The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-10
Bryanism Without Humbue.

The Hon. FRED E. WHITE of Webster,
Iowa, Is the Democratic candidate for Gov.
ernor OF that State. He has q very inter.
esting collection Of views, and he exposes
it to the public with great freedom. He is
not like the Tammany trimmers. He not
only glories in the Chicago platform, but
he expresses with absolute frankness the
unrestrained socialistic tendencies of that
platform. He and other Democrats may
stop here or there for the moment, but
there is no limit to the revolutionary prin-
ciples in which they believe, but Of which
they do not themselves see always the full
scope n purpose.
Mr.. WHITE hurrahs for absolute free
trade, a hurrah which may be neglected for
the moment, for he has shouts more imme.
diately thrilling to the Democratic heart.
He believes in a tax on liquors and tobacco,
a belief in itself sufficient to characterize
him as a Democrat of the new and prevail
ing school, and directly opposed to the his
toric Democratic party. But these are
mere incidents or eccentricities of private
opinion. Hear him when he speaks upon
the silver issue, and speaks as a candidate
of the Democratic party in a great State
"What we complain Of" he says, is that
the dollar of to-day buys altogether too
much" That is a standard complaint of
Organism. You get too much for your
money. 1t is a singular thing to complain
of. Mr.. WHITE is talking to the farmers Of
to buy as well as sell.
1t is when Mr.. WHITE, still considering
the virtues Of chespness, comes to estimate
what the purchasing power Of the silver
dollar would be, under the sway of free and
unlimited coinage, that his frankness be.
comes most instructive. "Mr. WHITE"
says a correspondent of the Chicago Times.
Herald who had the felicity to receive an
abstract of the candidates opinions, ICON.
fessed he did not know 1chether the silrer
dollar urould stop at the 5O.cent point or
,chether il uould 90 do1cn to 10 cents"
This charming righteousness is the
quality in Mr.. WHITE which must make
the tudents Of Democratic statesmen pre-
fer him to his eminent young leader from
Nebraska. mo man." says Mr.. WHITE,
"can tell what the value of the silver dol,
lar will be under unlimited coinage at 10
to /. No one can tell ho,c cheap
the silrer dollar ,could be-" The most
oticiiuouS OppOitnto VI IL DuLLdIu uOl-
lar fraud could say no more. Mr.. WHITE
candidly admits that "the value of the
dollar would depend entirely on the pro-
duction of silver"
Mr.. WHITE is equally frank in admitting
that reputation is the purpose Of the silver
agitation and of his party:
lone OF my ~neighbors made money Year, ago by
selling hogs at nine cents a pound. He loaned some
Of It to other n%eighbors. hut they have been unable 10
pay 1t all back because hogs have only been bringing
three cents a pound. In other words. the dollar Is
worth three times as much now a. 1t was years ago
because It will buy three times a. much pork. To do
Justice. the dollar shouid be reduced to ons-third OF
Its value. Then the creditor would get rs much as he
is honestly entitled to-"
Do not pay the creditor what he let you
have, but what, all things considered, you
think he ought to have. That Is what Mr..
WHITE says, in effect, and that is what the
silver business means. Observe, however,
that reputation at the rate of 90 per cent.
has dropped out. Organism Is progressive.
Reputation to the extent Of 90 per cent.
will be no shock to Mr.. WHITE. He more
than half expects it.
Mr.. WHITES scheme of raising revenue
includes, bcsidcs n tax on tobacco and liu,
uors, a graduated income tax and a tax on
nheritances. Some remarks OF his In re.
gard to the latter tax have been extensively
quoted, but are still worth qroting:
1.-THE rate OF an inheritance tax Is q matter Of de.
tail. II might be one'tenth OF per cent. on estates
worth 800. 900. " per cent. OH estates OF 5000, 900
% per cent. on estates Of 5000. 900. and 10 por cent
on estates worth 81 .000, 900
at was suggested that some extremists hold that NJ
man can create enough wealth by his own labor t.
save more than $50. 900 to eloo. 900, and that there
fore all above that limit should DO conhscated by the
State.
THAT Is socialism, said Mr.. wHirk. 4 believe In
that. A man may acquire moro than 800, 900 undeI
the forms Of the law. hut In ordcr 10 do II he must gee
possession OF some OF the wealth created by othel
persons. II is no more than equity that that which
nc has not created should revert to the people. TIT
holder should bo satisfied with the peaceful posses
sion and use OF 1t during his lifetime. II may not b.
constitutional TO enforce sueh On Inheritance tax, bui
the Constitution ought TO be changed
Shall we repeat that MIR. WHITE is the
Democratic candidate for Governor in
great Statef He is nn un~blushing re
pudiationist, a confessed Socialist. There
are people In this part OF tho country whc
wish to hide their BryaniAm. 10 hide whal
Organism Is. The Democratic candidate
for Governor Of Iowa II . Bryanite, but h'