West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-08-20

bryan Represents the People, Mckinley
the Trusts and Gold CliQucs-Platform
% Principles on which the Democratic
Candidate stands- Duty OF All American
Citizens Made Clear.
The manner In which tho opponents
OF the ticket nominated at Chicago have
begun their campaign must rouse the
profoundest resentment Of every Ameri-
can regardful Of the interests and jeal-
Gus OF tho honor Of his country. The
representatives Of half of the American
people have been denounced In delirious
language as anarchists. cutthroats and
swindlers Their chosen candidate for
the highest Office In the republic has
been pictured as q crazy Jacobin or n
designing demagogue. Commerce and
industry have been threatened with the
very panic these alarmists have professed
to fear.
The crusade has been one of reckless
Misrepresentation from tho start. The
hbelers Of the late convention know
that the Chicago platform Is not an
Archical In most respects 1t is inspired
by enlightened progressiveness. The
anarchicai elements in the convention
were distinctly frowned upon. The mild
implied criticism of tho majority Of the
supreme court, or, rather, of the one
Justice who changed his mind, was
thoroughly we'll deserved, and might
have been made much stronger without
improperly. Since when have we been
endowed with infallible judges, whose
acts are above criticism2 If the advocacy
OF the just and scientific principle Of the
taxation of large incomes was anarch-
istic, then every statesman in England
Is an anarchist, and, instead of search
ing the cellars of the houses of parlia-
men for barrels Of gunpowder, the au-
thorities ought to search the pockets of
every member for bombs. The income
tax Is the backbone of the British finan-
c1al system IL is about TO be introduced,
In graduated form at that, into France,
and it already exists in its most extreme
degree in Germany.
The condemnation of the practice of
substituting government by injunction
Tor the old, orderly processes of courts
and turies, SO far from being revolution.
airy, is vindication of the ancient
rights Of the English speaking race
against a novel and dangerous innova-
ton which deserves the name of anarchy
much better than anything done at Chi
cago
The platform reaflrms the principle,
Endorsed by a vast majority Of the peo-
pie Of the United States, Of tariff for
revenue only and protests against the
disturbance 10 business that would be
caused by return to McKinleyism.
There IS nothing incendiary in that. In
this point 1t Is the Chicago platform
that Is conservative and the one adopted
at st. Louis that is revolutionary.
1--WE hold, adds the Democratic pro-
session OF faith, that the most efficient
way Of protecting American labor Is 70
prevent the importation Of foreign pau
per labor to compete with 1t in the home
market" That is honest, straightfor-
ward protection, the only kind that
does what IL pretends TO do.
The Chicago platform demands sim
plicity and economy In government and
protests against the profligate waste Of
money that has characterized Republic
On legislation That is not the reckless
spirit Of mob. 1t is rather the sober
utterance Of prudent property owners
and taxpayers, Of whom the Chicago
convention was principally composed.
The protest against arbitrary federal
interference in local affairs is one which
Jefferson would have commended as the
very foundation stone Of his political
faith.
In denouncing tho attempt TO swindle
the government out Of moro than goo.
900, 600 by extending the Pacific rail-
road debts the convention was fighting
anarchy, for there can be no more dan.
BerOus anarchists than those who are
powerful enough to override the laws
and amass wealth from the property Of
the people
Moreover, the silver plank in the Chi
cago platform does not deserve the fran
tic vitupcration leveled against e.. II
It's authors were mistaken IN their meth
DDS, their aim was TO introduce birnotal.
Ism, and bimetallism is scientific
theory with too much expert authority
On its eide 70 brand its advocates "a
lunatics on incendiaries
Nor 10 II possible with any moro sim
oerity 70 call Mr. Bryan % domogoQue
He 10 the very reverse of q domagoguo.
He follows the truth az ho sees 30.
though II lead him 10 political destruc-
tion. Last year he could muster only
10000 votes for his faction in Nebraska
Cut n over $50, 900, but be had no
Thought o. compromise. Tie fought on,
regardless Of victory OF defeat. thinking
only Of what he believed 10 bo right III
be had not been nominated. nobody
would have dreamed u calling him a