New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-17
A SPEECH IN TWO PARTS.

Bryan and Croker explain each other. A
foreign traveller picking up Crokers words by
the sad sea waves and then Bryan's words at
the capital Of Iowa would recognize them at
once as parts of the same speech. They could
not fit better II they came into being as one de-
liberate device. Croker proclaims Bryan a
great statesman and fops over TO anti-expan-
sion. Bryan declares a standing army expan-
sion and imperialism tissues on which we can
win,' while In 1896 "the foreign vote did not
understand the silver issue" His way Of get
ting rid OF that question is simple. He tells the
Democratic county charmen of Iowa that the
Chicago platform was built for all time and
needs no repetition. but when new and impor-
liant issues arise we can make the campaign
upon them without apOlogizng for any past
eight The foreign vote" which Mr. Croker
surely represents II he represents anything, and
which did not understand the silver issue" ac-
cording to Mr.. Bryan will understand what
standing army means. They know what ex-
'pansion and imperialism mean, and will vote
against them. They will understand these
'things better than the native Americans them
SELVES. and on such issues we can win"
This is the substance Of Mr.. Bryan's advice
10 the Iowa Democratic charmen, and II is just
such advice as he might be expected to give. 1t
fits perfectly with his own course in the cam
paign of 1895, when he found the silver question
sure TO lose, and spent the latter part Of the
test In braZen appeal to the spirit Of anarchy
and lawlessness On such issues he evidently
believed then, as he believes now. that "the
foreign vote could be secured Now he calcu-
lates that the same clements Will be far more
powerfully turned against the Republican party
by the increase of the Army, and by the foreign
duties which make that necessary. If Mr.
Bryan had studied for months to devise bridge
on which Mr. Croker could cross TO his support
he could not have done better. And If Mr.
Croker had spent months in contriving how to
put himself in line with the regular organiza
ton, without in form abjuring his position on
silver, ne might have chosen just that mode.
IL anybody objects that these steps involve
absurd inconsistencies and sudden changes OF
position which imply contempt for popular opin
ion. let IT be remembered that precisely these
things must be expected from Democratic lead
ers Of the latter day sort. TO have fixed con
victions is obsolete. To get success on any pre-
tence, and then 10 use it with such shameless
corruption as to provide means for further sue
cess is the modern style of Democratic leader
ship The man who cannot turn himself inside
ont In a day, as Croker did on his arrival from
Europe il not qualified TO lead Democracy now
The man who cannot ignore Free Trade In ordel
10 capture free silver fanatics as Bryan die
early in the campaign OF 1896, and then ignore
silver In order to capture the Anarchists and al
the unruly and dangerous elements. as Bryan
did later In 1896, is not in the least fit candi
date Of modern Democracy Contempt for tho
people is the very essence Of that demagoguisn
which produces the Tammany machine here an'
the Bryan machine elsewhere.
Axe all latter day Democratic schemes, this