Natchitoches populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1898-1899, 1898-10-21


form and Of William j. Bryan given by
Missouri Democrats under Mr.. BANDS
leadership at Springfield is an express
sion Of honest American sentiment
which ought to be ineligible to Mr..
William G. Whitney and Mr.. Richard
Croker, says the St. Louis Journal of
Agriculture Their plan to assassinate
Mr.. Bryan by striking him from the
rear III Missouri has not succeeded.
The qualities which most endear Mr..
Bryan to the people are courage and
candor He is not coward in COM
ception, nor a sneak in execution. He
goes straightforward whether he is
right or wrong.
This is quality so valuable that all
other qualities are sure to become
valueless without it. And it is by vir-
tue of this quality of manliness that
Mr.. Bryan will defeat the conspiracy
to turn the machinery of the Demo-
cratic party over to the same inter-
gObO WnlIn IOW SOutlOl tAC AtOPoIAASe%AA
party so completely
When Mr.. Bryan volunteered for the
Spanish war, many of his stanchest
friends were surprised and perhaps
pained. The Democratic instincts is to
lvoid the military hero and to oppose
the military idea in government. But
4, is likely to appear shortly, if it does
aot already, that in offering himself to
.ae Mckinley administration to be shot
at by the Spaniards, Mr.. Bryan was
more farsighted than the rest of us.
He severed thus a Gordian knot which
might not have been Embossed other
wise.
1t is hardly necessary to say that the
whole force of plutocracy is being
used to retire i4r. Bryan from Demo-
catic leadership. Six months ago, i'm
mediately after Cookers return from
exile In Europe and the Tammany vic
tory in New York City, it was believed
that through alliances made by him
with politicians in Missouri and the
southwest, other issues would be SUB
stituted for those of the Chicago plat
form. Aware of this design and famil-
lar with the records and methods Of
some of those who we're party to it,
the Journal has worked with all its
energies to prevent the issues OF the
Chicago platform from being obscured
With the help of journalists on weekly
papers whose honesty, intelligence and
incorruptibility are the hope OF the
country, the effort has met with such
success that the men in Missouri who
were in secret league with Croker and
the trusts and national banks which
control him, against the Chicago plat
form, have been compelled to be loud
est In their protestations Of devotion
10 it. That they mean to betray it at
the first opportunity is certain. In
the meantime they have not yet had
the opportunity, and it is entirely pos
sible. IL not probable, that they will
have to go cut of the Democratic party
To get 1t.
Seeing themselves unable to carry
out their pl5ns under conditions then
existing, this element determined to
take advantage of the blowing up of
the Maine to give the Republican adj
ministration the war power as means
Of forcing a change of issues against
the "agitators and stirrers up of do
mestic discomfort" Such papers as
the st. Louis Republic and the Louis
vile Courier Journal were the active
agents Of this propaganda. and 1t was
part of the plan to carry 1t out by
seeming to force the war on the Re-
publican administration. This was
done with great elaboration and some
skill. 1t was we'll understood, how
ever, by all who we're studying the
situation. An attempt was made to foil
1t by forcing an issue for the recognl-
ton Of the Cuban republic. 1t was well
known that the sugar trust, which In
tends to put down the Cuban patriots
and their republic, would not allow
war to be declared if the republic were
recognized. But under the circum,
stances the best that could be got out
of congress was the declaration thai
the Cubans "are, and of right ought t.
be, free and independent" Consider
ing this a mere glittering generality
the Republicans ON their part accepted
the war power with eagerness. They
have attempted to use it to Greats
rival candidates for the Democratic
presidential nomination. The bond
gyndieates and trusts, who look on TIL
practical politicians of both parties a
their spittoon-cleaners have done theil
best 10 make a great man of Fitzhugl
Lee. and have used the Republican ad
mlnistration for that purpose. Lee
being 'sonnd-money man. was to b
held in reserve against Bryan, and il
the meantime Democratic machine
managers were to be controlled" ant
committees stacked in the west ant
south so as to turn Democratic stat
conventions against Bryan and Wha
be stands for,
It was expected that the combination
p.,,,,,a1 IN GARRY ni1f fhfa nr0prarnrn