The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-15
VERD|CT'S ISSUES
OF THE CAMP A|GN
Democracy in New York and the
Nation as Viewed by BEL
montS' Verdict.

Alfred Henry Lewis, editor of the New
York Verdict, has this in the last issue OF
that very original democratic publications:
1t is the privilege of all, and the practice
of many, to write letters, pertinent and i'm
pertinent to papers. The Verdict got one
the other day; and as the writer's curious
excitement is personal, it will make reply.
Here is the missive in question:
Harrisburg, Pa, September.
Editor of The Verdict, New York City:
Dear Sir:--I have read several of your
late issues of the Verdict l would like
first to ask If you professed the views in
your first numbers that you do in these
later ones looked over. l am not myself
a silver sixteen to one man, and was sur
prised to find you opposing silver and sup
porting Bryan in the same paper. How do
you do it? Why do you do 1t? l call my
self a democrat, and yet in 1896 I was
obliged to vote for Palmer and Buckner
If you can point out to me how l can vote
for Bryan in 1900-for 1 expect he will be
nominated as everything looks like i'll
will be deeply obliged to you. very re-
speetfully, ROSS. j. ADKINS.
In response to Adkins, of Harrisburg, the
Verdict will say that from lis initial num-
Der it has professed, not to say proclaimed,
the creed and well the plan of politics II
does today. The Verdict is for harmony.
If democracy would rear to itself and the
IL
harmony is the only pedestal. Moreover,
this paper does not regard finance as
principal question. Finance, as PROPOSE
ton, is out of present reach of change. IL
is-silver sixteen to orchard ana tast on
the senate reefs of gold, there to stay untn
some rising tide of opinion frees it and
floats it for another campaign. For all OF
which, and because also, imperialism
and trusts, and mflitarism, have taken the
open field, to destroy or be destroyed pnis
Aff
for any. next year ticket-treason on the
part of one who calls himself democrat.
AS Adkins, of Harrisburg, observes, Bryan
is, without shadow of doubt, tine demo-
cratic nominee to come.
And the Verdict does not hesitate as 1t
puts its trust in him. Bryans pose is clear
and from the standpoint of a republic, per-
feet on the three questions of imperialism,
trusts and miltarism, above recounted
Not only does the Verdict regard Bryan as
the best possible choice for the presidency,
but he becomes doubly so, when the alterna-
tive is Hannaism. This paper has said be-
FORE and says again, that 1t does not re-
gard platform as on the same important
par with a candidate Nor in truth, does
the voter. Folk are sentimental with their
balloting. They talk of platforms but they
vote for men. And platforms are oft ig-
nored Cleveland is clothed with presi-
dency on a tariff platform, and calls an
extra session on finance. mckinley Is
elected and inaugurated on a money pat
form and calls an extra session on tarlH.
So 1t goes. Following an election, the man
is everything, the platform a feeble ana
second-fiddle business. Hardened of expert
ence, the Verdict is more interested in the
candidate than in anything else besides.
And 1t believes in Bryan. Adkins, OF f1af-
risburg. voted as he writes for Palmer ana
Buckner; and in doing so, Adkins, OF H>r-
risburg, calling himself a democrat, lost
one-half of his vote, and made Hanna ana
Mckinley a present of the other half. Ad-
kins, of Harrisburg, should avoid repe-
tition of such imbecility. -
If one be a democrat one should DO ms
ouarreling with democracy inside rne parry
lines. MANY men and many minds. SATIN
the proverb No two men look aiike, no
two think alike, no two believe allke On
any subject But they can act ana Vote
alike. And those who call themselves DEM
ocrats must do so, if there's ITO oe demo-
cratic success next year. No one need
comb his vanity with the theory that hes
infallible. None should prefer his lone con-
clusion to the convention wisdom or mas
marty. Gold may be wrong or 1t may be
right. Silver may be wrong or 1t may be
right There Is never an issue Whlch may
not be made to swing in similar alternative.
But there is one matter adj democrats should
knew There is one thing which does not
present a possibility of right. 1t Is ever
wrong The greatest of all errors is the
black error of defeat.