The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-15

revolutionary, is a yindication of the
ancient rights of the English speak
ing race against a novel and danger
GUS innovation which deserves the
name of anarchy much better than
anything done at Chicago.
''The platform reaflirms the princi-
pie Endorsed by a vast majority of the
people of the United States, of tariff
for revenue only, and protests against
the disturbance of business that would
be caused by a return to Mcklnleyasnl.
There is nothing incendiary In thar.
In this point it is the Chicago plat
form that is conservative and the one
adopted at st. Louis that is reyolu-
tionary.
eve hold" adds the Democratic pro-
fession of faith, that the most eff
Gent way of protecting American la
bor is to prevent the importation OF
foreign pauper labor TO compete with
ii in the home market" That is hon
est, straightforward protection-the
only kind that does what it pretends
to do.
THE Chicago platoon demands sim
plicity and economy in government,
and protests against the profligate
waste of money that has characterized
Republican legislation. That is not
the reckless spirit of a 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 Fed
eral interference in local affairs as one
w hlch jefferson would have com
mended as the very foundation stone
of his political faith.
'In denouncing the attempt to
swindle the government out of more
than $200,000,000 by extending the
Pacific railroad debts the convention
was fighting anarchy, for there can
be no more dangerous 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
Chicago platform does not deserve the
frantic vituperation levelled against it.
If its authors were mistaken in their
methods. their aim was to introduce
bi-metallism, and bi-metallism is
scientific theory with too much expert
authority on its side TO brand its adj
vocates as lunatics or incendiaries.
Nor is it possible with any more
sincerity to call Mr. Bryan dema-
gogue. He is the very reverse of
demagogue. He follows the truth as
he sees it, though it lead him to poll
teal destruction. Last year he could
muster only ten thousand votes for
his faction in Nebraska out of over
10000. but hehad no thought of COM
promise. He fought on, regardless of
victory of defeat, thinking only of
l.. L. Ill - 10 .prh4 "a
had not been nominated nobody would
have dreamed of calling him a dema
gogue. His spirit is rather that OF
prophet.
.'On the other side we have William
Mckinley, bound hand, foot and tom
que to the most corrupt combine that
ever exhibited itself openly in an
American Presidential campaign. His
election would put the resources of the
government at the disposal of the
Hanna syndicate. 1t would mean a re-
turn to Chinese protection, and the
exploitation of the people by rapa-
cious ring Of mandarins. 1t would
mean in the end a revolt before which
affrighted conservatism might pray for
a leader with the moderate instincts
of Bryan.
In most respects the superiority of
the Democratic candidate is so pail
pable as to make comparisons need
lessly cruel to his opponent. What,
then. is the duty of American citizens
who desire TO secure the best possible
government for the Republic during
the next four years? Plainly it is to
vote for that Presidential candidate
who is manifestly best fitted to adj
minister the government, and to settle
the financial question through their
Representatives in Congress- Gold
men may vote for gold candidates
silver men for silver candidates, and
bi-metallists for bi-metallists. But
nobody who realizes what is at stake
in this campaign can vote to abandon
government of the people, by the peo-
pie, in favor of government of McKin-
ley, by Hanna, for a syndicate