished the policy of the government
such predictions being merely the OK
IRENE expression of party politics; but in
this election the issues around which the
battle Is waging involve the integrity of
our institutions and the sacredness of our
national honor, and when men have stirred
that deep well of sentiment. ordinary party
dInerences disappear. the moral issue pre-
dominates, and all good citizens stand
shoulder to shoulder against those who
would defile the American name and I'M
dermine the walls of her political structure
Representative of Revolutionary
Forces.
Mr.. Bryan takes pains to reiterate, in
about every second speech, that he stands
squarely on the Chicago platform and
supports every one of Its planks. He has
not yet announced his acceptance of all the
planks of the populst PLATFORM but mas
much as these are only different in degree
and he has been Identified with popullsm
quite as much as with democracy it Is hut
fair to assume that he hot -1o
forms. Not quite SO radical in his views.
perhaps, as Altgeld or Tillman, not quite SO
frank as Tom Watson, he is. nevertheless,
fit representative of the revolutionary
forces behind him-ambitious, unsteadv
and unsafe. There Is nothing in his career
OF in his present utterances to encourage
the hope that If elected he would rise above
his surroundings or stay the hand which
threatens to destroy and pervert. An m
tried man, demagogue, a word-tugeier
he perhaps will represent the restless mob
from which he rose and with character
istic reckleSSness does not hesitate to an
peal to base human passions in order To at
tract votes. That in this incendiary's role
standing, as he processes to stand on nrin
ciples as undemocratic as those of Herr
Most, he should deserve, by any convention
OF party regularity, the support of true
democrats is past comprehension and ex-
plainable only by ignorance of the man and
MS platform or disloyalty to genuine party
faith. No sound conception Of party reen
larity can justify encouragement to social
disorder. Not even the honest believer in a
silver standard or the most enthusiastic hi
metallist can, if he be a patriotic citizen.
conscientiously support the forces of DO
lltical anarchy. Even the advocacy of free
silver coinage by Bryan and many of his
associates is only a cloak for the spirit of
revolution behind 1t. Every true bimetal-
list must blush to have his cause depend
ent for success upon those who would re-
OF ganize the Supreme Court when its decis-
IONS 90 not please a party convention, who
would repudiate the national debt If free
silver coinage did not accomplish bimetaI-
ism, who would attempt to destroy the
sanctity OF private contracts. who would
have the government take and operate the
country's railroads and telegraphs. who
would restrain the strong arm Of the law
from the suppression Of disorder Even If