The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26
NOBRYAN ian D LOW
B0URKE COCHRAN ON THE STAKE
IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
ne wsuIa Hase Tar.usnny Return % Dcne-
cratic pectrine-FsiiipE That, Cas- suppert
No Mas whe stands Merely for Individual
Pretenoe-Fruits sf 'se Must ne Preserved.

Cookrnn. In which he 10 represented as being un.
osrtnin about the attitude which he would as
sume during the present campaign. Thi' In
teryiew was wholly unauthorized. Mr.. Cock
ran has hitherto remained silent about the po-
liticnl situation, because no has not believed
that the public were at all interested In his
views on tho subject; but,srather than remain
under any Misrepresentation. however sight,
be has authorized the publication. of the follow
ing lotter addressed to a friend. which shows
that he IN neither In doubt as to his duty nor ro-
iuotant to perform 1t according to his lights.
This letter was written several days before Gen.
Tracy's candidacy was announced to the pross;
while 1 regret that our views should diffor
a. TO the duty of the citiEon in the forthcom-
Ing election, l rejoice that We concnr In boliov-
tnr that the election TO the Mayeralty OF any
man who supported the Chicago platform
would not merely be a municipal dtscredit, but
Ia ri difiouit to undcrstand The: positien OF
th>.o gentlemen who. having left the party last
year rather than support the Chicago platform,
are: now ready to assist the oustodians Of that
revolutionary programme in their effort to gain
possession of the most important municipal
.. r~ovezument In tho. country. The success OF
this effort would encourage the belief that In
this great commercial metropolis the electors
can bo persuaded to condone and evon to honor
the mon who supported tho policy Of population
and disorder and whose previous declaration
proves that whom thoy did 30 their eyes were
Wide open TO tho cnormity OF their conduct.
Tho attempt to Justify this course by the state
ment that questions of national politics should
NOT DO considered during municipal elections
phows o curious misconception OF last years
political upheaval.
II the questions raised by the Chicago plat
form were merely political issues, these gentle
mon should have voted for Bryan. A political
convention is fully competent to decide a polit-
lcal issue. and it cannot bo denied that Bryan's
nomination was made and the platform Of re-
pudiation was adopted by an overwhelming
majority OF the convention. But you and l be-
lieve that a declaration in favol of the repudia-
ton Of public and private contracts presented
Q moral as well as q political question, and we
could not conceive that political conventions
have any power to license violations of the
moral law. Because we believed that the Chi
cago platform was n crusade against honesty
wo felt ourselves bound in conscience to re-.
pudiate its utterances. TO deny the authority
Of the convention To adopt it, and to oppose the
candidates who stood upon it.
Now the moral law does not change with tho
lapse OF time Or the passage of a season.
What was immoral last year is immoral this
year. The man who is capable OF assailing the
foundations of credit and mmer must in
our view be- considered as unnt to hold munici.
pal office as ne would be to administer Federal
functions.
It would perhaps be uncharitable, il not I'M
wise. TO proscribe any ciuzeu Tor the vote which
he may nave cast last year, but prudence ana
patriotism demand ,i,at every candidate should
dehno the riews when he now holds on CUES.
tons affecting the very structure OF civilized
There is perhaps little reason to apprehend
that Bryanisni can cver be successful in u ma
tional campaign. TO hold any other belief
would DO " doubt the capacity OF the Ameri-
tho mere belief that the country may be forced
80 mass through, another campaign OF repudia-
tfon L. enough to darken those prospects of
our 6orison. II Organism be- tolerated, much
less encouraged. in the great city which Bryan
himself has described as the snemy's country,
his supporters Will remain in undisputed con
troll of the Democratic organizations. and the
campaign OF devastation and disturbance
through which we passed in 1896 will inevi-
tably, be repeated IN 1900. Ii no voice be
r r,dsss y p9 Esn for a return to the ancient prinn;
DO found again unanimously assailing the in
tegrity Of contracts IN the forthcoming Con.
gresstonh elections. and the next Presidential
campaign will be a repetition OF tho last. Trade.
which never reckons with remote dangers. and is
when this prospect shall have become clearly
defined. It will restrict it's operations. the vol.
mand for labor diminished. distrust will be
spread among the owners of capital, and dis.
treas among the producing classes OF the coun'
v. Il 70 s true o that , the mnnsge M't Of t the ,ed Democrats noen2st
Ing and difficult situation. but to genuine lead
Han has today on a larger scale the oPpoF.
SS Ssasas' wS Eal'a She sh stood eG'o ike a sn rock iEnIR of :iSer ig
order and property against the assault Of Henry
without patronage or power. Every district
leaderrclamored for the Endorsement Of George
SECURING q lair II Z not a iSGHss share anH Of o
Sho FeWards. But the responsible leaders re
llOm0CTAtlN lrinrinlna and the conduct NJ fhs
organization in risking1defeat for u principle &C
Sommended.it to the approval Of the community
that Tor eight years she was inyincible at the
polls; By emphatically and squarely -epudiat
Ing the Populistic programme imposed ,upor
assume the leadership of a struggle to recap
sure tho Democratic organization, which 'h1,
DO certain to win enduring respect II not tenn
porary success. Nor does this require that sh'
L oompsts eia for aAy any ,y' Demd parsf or a!ipS, emoerati,
organization to agitate between elections TO
the adoption by the party Of amy principle with
silver Democrats OF the West and South adopted
freo silver platforms long before the convention
Of 1895. and nobody questioned their right u
If Western Democrats can declare betwee,
elections for Reputation in the face OF oppo
alto Internationally prior national conventions
East, n Democrats have an equal right to az
lArty. II the democratic leaders adopt such
Bio value to the people OF this country. The,
viii Justify a hope that tho next Democrati
convention may DO induced to forego a repot,
ion of the attack upon the laws governing in
0uRtry and thus save US the doubt, the turmoil
and the loss insepareble from a contest for tn
maintenance OF our laws upon the foundaio
ct common honesty.
II Tammany Hall would reafirm now an
one of the platforms which she adopted froI
1885 to 1894, no honest Democrat could r,
fuse to support her candidate. 4 she ratif
FORM she cannot justify her conduct by pla
ttudes about party loyalty. She will pursu
that course because she herself has becom
wSddssd e. the Popuiist Idol and her condge
enemiss from time immemorial. But wha
over declaration, OF principles she may wis
70 make. certain II Is that she will be forced b
the memorable logic of events to assume elearl
and unoquiyocally an attitude OF hostility {
adherence to the Populist programme 81
may roppdiate the Chicago platform. thereb
earning the respect of our citizens and crea
ing q possibility OF victory. or she may reafirl
IL and rely for support upon the revolutionar
elements whose numbers In this city are by n
means 90 great as demagogues believe. Blu
II abe attempt to evade the issue of dishonest
and disorder BY empty platitudes or u~ncertai
utterancos Bhe will go down to defeat beneat
the hatred OF her new allies and the contennt