Evening star., 1899-04-17

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platform of 1896. 1t is 50 clearly apparent
that the gold democrats will have no IN
fuence in nominating the candidate or for
mulating the platform that the eXplicitneSS
with which Mr.. Bryan made this declara-
ton was hardly necessary. PROBABLY ne
would not have been so emphatic II some OF
his followers had not impressed him that
Croker'S defiance must be repelled no
ticed that outside of Mr.. Bryan hmSet
the most applause was given to Mr.. Crosby,
who was described as veteran advocate
oil the single tax. He pleased his hearers
by telling them that while no one could tell
what would be in the next democratic ma
tional platform, everybody could tell that
nothing would be taken from the last one.
Then he hinted at the single tax as future
article Of democratic faith, and the mint
met with response
Silver Moon Obscured.
George Fred Williams also saw the silver
moon obscured, but insisted that 1t was
still the moon. Judging from the sent-
ments uttered I should say that warfare
on the trusts and continued agitation Tor
the income tax are the most stable planks
in Mr. Bryans old Platform. He was ape
to turn a neat point regarding the income
tax by q living object lesson. ms was
Mr.. o. II. 2. Belmont, who was on the
stage and who in speech declared ne
would stand by the ptaIIurtll MI l1SliilOAiS
is gold standard democrat. HIS new de-
parture seems likely to give him more
prominence politically than Perry Belmont
has been able to achieve. He wants to pay
an income tax AFTER last night 1,Ess
! imagine he may have had some callers
today to suggest that he go little further
than the income tax and begin the equal
distribution of wealth right away.
The most significant feature of the even
ipg's talking, to my mind, was what was
said about expansion. Personal opinions on
these subjects doubtless bias every one
views, yet 1t did not appear to me mat
either Mr.. Bryan or the other speakers
had succeeded in formulating this issue
quite to the taste OF their followers. L
watched the banqueters narrowly. Tnere
was applause for everything said against
imperialism and "militarism,' yet 1t was
not general and 1t always came from a few
tables. Under Mr.. Bryan's eloquence there
were more signs of approval TO the senti-
ments uttered, and possibly some WaVer-
ing minds went with him. for he is very
persuasive in his way of appealing to the
emotions. Nevertheless, though many OF
his sentiments were appauded, there was
less earnestness than in other portions OF
his speech. He was definite enough IN
placing himself as an anti-eXpansionist, but
he did not seem to know his own ground
definitely. Some of his hearers thought
that his defense of the senators who op-
posed the peace treaty was mock de-
fense and was meant only as sarcasm for
German and others
Though Croker has lifted Tammany out
of the mud of municipal spoils and commit
ted it to expansion as national policy, its
supposed candidate, so far as there IS any
ENCOURAGEMENT toward having u candidate,
is German.
Did Not Attack Tammany.
Mr. Bryan did not attack the organiza-
ton in this weak point possibly because
he knew there were so many other weak
points which his thrusts were reaching.
But he himself, in seeking to formulate the
anti-expansion issue, is embarrassed by his
inability to guess what will be the condi-
tions in the Philippines six months or
year from now.
In spite of the drawbacks, l think the
fesling in New York today is that Bryan
has strengthened himself. He has not done
it by converting men to his views, but by
showing the difficulties in the way OF or
ganiZing a successful opposition to his lead
ership within the democratic party. More
people today are saying that the effort Is
useless than were saying SO a week ago.
They appear to realize that the lnhueaces
which made the last national platform may
make another one. His own followers are
quite aggressive. At the dollar dinner a
card was placed in my hand which called
for mine dollars for the cause in leu of
ten-dollar banquet" 1t was to be Chica-
go-platform-dinner contribution, and the
subscription was to be handled by Senator
Jones and other members of the democratic
national committee 10 lNe pTlIlcl-
pies of the Chicago platform. After eX
planning to the young man who passed the
subscription blanks that l belonged to a
different church and could not therefore
conscientiously contribute the nina dollars,
1 asked him if they were getting many sub
scriptions. quite a number" he replied,
'tand Wen get a good many more after
Bryan has been in town while."
So the Chicago platform propaganda win
go on, while Mr.. Bryan's followers are
casting about for planks in the new plat
form. CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.
Some of Mr.. Bryan's Points.
In his speech at the Chicago platform
banquet in New York Saturday night w.
]. Bryan emphasized his unwavering hos
fility to the gold democracy. He said on
this subject:
IA party is an association formed for the
purpose of giving force and effect to the
political principles held in common. When
vital differences in principles arise separa-
tion Is not only necessary, but desirable.
'@The members of the republican party
cannot complain because certain republi-
cans left the party rather than accept the
st. Louis platform. Neither can msmbers
of the democratic party complain because
gold democrats left the democratic party
rather than accept the Chicago platform
The silver republicans organized a party
and gave 1t name which distinguished It
from the regular republican party, and sill
yer republicans, true to their organisation
aro mt a{fennpfinfr tn fopfro1 tha po13o,, ~