The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-28
r Y..BRYAN AND THE 4. p 4

h''VeNer eiSe may he said of Mr..
Bryan, no one can deny tina: he is frank,
ana people who are trying to make UP
their minds about candidates have nc
difficulty in satisfying themselves as to
where he stands. He is neither uncertain,
evasive. nor diplomatic; he answers plain
questions in Il candid way and uses Ian
guage which 10 one can miunderstand.
And in all this, it is needless to say. he
differs very much from Mr. McKinlev.
concerning whose Opinions ON any sub
Ject there is absolute darkness. Even
while he figures as the candidate of the
gold party, it is not ut all positive that
he in not for silver in his heart: in fact.
Judged by his former utteranccs, he can
hardly be considered otherwise At
present he is simply trying to adapt him
self to circumstances, and may he expect
ed to 20 further and further away. from
his old position as pressure compeiS.
With this, however we have nothing to
do at present we only desire to point out
the difference between the attitude 'of Mr.
Bryan and that of Mr.. Mckinley on the
subject of religious liberation The fol
lowing i taken from dispatch to the
philadelphia Press sent by its correspon-
dent, Edgar !. Gibson:
Mr. Bryan was asked if he would set at
rest once and for all the rumors that he
was Il member of the y. r. A., or of the
JUNIOR Order of United American
Mechanics.
Il have heard such rumors. Mr.. BRYAN
replied. II have refused To be interview
ed on that and other questions because
reporters do not report me correctly. and
will be heard on all those questions
shortly in public speeches
u The people in Kansas City are anxious
to know about it, he was told Mr..
Bryan looked out of the car window a
moment and replied;
Il am not Il member of the A. p. A.
nor never was member. You can say
that postively.''
'-Are you a member of the Junior
Order"
II am not, nor never was. am not a
member of any organization or society
that links religion with politics in anv
way"
Again in one of his numerous speeches.
which he delivered during his homewartl
journey from Chicago, Mr. Bryan said in
reference to the principles enunciated in
the platform of the Democratic conven-
ton:
1T Is not the platform of a section. 1t
Is the platform of our common country,
and appeals to those who love mankind
to arise in its defense
1T breathes the spirit of the Declara-
tion of Independence. 1t presents those
fundamental truths IL pom which all true
government must rest. You will find in
II as its keynote that all men are created
equal and that the object of government
l. 10 secure to the individual his innlien-
able rights and protect each man, from
the hum blest to the greatest, in the en-
joyment OF life and liberty and happ
ness Enthusiastic applause) 1t pro
claims the doctrine of civil liberty. and
with no less emphasis it declares the
right OF every man to worship his Creator
according to the dictates OF his CON
science. Cheering for three minutes
1t pledges the party TO protection, with
out regard To station or condition in So
ciety, and IT pledges the party TO be no
respector OF persons, and leaving to the
people the Judgment of the manner, form
and time when they shall worship, or, if
they please, refuse to worship the God
I who gave them being. 1t is Democratic
from the first sentence to the last in that
broader sense in which Democracy APP
peals to all who believe in government
of the people. by the people and for the
people (Applause.)
How different this from the course of
Mr.. Mckinley who had not the courage
w say Il Noi'l its 10 whether ne was III ia
vor of religious federation or not. but
who. in effect. allowed the A. p. A. to
speak for him, and their procurement
was. OF course, unfavorable. The mys-
terry OF the reported interview of the \
II. y. committee with Mr. Mckinley has
never yet been cleared up. 1t will be re-
| mem bered that the committee. which
was sent to him, and TO discover. if posi-
| bic, his views. returned. saying that he
| was 'all right, and Endorsed the \ u.
! y. platform; and this declaration he ma
never 10 this day contradicted
Where he really stands on the subject
| is, therefore, still a mystery, so far a.
his own authority in concerned, for he
has not said word. Evidently he has
been afraid to speak FOR fear of losing q
few votes Yet as the y. p. a. is now
almost n dead issue, having ceased to cut
any important figure in public affais, it
would not be surprising to find McKin
| ley presently coming forth opposed tc
the a. F. \. all along Seeing how
rapidly his opponent is gaining, Catholic
as well as other adherents. it.would he
| quite in keeping wit!i McKinley's exped
| lency to endeaVoI to Illustrate his nd
vancement by giving forth this DECLARE
| ton. But he should have spoken sooner
The American people do not lik,
duplicity i'll public men, and above ALL il
candidates for the Presidency. -Catholi,
| Mirror.