The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-13


the profoundest resentment of every
American regardful of the interests
and jealous of the honor of his coun-
try. The representatives of half of the
American people have been denounced
in delirious language as anarchists,
cut-throats and swindfers. Their cho-
sem candidate for the highest office in
the republic has been pictured as a.
crazy Jacobin or designing dema-
gogue. Commerce and industry have
been threatened With the very panic
these alarnists have professed to fear.
The crusade has been one of reckless
misrepresentation from the start. The
HbelerS of the late convention know
that the Chicago platform is not an
aTchical- In most respects it is inspired
by enlightened progressiveness The
aTohicaL elements in the convention
were distinctly frowned upon. The mild
implied criticism of the majority of the
supreme court, or, rather, of the one
justice who changed his mind, was
thoroughly we'll deserved, and might
have been made much stronger without
improperly. Since when have we been
endowed with infallible judges. whose
acts are above criticism? If the advo-
cacy of the just and scientific principle
of the taxation of large incomes was
anarchistic, then every statesman in
England is an anarchist, and, instead
Of searching the cellars of the houses
of parliament for barrels of gunpow-
der, the authorities ought to search
the pockets of every member for bonds
The income tax is the backbone of the
British financial system; it is about to
be introduced, in a graduated form at
that, into France, and it already eX-
lists in its most extreme degree in Ger
many.
The condemnation of the practice of
substituting government by Injunction
for the old, orderly processes of courts
and juries, so far from being revolu-
tionary, is a vindication of the anc Mt
rights of the English speaking race
against a novel and dangerous innova-
ton which deserves the name of an
archy much better than anything done
at Chicago.
The platform reaffirTns the principle,
Endorsed by a vast majority of the pee
pie of the United States, of a tariff
for revenue only and protests against
the disturbance to business that would
be caused by a return to McKinaeyism
There is nothing incendiary in that In
this point it is the Chicago platform
that is conservative and the on adop-
ted at st. Louis that is revolutionary
I'VE hold adds the Democratic pro-
fession of faith, chat the most eff
cient way OF protecting American la
Dor is to prevent the importation Of
foreign pauper labor to compete with
it i'm the home market" That is hon
est, straightforward protection, the
only kind that does what it pretends to
do.
The Chicago platform demands sim
plicity and economy in government and
protests against the profliga1e waste
of money that has characterized Re
publican legislation. That is not the
reckless spirit of mob. 1t is rather
the sober ulterance of prudent prop
eTty owners and taxpayers, of whom
the Chicago convention was principally
composed.
The protest against arbitrary federal
interference in local affairs is one which
Jefferson would have commended as
the very foundation stone of his poIiti-
cal faith.
In denouncirg the attempt to swindle
the government out of more than $780,
100000 by extending the Pacific rail-
road debts the convention was fighting
anarchy, for there can be no more dan
gerous 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 Chi
cago platform does not deserve the
frantic vituperation ieveied against it,
If its authors were mistaken in their
method, their aim was to introduce
bimetalifsTn, and bimetallism is sci
entific 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 sim
certify to cali Mr.. Bryan a demagogue
He is the very reverse of a demagogue.
He follows the truth as he sees it,
though 1T lead him to political destruc-
ton. Last year ne could muster only
10000 votes for his faction in Nebraska
out of over 100000, but he had no
thought of compromise. He fought on,
regardless of victory or defeat think
ing only of what he believed TO be
right. If he had not been nominated,
nobody would have dreamed of calling
him a demagogUe His spirit is rather
that of a prophet.
On the other side we have William
Mckinley, bound hand. foot and tongue
to the most corrupt combination that
ever exhibited itself openly in an
American presidential campaign. His
election would put the resources or the
government at the disposal of the Han
ma syndicate. 1t would mean a return
to Chinese protection and the exploit
alton of the people by a rapacious ring
Of mandarins. 1t would mean in the
end a popular revolt before which af-
frighted conservatism might pray for
a. leader with the moderate instincts
of Bryan.
In most respects the superiority of
the Democratic candidate is so palpa.-
BILE as to make comparisons needlessgy
cruel to his opponent What, then, is
the duty of American citizens who de
sire to secure the best possible govern
ment for the republic during the next
four years? Plainly it is to vote for
that presidential candidate who is man
ifestly best fitted to administer 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 bimetallists for bimet-
allists. But nobody who realizes what
is at stake in this campaign can vote
to abandon government of the people,
by the people, for the people, i'm favor
of government of Mckinley. by Han
ma. for a syndicate.-New York Jour-
mad.