The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-21
A lawyers Humbug.

Mr.. EDWARD NJ. SHEPARD Of Brooklyn
is New York lawyer who has been strug-
Cling for several years past to make
himself a figure in Democratic politics.
The Chicago platform and the nomination
Of BRYAN in 1896 shunted him of the track
temporarily. 1t was sore trial to him
that his party denounced the existing gold
standard as criminal. and demanded 16 to
1 without regard to any other nations, for
he could not join in that Democratic de-
mand without violating his convictions
and assailing the interests Of his clients.
Now, however, preparing to get back
fully into the Democratic fold and to sup
port BRYAN in 1900 he has hunted up
pretext for falling behind the silver leader
which he thinks will serve the purpose,
and he brought it forward in Brooklyn
on Tuesday evening. I" It Is impossible"
he said, for all the eloquent and influ-
entail silver advocates by their utmost
diligence to obtain this year or in
1900 a vote for their currency propo-
stion." Therefore. he proposed that BRYAN
should set it aside for the time being
Why Is it not as possible to obtain vote
on the silver proposition in 1900 as 1t was
in 1896? II BRYAN Is elected, the Demo
Gratis will elect also majority OF the House
OF Representatives, and then there will
remain nothing in the way OF the accom-
plshment OF their purpose except a small
gold standard majority in the Senate,
against which a silver President would
exert powerful pressure, the chances of
which would be great enough to keep all
In, In n hat
may be made to represent in the way
Of artificial issues, he will represent
and embody, first OF all, and In every mind
OF both friend and foe, the issue OF to 1.
He rose with that wave and he will continue
to ride on it. Except for it he would not
have been nominated in 1895, and he would
not be renominated In 1900. That is his
whole political stock In trade, his whole
political distinction.
Mr.. SHEPARD made his proposition In
this precise form
THE Democracy should In 1900 give q distinct
| pledge that its Administration from 1901 to 1905
will maintain the existing currency situaton that
will be hostile mother to the gold standard nor to
the silver Standard that it will not thwart whatever
discussion OF the currency question the limits OF
popular interest permit"
In the first place, the Democracy could
not "thwart whatever discussion ofthe cur
rency question the limits of popular inter-
| est permit" no matter how loudly it might
pledge Itself to do it. The mere nomination
of BRYAN will start that discussion in it's
most anxious and violent form, and his
election would keep up the doubt and tur-
MOL throughout the four years OF his term.
1t would start it both at home and abroad
| and 1t would awaken distrust of American
securities in every foreign market OF the
world.
In view OF the determined opposition Of
BRYAN and the Democracy to the single
gold standard Mr.. SHEPARD's proposition
that the Democratic party should pledge
itself " to maintainthe existing currency
situation is farcical. Any platform which
even squinted at liberation Of such an
abandonment of the Chicago platform
would produce a split in the party
which would he rreconcilable. The Re-
publican party, meeting first, will de-
clare for the gold standard, and make
an issue which the Democratic party
will not be able to evade. Nor could it
survive the rdicule which it would provoke
by announcing that 1t was neither for nor
against the single gold standard In cam
paign for which it nominated the 10 to
hero as its candidate for President
Mr.. SHEPARD went on to make this false
assertion concerning the Republican party
" Having come into power with an overwhelming
majority pledged to end the currency troubles they
have. with sinister lack OF atriotSm, deliberately
kept the question in order that out OF the APP
prehensions OF the business OF the country they
may find their selfish advantage"
The Republican party made no pledge in
1896 to end the currency troubles, and II
it had made such a pledge it would have
been futile onej for it was impossible