New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-20
BRYAN AND THE BOERS.

Mr.. Bryan's genius for laundering is amazing.
On the tariff question and the silver question he
had excuse for being wrong for the traditional
policy Of his party has been wrong But It was
for him the part Of good sense, when condemned
10y Democratic folly to fight against the declared
will Of a great majority Of the people on these
questions to avoid exciting additional hostility
by his course in other matters Instead he blum
dered into the trust discussion by telling half
million workers that the new corporations,
which at present pay them more wages than
they ever received before ought TO be destroyed
by their votes. Then he Numbered into the
Philippine debate 10y telling the friends Of all
the soldiers who are hearing the flag in those
islands that they are engaged in a wicked and
numerous effort 10 deprive the inhabitants Of
their freedom. Now hc hlundcrs into the Trans
wal dispute and says. Why Is It that we sit
idly by when the Beers are battling for their
independence and say never word. although
"the sympathy Of the whole American people is
"for them 1t is because we are afraid If we
expressed our sympathy with the Beers in their
fight for independence England would cable
back. What's the matter with the Philip
"pinesT'
This may seem smart 10 Mr. Bryan. II so. It
marks him as a cheaper and shallower dema-
cogue than his opponents have considered him.
"Why is II that we sit idly by Because we
have not the faintest shadow Of pretence for in
ferfering in n controversy between the British
Government and the Transvaal II we had, that
prctext would be the indecency and cxtortionate
Injustice with which American citizens az we'll
a. British subjects have been treated when they
were developing rich gold fields IN the Trans
Eo ~
dynamite has affected their interests. as It has
the interests Of all Outlanders who have been
alured into that region by promises Of fair
treatment which have never been kept Yet
they went as individuals with their eyes open
and the United States Government has no ex-
cuse for Interfering When a halfbarbarous
Utah despotlsm treated unjustly British as well
AS American explorers, what excuse had Great
Britain for telling the United States how we
should treat Mormon resistance to authority
Would II not have been laughable II at that
iuncture Great Britain Ind told US that the
Mormons should be allowed to Cypress and plum
der everybody as they liked;
What Mr. Bryan knows about the sympa thies
Of the people in the Transyaal matter Is not
worth asking There are Americans II is true
who consider the Beers legally justified in claim
ing Independence though II would be hard Il
find any who approve their modes Of govern
ment and their abuse Of power. But 10 Others
who were considerably better Informed than Mr.
BRYAN three years ago II has not seemed TIM
the whole American people" or a majority hole
unjust British action for the defence Of British
subjects who have helped 10 develop the richie
Of the Transvacl On the contrary. II appear
that the sympathy Of decided majority Is OF
the side ~ the British Government. II for NJ
other reason than because II would establish