The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-20
THE JOURNAL 81 lands TRUE.

Some days ago Mr.. Arthur McEwan,
who holds a position on the staff of the
New York journal, wrote a communica-
ton to the Journal saying that the Dem
ecratic party needed a froader cam
didate in 1900 than Mr.. Bryan, and ques-
tioning the wisdom of his constant press
ing of the money question to the front.
The gist of the article was that Mr..
BRYAN could not secure the solid Demo
cratic vote because he kept silver in the
foreground, and therefore that his NOM
ination was inexpedient
If the article had appeared anywhere
else than in the Journal it would have
been regarded as having no special signi-
ficance. Appearing in the only New
York daily that supported Mr.. Bryan,
the Republicans and the gold men her
aided it as proof that the Journal had
thrown over Mr.. Bryan and the princi-
pies of which he is the most illustrious
champion. 1t was seized upon as anoth-
er occasion for preaching the funeral of
S1lNGLs 14ttc b<N1l O%1upS th1 ca
tention of the papers since its appear
ance.
We never believed that the Journal,
after its magnificent fight in 1896, had
any intention of abandoning true Demo-
cracy. 1t showed then that it bad the
root of sound doctrine. We did not be-
liere it had backslidden in one short year.
The following editorial in yesterdays
Journal proves that the Journal has kept
:he faith
"A communication signed by Mr..
Arthur McEwan on the subject of the
expediency of ren0minating Mr.. Bryan
for the Presidency in 1900 has been taken
by a swarm of correspondents and news
papers as indicating the position of the
Journal on this interesting subject. The
Chica-. Times-Herald, for instance,
quotes Mr.. McEwan's expression at con-
siderable length, and asserts that 'they
represent the editorial views of the only
influential newspaper in the East which
advocated the election of William J. Bry-
an and Endorsed the Chicago platform,
upon which he stood. !"
sThe Journal is gratifed to have such
an excellent opportunity of impressing
upon the laity, for whom such instruction
might be expected to be necessary, as
well as upon its newspaper contempora-
ries, who ought not to need it, valuable
bit of information, to wit: that the opin-
ions of the Journal on political or any
ether TOPICS are TO be found only In its
editorial columns. As far as space will
permit the Journal endeavors to be hos
pitable to the private ideas both of men,
bers of its staff and of outsiders. 1t has
repeatedly printed signed articles by Mr..
Willis J. Abbot. Mr.. James Creelman,
Mr.. Arthur McEwan, Mr.. Alfred Henry
Lewis, ex-senator John j. ingalls,, "A
Gentleman" s.ChOlly Knickerbocker,"
"Alan Dale" and innumerable other
writers in and out of its office. Many
of these communications have been rad
ioally opposed to the policy of the paper.
The fact that an article, whether by an
editorial writer or anybody else, is sign
ed and appears outside of the editorial
columns. is conclusive proof that it rep
resenfs the private opinions of the au-
thor and not the views of the Journal.
'As to the position of the Journal on
the subject of Mr. Bryan, the matter is
simplicity itself. The Journal supported
Mr. Bryan in 1896 because he was the
regular nominee of the Democratic Ma
tionaI convention. It will support him in
1900. or ANYBODY else who may occupy
the same position It supported Mr.. van
Wyck last year for similar reasons. The
Journal is not and never was either a
Bryan paper or a Van Wyck paper. 1t
il n Democratic paper"