The herald., 1898-02-09
THE MAN AND THE CAUSE

In animadverting upon the recent let
ter of Mr.. Arthur McEwen In the New
York Journal touching the availability
ofMr. Bryan as the Democratic standard
bearer in 1900, we recently declared that,
whereas it manifested a decided spirit
of unfriendliness to him and would be
widely construed as an abandonment by
the paper giving place and prominence
to it, both the man and the paper had
unwittingly and, perhaps, unwillingly
done the cause a great service. And SC
1t has come about, for it has been the di-
rect means of precipitating discussion
of men and measures connected with the
next national campaign two years in
advance of the natural course and in
every way advantageous to Mr.. Bryan,
as a representative Of Democratic con-
viction and, as well, to his adhesion to 16
to as an expedient, if not a principle.
If the purpose of the letter was to start
a movement having for its object the ul-
innate shelving Of Mr.. Bryan as pres
idential candidate and the relegation of
the silver question to a subordinate place
in the platform of the party, it has been
signally unsuccessful. This Mr.. McEwen
candidly confesses, and in recent issue
of this paper we reprinted his acknowl-
edgment of the fact. That gentleman
AYERS that his opposition to Mr.. Bryan
was not because he is too radical, but
that he is not radical enough, and be-
cause he insists upon still making free
silver coinage the predominant issue and
doggedly adheres to the ratio of 16 to /,
instead of subordinating the question
to what he regards as at least of equal
Importance, the control of the trusts,
tariff, taxation and kindred themes.
The letter has had the effect of draw
ing out expressions of the people of
every section of the country, and finally
to provoke letter from Mr.. Bryan him
SELF This appeared in last Sundays Ex-
aminer, and is throughout characteristic
of the great mind from which it ema-
mated. And, while it nowhere refers to
Mr.. McEwen or his letter, it is obviously
intended to cover every contention of
the latter and the few who may share
his opinions.
The views expressed by Mr.. Bryan are
in no particular at variance with his
well-known convictions, but since they
constitute his latest public utterances
upon the interesting and important
theme, something more than a passing
reference is justified.
To show that events, and not the silver
agitators, are responsible for keeping
the money question before the country,
he cites: Q) The contention of Demo-
Gratis in the last campaign, that inde-
pendent bimetallism was the only RENE
dy for the evils of the gold standard: ::
(2) the failure of the international mon
etary conference to effect an internation-
al agreement, strengthening that con-
tention; (O the recent action of the SEN
ate, declaring that the silver dollar shall
not be deprived of its full debt-paying
power; (4) the subsequent declaration of
the house, tantamount to a surrender of
the option held by the government as to
the kind of money to be used in the
payment of its debts, and (5) the effort Of
the secretary of the treasury to secure
authority to issue bonds and retire tbe
greenbacks.
This must be plain to the dullest COM
prehension. If agitation" Is injurious
to the financial and business interests of
the country, as Republican speakers and
organs have so long contended, they
must shoulder the responsibility for the
injury now being inflicted
But Mr.. Bryan is most happy in ac-
estimating the ridiculously inconsistent