The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-07
Bryan's Cry to the Future.

1t would be we'll for the future OF
William Jennings Bryan if he were 10
recognize the finality of last Tuesday s
verdict in so far as it relates to free Sill
Yer coinage, the income tax. and the
Altgeld effort to decentralize the red
eral government. The fight, he de-
clares, has only just commenced
That assertion is melodramatic. and
will doubtless win the applause OF
those who put dramatic interest super
ior to common sense; but in the three
directions which we have indicated,
the fight, notwithstanding Mr.. Bryan's
theatric declaration, has ended for all
time. The people of the United states
reached their decision on these points
after careful deliberations; they reached
it In spite of bold attempts to muddle
their Judgment; it represents now a
solemn and patriotic conviction, and 1t
is not In the power Of any man or any
combination of men in the future 10
overthrow 1t.
1t Is true there are directions in
which the fight will continue, and IN
which Mr.. Bryan. if he will get out OF
the intoxication Of bad political COM
panonship and subject his remarkable
natural gifts to proper discipline and
control, may yet be of usefulness to
the American people. The verdict or
last Tuesday was simply and solely
veto of the Chicago platform. That
platform today stands condemned. and
all of its vicious planks must in future
be discarded. The verdict of Tuesday,
however, was uot and cannot be dis
torted into a pronouncement In favor
of government by syndicate and trusts,
nor was it a decision tending to bring
on an era of legislative partiality. The
battle Of the people against Influences
and interests intent on special priVi-
leges will follow in future the lines of
the past representatives Of the people
will need to be vigilant and incorrupti-
ble else they will fall easy prey to the
articles of lobbyists and the blandish-
W
combinations. Nothing will he gained
by indiscriminate denunciatiou: meas
ares as they are proposed in congress
and in state legislatures will need to
be judged upon their merits, with
thought to the fact that while special
interests always keep an eye on their
representatives at these public places,
the people rarely do on theirs.
The cry of class against mass used
lately by Mr.. Bryan has been repudiat-
ed by the American people because
after investigation they found it was
false cry. That cry will not be re-
jected by the people, however, when
it is made in honesty and good faith.
and when there Is reason for it. Any
thoughtful man who reflects upon this
problem will be forced to admit that
there is danger from the side of aggre-
gated wealth reaching out with grow
ing bO!dness for grip on governors
and legislatures and congresses no less
than from the side of the ignorant, the
vicious and the eXcitable poorer ele-
ments in our social structure; and will
be led to agree with Professor Bryce
that the politics Of the future will be
largely taken up with conflicts be-
tween these two extreme forces in our
public life. The future. then. will GER
tainly have it's need Of eloquent and
earnest tribuneS Of the people men of
bravery, force and fire. But they will
need to be also level-headed men; men
not easily sent astray by fancies; men
with solid grasp on the practcalities
Of life. We should like to see young
Mr.. Bryan develop into such a leader,
but we must confess that we fear he
does not possess the requisite common
sense.