The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-13
N. Y. JOURNAL, BRYAN's standby
IN '96, DECLARES AGAINST
BRYAN'S IDEA OF 1T.
SIXTEEN TO ONE NO ISSUE.
CONTINUATION OF THE FIGHT ON
THE OLD LINES MEANS GER
TAIN DEFEAT,
BROADER PLATFORM DEMANDED,
with statesmen for Leaders Who
Grasp the Needs of the Party
and Nation.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Politicians
Of every political faith at WASHINGTON
are discussing with great interest the
article which appeared on the editorial
page of the New York Journal today.
This article is nearly three columns in
length. 1t is headed, "A Bryan. Demo-
Gratis View of Mr.. Bryan"
1t is addressed "TO the Editor of the
Journal" and is signed by Arthur Nc
Euen. Mr.. McEuen is one of the chief
editorial writer's on that paper. In
view Of the fact that the Journal is
the only Eastern metropolitan paper
that supported Bryan in the last prest-
Dental campaign, the appearance Of
this article, which is a terrific roast Of
Bryan and his sixteen to one" idea.
is certainly significant The principal
points made by Editor McEuen are as
follows:
As Bryan Democrat, I have to confess
grow weary of Mr.. Bryan, and this is i'm
poTtant because | find myself in constantly
increasing company with other BRYAN Demo
Gratis. l am coming 10 believe that he is
not large enough TO be leader of the cause
Whic4 n, Is known by his name OF his energy
ana ms brliliancy as a popular speaker, as
hlgh an opinion must be held as when he
made that marvellous tour Of tn Union,
rousing people everywhere with his earnest
and dashing eloquence, but he no longer i'm
presses as great man as one of highest
sincerity: lie is showing narrowness or ir-
irrational oDstinacy, either OF which had been
detrimental 10 his ambition and must be
hurtful TO the prospects Of the movement he
represents.
The persistence with which he clings to
10 to l, as II that were not only the solitary
tenet in the Democratic creed but the axis
Of revolving cosmos, betrays either Bryan's
incapacity to comprehend Organism or a
logged disposition that refuses to acknowI-
edge what is presented to his eyes and those
CT every other Intelligent man in the coun-
try whether for or against the Chicago plat
form Of the new Democrats.
Consider what Bryanism-real Organism
means. That word sounds now in the
United States for the whole battle of the
many against tyranny and spoliation at the
hands of few. 1t is a declaration of war
upon plutocracy, not against property, but
against the aggressions of property upon the
rights of the people. The same fight has
tempted to Cypress and plumber the weak;
that is to say, ever since mankind has lived
upon the earth. But the appalling duration
OF this war is not a reason why it should be
abandoned as hopeless by the victims.
The cure. scientists say, Is to be found
in the naturalization of all capital, all in
dustry. The George philosophy says it lies
in the appropriation Of land values for public
purposes. Others look for relief to legisla-
ton against trusts and the abolition of the
and hope by moral suasion to raise the in
dividual above the sin of larceny no matter
how long sanctioned by time and usage the
form of theft may be.
Bryan appears to believe that the free
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to l will
do it, and the intelligent and educated prop
erty-owning classes of the country rise and
clamor against him in wrath and terror, as
II they, too, believed he had touched the but
ton. Also, million of men who hope for
instead of dread the inauguration of a square
deal, agree with Bryan on the principle for
the most part, that it is better to try any rem
edy than none
"a mining camp that should rebel against
a cheating faro bank and then content itself
with changing the color Of the chips while
leaving the box and cards in possession of
the dealer to go on with the game, would
have a fattering likeness to Bryan.
"a sound currency is important. Nobody
will deny that, and so long as our money
must have metallic basis 1t is better that
it should have two metals rather than one.
An approaching dollar is as dishonest as a
depreciating one, and does more harm, for
the approaching dollar robs those who have
least.
| ''Bimetallsm by all means. It is the money
Of the constitution. and therefore democratic,
but why 16 to l CIR death? What decree of
heaven has given that ratio sacredness be-
yond all other possible ratios?
There are hundreds of thousands of as
good bimetallists as Bryan himself who OBJ
ject to 1G to /. They believe in honest money,
the bimetallic money Of demonstration; but
they also believe that the question of ratio
is a detail that may well be left to congress
to debate and to experience They are un-
able to comprehend why mere subsidiary
matter of eXpedience and practical business
judgment should be made the keystone of the
party arch. They find themselves, though
doubtful of the practicabilitys of 16 to l. still
capable of detecting the robbery of protec-
ton. They even admit that it is possible that
Bryan may be right in his belief that the re-
monetiZation of silver would create such a
demand for the metal as to restore its
price. but they do not believe it. 1t is a
matter over which bimetallists can differ and
remain good Democrats.
What reason Is there in sense. what rea-
son in sane politics, why Bryan should stand
on sixteen to one, and speaking as the head
of the Democratic party declare He that ia
not for me in this is against me-. Is there
not enough ground outside of the question
| of ratio to draw the Democrats together for
| common war against the rule of plutocracy
! heecers of the people? And the main thing IN
| the new Democracy that took up the sword a.
! Chicago is not sixteen to one. That is the
! fly on the wheel. By magnifying it as Mr.
| Bryan does he Is doing the new Democracy
| incalculable mischief.
THE nomination came to Bryan In 1895 as
| free gift, presented with flowers, music anC
an acclaim that thrilled the country. The
! nomination in 1900 is being sought by Bryan
| sought industriously. In ways made familiar
! by men of all parties who are ambitious to be
! president, Bryan is revealing himself as 6
| politician.
There are larger men In the Democratic
| party than Bryan. At present they keep, OF
| are kept In the rear, for his primacy is sc
| evident that rivalry is not invited. But it Is
| a long time to 1900. and IL Bryan shall con-
! tinue to reveal his limitations at the rate We
| have witnessed within the past year. he will
| have to fight for the nomination for which
| he is now maneuvering, and the more h5
| fights for 1t the more likelihood IS there that
| he will lose 1t.
1.-The Democratic platform OF 1896 demands
! sixteen to one. But there is nothing divine
| about platforms that they should be the same
! yesterday. today and forever. Democratic
| platforms have altered ere now. One of them
! pronounced the war to be failure. Gettys-
| burg was the answer to that, and the next
| platform took cognizance of the answer
THE new Democracy should with gladness
! view the hottest hostility that the party which
| defends the privileges of plut9cracy can offer
| but the Democratic party should not give
| battle on an incidental question but fight for
| it's vital contention. which IS that the men
| Of this republic and not it's millions should
rule it. Let us challenge the trusts and all
the benefciaries and upholders OF the sys-
TEN of favori;fsm in legislation, of which the
trusts are necessary and illustrative fruit
to life and death conflict. That is the duty
and hearty wish of the new Democracy.
demand for free coinage of silver at ratio
in which this challenge can be given, and
may be admirable for his earnestness, but
he is not to be congratulated on the size or
shape of his head. Bryan may If he chooses.
cit Ay-c4nr - IL &c