The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-28
Is THIS LETTER BRYAN'S?
CIRCULATED AS HIS LETTER TO COZ.
WILLIAM L.. BROWN.

II IL Not That Letter nnd sheehnn says ne
Thinks II lie y "Faker-t Depiores tue
Abandonment or Part, PrI.ciples and Aisc
the viclous Herray or Nen.Paritaauship.
Tammany men had another shock yesterday
when n fresh letter. said to have been written
by Mr.. Bryan and sent to Col. William l.. Brown,
was made public. Like the other letters that
have como from tho recent candidate, this
letter fguratively pointed tho finger at the
Tammany leaders and said, Don't you dare
ignore the platform" Az one Tammany leader
put 1t, Tho platform haunts us and we can't
shake It," The letter wasn't tho one written
to Col. William J.. Brown. But here IL is as II
was printed In the Brooklyn Eagle, which says
il is in circulation among the Silver Democrats
and is alleged TO be the letter TO Brown:
A triumph OF the Democracy Of Greater New
York Except under the auspices Of tho Issue
that animates the party, will have the same
moral effect ms a renewed aud affirmed triumph
of the agencies led Ex-senator Hanna.
When parties cease to represent certain fixed
principles, the supreme prerogative Of the ballot
becomes prostituted to q contest between or
CARNATIONS for the spoils OF Office and the en-
ioyment of success. To this prostitution of the
ballot may be ascribcd every chapter Of shame
and corruption in tho history Of American
municipal government. II is better to have a
government by the Republican party, response.
bic to its declarations, than government by
Democratic partisans without responsibility
to Democratic principles.
Many persons confound opposition with prin-
ciplc. A mere partisan Democratic opposition
TO the candidates OF the Republican party
cannot be dignified with tho timc-honored
banner Of Jefferson and Tilden. Ono of the
most fascinating fallacies Of the day is the
,1att, that NNn;,in 81 ~ ~, Ia IA 80
Office by partisans is a principle. so-called
non.partisan government Is not a principle.
and should 1t be accepted and eliminate politi-
cal parties from municipal affairs, invites
reasonless contests. Government might as
well DO decided hy the fortunes of rival colors
in the football field. The Democratic party
Is the enemy Of this fallacy. l do not, there
fore. subscribe in any way to the theory that
good city. government is to be found in govern
ment without party. II the dream OF non
partisan government becomes n reality then
would arise n condition of contests for power
between citizens unions and peoples. unions,
each claiming to be the only original pur-
veyors of purity in government.
York through an organization known as the
Citizens Union is one of the most vicious here
more dangerous because, of its alluring spon.
sorship. Government by the Democratic
party or the Republican party without adher.
zens', Union. instead OF a government by the
people, become government by an organiZa-
ton. would consider it II calamity IL New
York begins its greater career without the au-
spices OF political principle and responsibility.
The. Democratic party is the party Of home
rule. but home rule does not moan irresponsi-
bility TO the nation at large. The great cities
are part OF the State ard country: they are the
CAPITALS OF culture and sciences; they are Gre
ated, not OF themselves, but of the whole peo-
pie and the whole peoples toll and progress;
therefore, 1t Is unnatural and artificial to
avoid responsibility for national issues and
political cowardice and political crime.
Greater New York will be the uncrowned
capital OF America. The Democrats OF New
YORK have Il responsibility, not only to them
selves and the greater city, but to their party
and its living principle and the nation. This
election is the most important and influential
political event between 1896 and 1900. To
suggest that the Democratic party platform
has no place in this contest, is to admit a
doubt of Its wisdom and places the Democratic
party on a par with the fallacy Of non. politi.
cal government. The issue Is the life Of tho
party, not the garment, and to alter or deduct
from the declarations OF the assembled party
is mortal injury; nor have battalions which
fought, now on one side. now on another.
shoulder to shoulder'as friends, now bayonot to
bayonet as enemies, a place in honorable war.
John c. Sheehan declared last night that not
only was the letter not the one that was written by
Mr.. Bryan to Col. Brown, but that he believed
1t was a fake" He said that he had seen Col.
Browns letter. and there wasn't anything in it
that resembled what WAS in this letter. He
had never seen this letter, he said, before It's
publication by the Eagle.