The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-10

Swapping Horses.
Mr.. Bryan seldom speaks without
making quotation from Abraham
Lincoln, although he generally either
misconstrues or misapplies IT. There is
one proverb. great favorite with Lin
colin. which Mr.. Bryan might now con-
slider probably with reference TO his
own case; Never swap horses while
crossing . stream"
NJ. BRYAN has retained bis influence
upon = large number Of men mainly
through their belief in his constancy OF
purpose. They have thought him sin
cere ana honest Even his obstinacy in
discarding the advice Of his party Assoc
ciatss has won him . certain adj
miration, just A. Grover Cleveland. in
vesy different cause. counted politi-
cal capital In the enemies that he had
made. II was believed that Mr.. Bryan
understood this. and that II was The
reason why he chung no tenaciousIy to
his own programme. To correct his
mistakes and to yield to the opinions Of
others would be 10 sacrifice the larger
part Of such political capital as IL left
70 him. He understood the danger OF
swapping horses while crossing
stream. or changing issues In the midst
Of campaign.
To the amusement Of the public and
the chagrin OF his admirers, he has at
last essaycd this feat. For four years
he has made free silver not merely the
paramount. but the exclusive issue
Near the end Of this term. az he saw
that something more timely and vital
must be added. he consented 10 combine
with II two others. Money. imperial
lam and trusts" he has answered hun
drcds OF times 10 inquiries asking him
to htate the Issues Of the campaign. He
has given out interviews to deny tina,
one OF these must have precedence over
another. or that any one OF them could
be omitted. All OF them. he declared.
would be In the campaign. and there
was no order OF comparative import
ance
has reformed his policy. He has yielded
tostNe tremendous pressure brought 60
bear upNn him by a party that In weary
OF beins slaughtered for che sake OF an
evil theory. In his speech OF accep,srrs
he drops all other questions out OF slgnt
and makes imperialism his exclusive
dignation must those who have fought
the battles of free silver view this ie.
sertion OF their champion with what
surprise must every practical politician
witness this new alignment OF issues
Stree the Kansas City convention and
the Imposition upon u Of free silver by
the imperative mandate Of Mr.. Bryan.
The old saying IL right II Ia
net wire 10 swap horses while crossing a
stream. We doubt n anything Ia Mr.
sryan's record win cost him az much "a
n transformation OF attitude tina, 10
explainable only by atssihuiing 20 him
personal and political inslnceri,y. All
the loss that the silver Issue could bring
g. him he hed ALREADY suffered lie is
the embodiment OF the Idea. lie cannot
now persuade any friend n honest
money that he Is safe on the financial
question. But . few people who wars
prepared 10 overlook that because they
believed him too earnest 20 tribe with
his own convictions win be repealed BY
this extraordinary change % front.
And tho hosts of the silver people them
selves. seeing the withdrawal OF Towue
and the abandonment by Bryan OF his
nsed Idea. win wonder where they come
Ia.
MIR. Bryan labors under the impress
sion that a candidate or a convention
can decide what shall be the leading Is
sue OF a campaign. II is an error The
people make and nnmake issues 20 suis
themselves. No matter how persistent
~ you pound them with a certain doc
trine. they pay not the slightest attsn-
: ton. unless II Is the one which they re-
2 sard - ail-essential Democracy failed