New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-25
THE CONVENTION.

THE CONVENTION.
The glorious uncertainty Of a crank COnven-
ton was illustrated yesterday when the Popu-
lists after two tests indicating a clear majority
for Bryan voted-7S5 to615-for the rule making
the nomination for vice-President come first
1t was bluntly stated in debate that the bargain
by which many votes had been secured for Bry-
an must have, first Of all, solid basis in proof
that the Western delegates would nominate
Southern man for Vice-Presdent instead Of Sew
all. When a majority had voted against the
proposed rule, and North Carolina with its nice
delegation Of ninety five votes found 1t had
balance of power one of its delegates shouted
I'VE will change our votes unless Western dele
gates assure us that n Southern man shall be
nominated for VicePrcsident.' and In the alb
sence Of sufficient response North Carolina
changed its solid vote. making n majority of
10 for nominating the vice-Presdent first.
Mr. Bryan was to come In provided, and only
after, the Southern Popusts had discarded
the candidate with whom as Democrat he
was nominated. 1t has been said that Bryan
would not submit to be placed in such posi-
ton, but nobody seems to believe it.
The platform adopted. with less delay. than
might have been expected, is obviously make
der to please another never satisfies anybody.
The Democratic platform at Chicago was an In
suit to most Of the Democratic voters. 1t was
expressly Intended not to give voice to their
wishes, but to steal back the Popusts and An
archists at the West who have been won from
Democratic associations. The Populist plat
form is its match. Contrved expressly to fit
Bryan. and to make his adoption as a candidate
J;st 1acc nj, m nh 10
sends under matches plratica doctrines which
have been characteristic Of that party. There
is not hint Of the land loan or crop loan meth
DDS of getting more currency into circulation
and giving RELIEF to the farmers of the West,
but instead there Is the eminently vague pro-
posal of "a Just. equitable and efficient mode
of distribution direct to the people and through
1.-THE lawful disbursements Of the Government"
Nobody will suppose that the sum of $50 per
capita in paper ia to be so distributed by law
full disbursements for cotton or wheat or hogs.
If unlimited appropriations for improvements
are contemplated. the jobbers and not the farm
ers will pocket the money. At the start the
chief aim Of Popullst efforts Is abandoned.
There is no help in the proposal that railroads
and telegraphs shall be acquired by Govern
ment and managed in the interests Of the peO-
pie. In acquiring them by purchase the
money would 90 to the bond and stock holders
who have been managing the same roads. AS
owners Of Pacific roads have competing lines
Of their own, public purchase would mere
ly give them ammunition with which to fight
the Government to Its loss. The demand that
land held by corporations shall "by lawful
means be reclaimed by Government and held
"for actual settlers only" means nothing unless
Volt no tn
corporations and cattle companies. and not to
individual settlers. There Is left not a shadow
Of the theories supposed to be practical where
by the Populist money was to be made current
without the aid Of banks"
The silver plank appears Of course, and the
Chicago population Is echoed In the demand
that Government shall not sell bonds in order
TO meet its obligations. But there Is not one
word about the tariff for deficit. which created
the need for the sale Of bonds. and in this re-
spect also the POpulists abandon their Free
Trade principles to suit the exgencies Of n DEM
ocratic candidate. Proposals to repudiatc pub
lie obligations to pay gold on bonds sold with
pledge Of such payment, and to repudatc pri-
vate contracts to pay gold instead Of silver or
any kind of legal-tender paper, are even holder
than in the Chicago platform The income tax.
POpullSt measure Orlglnuilv, Is 10 DE Grau-
uated," and the threat Of recOnstituting the
Supreme Court is omitted with a prudence
which would never have occurred to a Populist
Convention II It had not been engaged in plas-
terlng over Democratic mistakes.
1t may be seriously doubted whether anybody
living comprehends what is meant by the pro-
posa Of direct legislation through the initiative
and referendum" Not one Of the men who nd
vOcate this fad has been able to translate Il
into human speech-into such form that its
practical meaning can be weighed. If II means,
as the original resolution Of the Convention de-
clared, that per cent Of the citizens should
shave the right OF initiating. framing and pro-
posing laws. and Of compelling the submission
thereof, and OF all important laws whatever
proposed by National, State or local Legslat
cures, to direct vote Of the people,; II in this
vast Republic twentieth OF all the voters at
any time and as often rs they please and on any
subject can force direct vote OF all the people
about any law they may devise relating to tar
iff. revenue, bonds. currency. appropriations
foreign relations or anything else, the distinc-
ton between such government and anarchy
would be not detachable by any microscope.
The worst feature Of this plan Is not the ex.