New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-22

o,,,od nv the Ohio Valley Bimetallic
- hodv organized apparently to brow
heot into fidelity to the Chicago PLATFORM oach-
Gliding Marty leaders in the Middle western
States .
rho Des Moines speech of Tuesday last doubt
,oss reflects a certain tendency or sentiment
within the party TO demand a REIMBURSEMENT vi
nIotform values to which sentiment the Nepras-
ka leader has lent n more or less sympatneuc
oar otherwise why should we ma MN auViS-
ing the Iowa Democrats to make their campaign
this wear on National issues which by reason vi
their novelty could find no treatment Whatever
in the National platform OF 1soe! men Nv"
80 ,rnortant issues arise" Mr.. Bryan was re-
nor,od nc arguing. Eve can take them Into the
"fomily and make the campaign upon the"
"without apologzing for any past hght Inc
Chicago platform remains. OF course III HIS
view. the higher law" Of the party. Like JET
ferson's first inaugural, ut was Duiit TOT al
time" But according to the Democratic iead-
er's new theory. "if issues arise wmch seem 10
"bc Of more importance than these or the past
cit is proper for the party TO give prominence
"to and even use them as the basis OF CAIN
"paign." In Omaha subsequently Colonel Bry-
an explained that he did not mean to advise
corp,ete or even marked repression Of the
money issue in the Iowa canvass. But the
Democrats at Des Moines undoubtedly read his
meaning Alright when they practically ignored
the silver question and devoted their PLATFORM
almost exclusively to an extravagant assault on
tbe Administrations attitude and purposes In
the Far East.
The logic Of this reratng Of platform values
need puzzle no one. Mr.. Bryan furnished SELF
evident explanation when he said bluntly AT
Des Moines that he lost the Presidency three
wears ago because his candidacy locked up
the foreign vote Foreign born Americans
could not appreciate the merits and advantages
of the cheapened dollar preached by him IN
1896 They might, however be attracted 10
his support in 1900, he thought, by an appeal
TO their supposed prejudces against an expan-
sion however reasonable and justiiable, OF the
Nations military responsibilities and military
power.
The transparency Of this bid for votes on
Colonel Bryan's part seriously weakens II IL
does not wholly destroy its effectiveness. IN
deed It is a question whether he has not more
to lose than 10 gain by obscurng the silver
issue in his approaching canvass and trusting
mainly for success to purely negative assaults
upon the Presidents military and foreign pol
lev The American people have never YET dls-
countenanced a military enterprise undertaken
n extend or enforce the National authority
They have never yet shown the slightest dis
positon TO condemn war In which National
honor and interests have been once involved
as blnnder or a failure. Colonel Bryan for
gets history and misjudges both native ana
foreign born Americans when he Jumps TO the
conclusion that they can be led to dlsavow the
Administrations purpose 10 establish me au-
thoritv OF the United States In the Philippines
by any empty exhibitions Of phrase jugglery
A Ia Edward Atkinson. The Republican party
has nothing 10 fear from canvass conducted
on the assertion that the generalities OF the pre-
omhle 10 the Declaration n Independence apply
with immediate force and literal eXactness 70
the military and political situation In Luzon.
II can invite n contest on this or on the silver
issue with equal compacency. Meanwhile II
will observe with interest the progress or the
Democratic stage manager as he shifts OF re-
shifts with anxious eye the properties ana
scencrr which he expects to use on his second
Presid ntial starring tour