The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-12
BRYAs,s JxLLY-rrsH TALK.

BRYAN'S JELLy-FTsH TALK.
ssfs Bryan 70 apply crucial tests 90 the
arguments used By Rim on his tour. He
sib rake his formal speech % aEcsps-
Auee within a few hours, and the country
Will expect something more thar such
pleasant nebaiosify as + has received from
the rear platform OF railroad car.
DIR. Bryan ls NOT merely one OF two men
seeking the snrrages OF people for an I'M
portani ONCE. He Is asking their support
for a policy which wsn involve this coun-
try II distress such az no people has ez-
perfenced in modern times. He Is asking
tha people 70 believe that In him and his
success viii the entire experience OF the
world be reversed. lie r. asking this PED
pie 20 halt on IT'S road 20 catching up with
the greatest commercial nations In the
world and turn back to conditions found
now only Ia Mexico. Japan and China
The people wiil need some strong assur-
anees. based on very substantial fosnda-
lions. that Af. Bryan IL going 10 do what
has hitherto been found 10 be impossible.
Some or the speeches he has made on
his tour are SO silly as 70 BE exegsA5le
only or the ground that he Is worn out
With trayei or thinks that any sort of
eateh-penny phrases are good enough for
such people as be meets by the wayslds.
For instance. a number OF curious people
turned ont 70 get glimpse OF him as ne
passed through Upper sandusky To these
people ne said. IF any OF you are afraid
OF a food OF money. want you to vote the
other ticket" This may have tickled the
ears Of a few country looms. but tt de-
eeiyes no intelligent man: and Mr.. Bryan
win find that intelligent people are not
scarce.
AT Pitisourg be delivered himself OF the
glittering generality that "a nation that f.
not able 10 adopt It's own financial policy
Is too !mpotent to legisIats on any ques-
ton where the people are concerned"
There 10 no man In this country probably
who suggests that this nation is not able
20 adopt It's own financial policy: the only
question -, whether Il IL wise for this
country 10 adopt the policy which is sure
10 bring IL 20 a condition OF silver mono
metaliism.
Al another place he made one OF those
demagosie appeals at which he Is such an
adept. and tod the people that lit Is a
principle OF the broadest Democracy that
these questions must be settled by the
common people. and that this government
has never created particular class to
iegislate for Others" OF course this Is
true. but II does not prove that Mr. Bryan
Is right on the money question. The
common people"-as some of them seem
to be delighted 20 be called-have an op-
portunlty at every presidential election OF
settling these questions. but that does
not mean that they should vote the wrong
way merely because their ears are tiekled
by being called 'the common people"
We cannot blame Mr. Bryan. IL he be-
lieves himself to be right. for sapposing
that only those who agree with him
know anything about the subject OF money;
but tho people may be invited at the same
time 10 pause for a moment and inquire
whether Mr.. Bryan. IL elected president.
Is going 20 accomplish all the wonders he
promises. how he IS going to do 10. and
how thu people are going 20 benefit II he
does
Another OF his clap-trap appeals IL as
follows: "If the gold standard is good
thing. why not keep 1T II II Is bad
thing why should We keep it," This Is
a fling at the Republican platform. and is
said 10 have been received with great ap-
p,ause The Republican party says TO the
people: I'VE have half a loaf OF bread
OF whlch we are sure. Let US hold on 20
that until we can make sure OF a whole
loaf Is this foliy7
DO the people not remember the fable
OF the dog and the shadow dog had
secured piece OF meat which Il was car
rying. IN It's mouth, over a plank which
crossed the river. II observed in this
water what looked Ike larger piece OF
meat. magnined In the bed OF the stream.
Following Brysn's example and laughing
AZ tho Republican plank which would have
the people hold on to what II Is sure Of.
the dog made dash for The shadow
Tor such Il was-and let so the mea; from
ns mouth. and II disappeared IN the
stream.
Mr. Bryan lodged question very neatly
at one Of his meetings: and he Is an expert
AZ casting riaicuie upon auestiouer who
puts a poser 20 him. Mr.. Bryan knows
wen enough tha: ;he great. the very seri-
Gus objection 20 the proposed policy OF
free coinage Of silver az the ratio OF ls TO
is thai Il Is a false ratio and that its
effect viii BE only 70 enrich silver mine
owners a. the expense a. the people. He
makes no converts ~ sneering az ques-
tlens and hy castiaS tidieule upon those
who have the courage to ask him cues
lions
we repeat that II may be thar Mr. Bryan
Is reservlnF hts strong arguments Ter he
s-eeeh n whles ne il te formally Accept
~. nomination Bot 80 70 the present
slans ,Nev have been - elusive as sels
ana as impalnaals "a The telsy fish.
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rHr oKLAHoNA BooM.