Evening star., 1896-07-28
Mr. Bryan and the POpuIiSts.

However interesting as political maneu-
Vering the coquetry now In progress be-
tween Mr. Bryan and the populists may be.
1t will count for little in the end What
does it really matter whether Mr.. Bryan
Is formally notified of the ST. Louis per-
fcimance or not? Is the country in doubt
about any OF the esse ntial facts? Have
not overtures been made in Mr.. Bryan
name and in his behalf for populiStic sup
port? And has not that support been for
mally rendered? The whole case is COM
pretended in that. The connection-the
thorough sympathy-between Mr.. Bryan
and the populists is as clearly established
as anything could be.
1t Is true that Mr.. Bryan, informally in
an interview. has said that there are things
In the St Louis platform of which he does
not approve. Those things are not speci-
fed. but it is assumed that his reference
Is TO the proposition for government owner
snip Of railroads and telegraph lines But
at the same time he points out that. in the
main the St Louis platform is identical
with the Chicago PLATFORM and in mention
Ing that he as much as recommends to the
populists not to be greedy-to take what
they can get.
The great body of the populists, without
more ado. are disposed to take this advice
In fact. they have been in conservative
mood. for them. all along. They expressly
stated al the time of it's presentation that
the St Louis platform did not embody all
of their views about reforms they thought
ought to be instituted Their purpose was
confessed They were trying to accommo-
date themselves to Mr.. Bryan's environ
ment- They were anxious not to offend
and drive away from him those democrats
sensitive on the subject of populism in its
acute form. They were guiding by the par
APPRAISED admontion. that sufficient unto
the day is the populism thereof They de-
cided TO try first to get President in SYM
pathy with part-a large part-of their
programme, and then depend upon the as
surance that. with so fair start all other
things would. in time. be added thereunto
The populsts have abandoned none of
their original tenets. That is expressly I'M
derstood- All original rights are reserved.
They are simply accommodating them
selves to the times. They are copying the
poiiticians-becOming politicians them
selves. They will put forward no more re-
forms than for the present there seems to
be hope for But they are still of the heart
10 be able before they get through to re-
model the whole governmental structure
This is the situation, and this is what
VIII comfort Mr.. Bryan in the campaign
Formal notification. or no formal notifca-
ton. the fact remains that the populists
approve Of Mr.. Bryan and will support him
In large im5ers- He IS in sympathy with
many of their views. and if elected Presi-
dent he will stand committed to the sup
pert of many projects leading in the direc-
tiCn of pOpulistic government People.
therefore. who object to populism will be
called upon to determine their action at
the polls accordingly. Shall populsm be
permitted to get start? Shall 1t be per-
mitted to lay the foundat tions of any part
of the edifice it advertises? If a start is
made, and the future is propitious the
whole edifCe, according to plans drawn
and accepted. will go up. Great Importance
always attaches to the first step.