The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-08
Let Him Produce the Evidence.

Mr.. JOHN De WITT WARNER at one time
member Of Congress from New York
district, is parsonage who need not neces-
sarily be taken with great seriousness. or,
at least, not as seriously as he takes him
self. He was, however, one Of the Demo-
Gratis, to his credit be it said, who refused
TO follow the Democratic party In its
Chicago departure of 1896, and he fought
against the silver policy in the campaign.
That is, Mr.. WARNER is what Is called n
gold Democrat" though how any man
can be so designated when the Democratic
party is silver party by formal and re-
poated declaration Is somewhat puzzling.
Neither he nor any other Of the former
Democrats Of his way of thinking has any
hope Of making it gold party. All that
they are hoping for is to induce it to keep
quiet on the subject OF the monetary stand
ard, So that its next campaign can be run in
behalf ofsilver to suit the prciudices and
convictions of the great mass of Demo-
Gratis. at tho same time that Mr.. WARNER
and his friends are studiously ignoring
the policy in canvassing for the votes Of
those who want only the gold standard. IF
by any chance Mr.. WARNER should get him
self elected delegate to the next Demo-
cratic National Convention. he would be
sure not to disturb its harmony by advo-
eating the gold standard or discussing the
currency question at all, for the policy Of
silence is his policy for both sides He
would not ask the silver majority to come
to him nor would he expect 1t to change its
views and intentions on the subject, but
would only beg it to refrain from confess
ing its opinions In the platform, on the I'M
dcrstanding that he would be equally reti-
cent about his own.
That is the sort of man Mr.. JOHN DE
WITT WARNER is. He was alarmed by the
1G-to-l policy Of the Chicago platform, yet
when that policy was defeated by the cleo
ton of Mr.. MCKINLEY he was not grateful
The disaster Of free silver was prevented
and gold remains tn" standard because OF
the triumph of the Republican party yet
he is virulrnt in his hostilitytoit. He finds
fault with the bridge that carried him over.
and he is doing all he can in his small way
to revive the question and renew the calam-
ity Of uncertainty regarding it by SANDER
ing the Administration Of the party Of gold
for the benefit Of the party Of silver.
Mr.. WARNER made speech on the Fourth
before the Democratic Club Of Brooklyn, in
which, of course. he avoided the currency
question in pursuance of his present policy
Of evasion, but he was bold enough in SLAM
dering the Administration for its conduct
of the war with Spain. Hctalked about the
air being "crowdcd by the ghosts of those
who died that contractors might profit"
and said that it was pitiful to see the
"sons Of somebodirs" made officers, and
the Flower of our youth die as a result Of
their incOmpetency.'
Now, these are very serious charges, but
they are of no weight unless Mr.. WARNER
can bring precise proof to sustain them
What evidence can he adduce to prove his
charge that the air is full OF the ghosts OF
soldiers who died THAT contractors might
profit" So? No such evidence was brought out
by the Court of Inquiry into the allegations
the other way. No shadow of evidence OF
fraud or corruption in contracts was pro-
duccd there and, so far, none has been
produced in any quarter. II Mr.. JOHN DE
WITT WARNER has such proof, it is his duty
to the public to put II forth, and II he does
not and cannot do it he is simply a reck-
less slanderer OF his country.
When and where did the flower Of our
youth die as the result Of the incompe-
| tCncy" of the sons of somebOdies"? II
Mr.. WARNER was justified in making the
accusation, he has precise facts to support