New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-16
LIE RRYIN Is UNANSWERED.

Ex.Prasllcnt Harrison's remark upon Ben
Tillman's insulting challenge-"l cannot debate
with him. | have no ptchfork is III meas
IRE applicable as we'll to Tillman's party leader.
That NAV seem a harsh thing TO say. but 1t is
not unjust When Mr.. Bryan emerged from pa
rochial obscurity into the publicity which the
Presidential candidate of great party enjoys.
he was rcputcd TO be an able and accomplished
gentleman of earnest convictions and engaging
personality. whom it would be pleasure 10
know. even TO those who disagreed with his poll
tics He was received as such by the general
public and the expectation was universal that
the campaign of 1896 would be conducted upon
a high plane of intelligence and courtesy, and
that It's appeals would be made to reason. not to
passion That hope was resolutely cherished
long after it began TO appear futile. Al this
time it must probably be altogether abandoned
and the American people must have the novel
and humiliating experience of candidate FOR
the highest office I'm their gift who does not per-
sonalI;,. in intelligence. in manners or in con
troversial ethics. command nor merit the respect
Of a self-respccting man.
Upon his first important appearance. indeed
lust before his nomination. Nlr. Bryan aroused
a strong presumption against himself by his Ut
terance of a gross and half-plagiarized bias
phemy But thar speech was not only his most
sensational IT was. with all its faults, his best
or rather his least bad. From it his decline in
intelligence. in manners and in morals has been
steady and rapid. Day after day his untirng
mouth has poured forth sophlstries, blunders
mlsqnotatiOns. wanton Measurements insults
abuse and Indictments to crime. To one he
has said. I'VE will give you cheap dollar to
nav your debts with easily" and 10 another
"Our free-coinagc dollar will De full value. so
that You will get your dues in full" Over and
over again he has repeated the stale falsehood
that gold and silver are the money Of the Con
stiution" He has garbed and misquoted the
| speeches of honcst-money statesmen TO make
them appear advocates Of reputation, and has
not hcsltated thus to pervcrt even the Scriptures
TO his use. He has coarscly sneercd At those
men who want TO maintain international good
faith. by saying they want TO buy foreign hls-
bands-or titles for their daughters weak
echo Of The stock barroom argument against
emancipation. DO you want Your daughter 10
marry niger He has insultcd all men Of
industry and thrift by likerng them to hogs
and saying they should have rings put in their
noses lie has, with almost Incredible malice.
! strivcn to cause war Of classes" by telling
! poor men the rich are their enemies. whom they
should treat as burglars and nccndaries. lie
has provoked men TO rloting and outrage with
! the implied declaration that worklngmen have
n right TO rcsor, 10 violence to secure higher
| wages
! Such Is the sort Of "oraory" this man Is emit
! ting with unparalleled cop0usness, this man
who asprcs to be the successor of Washington
and Lincoln 1t would be- an outrage upon the
memory of those men 10 cOmDare his uttpronces
with theirs 1t would pass the bounds of cour-
tesy to compare his conduct Of his campaign with
I that of any Other recent Presidential candidate,
Republican or Democratic. He stands UNDUE
and for The credit Of American politics II * to he
hoped he will he permitted to remain so. If.
therefore, all his rantngs are not answered, the
reason will he patent. His political opponents
are accustomed to using Facts and argumentA