Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-07-24
Faers to R..AeEnewIedged.

Many of the gold-standard papers, nota-
bly, those Of Democratic proclivities, are
making it point to protest against the
use of any severe language in discussing
and opposing the free-silver platform and
candidates, and especially against the use
of any such terms as anarchist, commun-
ist, populist, ETC., as applied TO the free
silver men. "These men are honest in
their belief" these papers say, "and the
duty set us is not to abuse them, but to ar
que with their followers and convince
them of their error" In its main conten-
tion this position is correct No one doubts
that Mr.. Bryan and a large proportion of
the men who nominated him for the presi
idency are acting from honest though i'm
mature convictions. They do not wish their
country or their fellows ILL.,. They sincere
ly believe, undoubtedly, that they have got
hold of ideas of government and of pub
lie policy which, If put in force, would set
wrongs right and restore prosperity
So much is freely to be conceded. but
after this is done the fact remains that
the Chicago convention did not stop at
declaration for a new monetary policy and
the free coinage of silver, but that the gen
eral tendency of its platform was toward
political and social revolution, the over
throw of capital and the rule of the mob.
This is strong language, but the plank
which says, 1--WE denounce the arbitrary
interference by federal authorities in local
affairs as a violation of the constitution of
the United States and crime against free
institutions" means just this. The allu- |
sion is unmistakably to the action of Pres
ident Cleveland in using United States
troops to protect life and property at Chi |
cago during the riots at the time of the |
great Pullman strikes, and after the gov
ernor Of the state had shown his sympa- |
thy with the mob by refusing to take ef-
fective measures TO control it. The action |
OF the mob was aIarchistc and in defiance |
of all government, and the hand of fed
eral power was used wisely and humanely
in suppressing its violence and protecting |
innocent people from it.
Take also the declaration that 1--WE are |
opposed to life tenure in the public ser
vice." 1t is evident that this is aimed not |
only at the merit system which has been
so largely extended by Mr.. Cleveland, but
at the federal judges who issued injunc-
tions at the time of the great labor dis
turbance, and at the supreme court of the
United States itself, because it failed to
find the income-tax provision constitution
al. The plain inference is that instead of
being given a life tenure the judges
should be held under the whip of pop
ular displeasure, and a chance provid-
ed TO put them out of office and make
up new court and secure a reversal of
their decisions when they do not please
the mob.
In these respects, and in its general at
titude toward the conservative forces of
the country, the Chicago platform is COM
munistic and anarchistic in its tendency,
and the fact must be acknowledged. But
the strength of Republican opposition to
it does not lie in emphasizing OF eXagger-
ating this feature of it. 1t lies, first of all,
in exposing its free-silver heresy and in
showing, calmly and dispassionately, what
its triumph would mean, ultimately and
inevitably, for the farmer, the working
man, the business man, and for every sub
stantial interest in the country. The peo-
pie are right at heart, and the men are
few, by comparison, who for some i'm
agined personal advantage, will vote for
any scheme or system which they know
means national repudiation, financial
chaos, and universal distress in the end.