New-York tribune., 1896-10-29
COTRTEU PERSECUTION.

Tho POpocras ought 10 be satisfied. Their
long cOuried persecution has been achieved at
last. Mr.. Bryan has been going mp and down
the country for months calling people names ana
inviting insult. and has been peculiarly unfortu
naic in being treated with uniform courtesy
Once he told lot of boys who came to hear MN
that they were spending their fathers il-gottcn
gains. and, after the manner Of hot-hcaded boys
they expressed their faith in their own fathers
by jccrng at the slandercr. Mr.. Bryan worked
hard to make this appear to be persecution. but
did not succeed to his entire satisfaction. and it
was only whcr he got to Chicago on Tuesday
that he managed to make out case Then his
party was made the target for three eggs. Doubt
less they are expected TO offset those thrown at
Mr. Carlisle in Covngton, and atone for the
frequent outbreaks in the stock yards and in
various Western and Southern towns against
sound-moncy speakers Generals Palmer and
Buckner have been howed down during the
campaign. and Republican meetings have been
disturbed Mr.. Bryan was greatly in need ol 2
grievance. both for offence and defence. He had
TO wait long while. but he has it at last.
II does not. however. promise him much good.
Owing to bis evident anxiety TO he insul!ed. 1t
was not unnatural TO wonder if the insult was
not offered by his own partsans in recognition
of his needs. But IT is now reported that two
young boys have confessed the outrage. All
will agree that they should he spanked dr other
wise properly punished. Mr. Bryan or any other
man should he free to parade unannoyed. and
small boys should he taught 10 keep order lest
they grow up 10 be- hoodumS and Anar-
chists The officials Of Chicago have been
properly active. Any discOurtesy TO Mr.. Bryan
was the last thing that the Republicans could
have desired The POpOcratic candidate has
been doing his best to incite disorder. Chair
man Jones has been working for days TO bring
about labor strikes. The popOcrats Of Chicago
have been preparing and threatening TO close
their campaign with riot. II would not have
been strange II some rough fellows even among
their opponents had learned the lesson from
them and thought to give them taste Of their
own medicine. But it does not appear that such
was the ease. The Republicans have uniformly
sought to avoid trouble Right in Chicago they
have given up their parade rather than offer the
Popocrats the least excuse for violence. And as
for misusng Mr.. Bryan. that was the last thing
any Republican dreamed of. The more he went
about at the invitation Of Republican committee
men from towns in need of advertising. the more
no exhibited the meaning Of POpOcracy in his
own person. the better they were satisfied. There
probably has been no time during the campaign
when the Republicans would not have paid the
expenses of Mr.. Bryans trips rather than have
him keep quiet.
The Insult TO Mr.. Bryan. whether the mere
mischief of boys or inspired by others. is Sc
verely tc be condemned. 1t is utterly repugnant
to American sentiment and to the teaching and
practice Of the Republican party That party
has always stood for freedom Of discussion and
law and order. and must regret exceedingly any
dscourtesy TO an opponent however petty its
source