The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-01
C0CKRAN'S ALTERED VIEW.
WHY THE EX.CoN0RBSSHAN NOW
PayORS BRYAN.


IN. Hon. Bourke Cochran has written the
,.taxtng Latter in answ or TO one from Stephen
p Lnderton asking for an explanation of MIR.
cor.rans change Of political allegiance since
tho campaign OF isee;
81 NASSAU STREET,
New York. Aus. 20. 1900.
NJ pHAR SIR Absence from the city has de-
tav.1 an earlier aclno wledRment Of your favor
~ the nth inst. regret that my letter to MIR.
FdUia Burritt Smith has not made entirely
olsar 10 you the reasons determining my att-
tide in the campaign. while | appreciate the
compliment that a further statement OF my
,isSs may exercise some influence on your
action az the ballot box.
Va, do me simple Justice In assuming that
,hls my conception Of civic duty compels me
"a vote for Mr.. Bryan on the issue OF impert-
allan. my opinion ON the paramount question
raisel by the Chicago platform remains aoso-
l,,ely unchanged, and that II I believed the
.ans question was before the people now for
..,usment my course would not be different
from vhatit was four years ago.
your assumption that because the Kansas
c+v Convpntlon rean1rmed the Chicago plat
,om and declared specifically In favor OF tho
,rse coinage Of silver at the ratio OF 10 to l. the
ls,ues Of 1890 remain unchanged Is In my opinion
based on a Misrepresentation OF what constitutes
spoitcal Issue
q, admission TO some competent authority for
.a,,lsmant or decision. No question can be
considered a political issue while It remains
h.vopd the power OF the people TO decide It at
the ballot box,
The money question cannot be an issue in
THIS campaign because it cannot be affected
nv the result. The complexion OF the Senate
e. such that whether MI. Mckinley OF MIR.
Bryan be elected the Democrats Will be with
out power and the Republicans will be with out
disposition to disturb the existing standard
at least during the noIt Congress.
Imperialism il the only question that can be
settl4d by the pending election. IL IL. there
fore. not merely the paramount, but the sale
i..us n, the campaign. That being so. declara-
ton. by the Democratic convention Of beliefs
consuming other matters are about as inpor-
,,nt A. the views OF It's members on the laws
governing the movements Of the tides.
The attampt 10 divert discussion from the
ssn'icanoo Of Imperialism to MIR. Bryan's re-
spon.lbiiitv for the ratification Of the treaty
Tth spain Ia not worthy Of notice. The past IL
,rrevocable The capital question before the
PEOPLE now Is not how me county enteren on
A. 'On this question the Democratic platform
and the Democratic candidate are conspicu;I
oIsly clear and absolutely sound. Clearly all
who believe that the supreme duty OF patriot
ism at this time IA 10 defend the constitutional
integrity o. the country should snpport mem
no.ton 20 imperialism does not imply any dim
mutton Of hostility to the proposals which he
represented four years ago. If, under changed
issue and Mr.. Bryan should again become the
champion OF free coinage We who have shown
that our devotion u sound money IL stronger
than any hope ~ PERSONAL preferment and who
support him now while We believe him to be
night, will once more oppose him as strenuously
and believe as successfully as in 1890.
Your apprehension that MIR. Bryan, II elected,
would deteatthc operation Of the gold standard
law 10y peryoring It. provisions Is utterly incon-
d%tent with the slnGerity and honesty for Which hc6
DEMONSTRATIONS Of possibilities prove nothing
the language " the gold standard law was not
the result Of accident but Of a deliberate Repub-
money question for service a. a political scare
crow during this campaign. In this programme
~ perndy. however, the personal character OF
Mr.. BRYAN seems to have been overlooked. II
Mr.. BRYAN be- sincere, as YOU and | believe him
20 he. he must be incapable of eyadins any
duty. and the enforcement of every law accord
ms ~ t. true meaning would be a duty i'm
posed upon him by his oath Of ONCE.
this campaign for which we are indebted 70 Mr..
Bryans sincerity that whoever votes for either
he Is supporting. II MIR. Bryan Intended to
use the power Of the Presidency to nullify or per-
vert the existing, monetary law he would not
not not'i issTs 70 Us PT iH dnnb a1 ,R RGtP Fl elected %9wi he nS would oSff
recommend the repeal Of the gold standard law
and tnN passage OF II Tree OluhRe dCIi OUT II ;
,hsse recommendations must be made to a
$ S:.:sS i a.5 &%,u E:,seti g p. isn s; ;sf5; ,o SSS
n sound money. but because the very exist
encs NJ the Republican party depends upon
Ia opposition 10 the Democratic financial pol
icv The same sincerity which would lead
M Bryan % recommend every change In the
existing law which he might deem advisable.
makes II absolutely certain that he would en-
atty The man who through all temptations
tons Of duty "a a party leader could not be-
come dsloyal 10 any Obligation assumed on his
''ffu 81 n6, sb as PI you'd Fear Ia. Mr.. Bryan.
elArtton will disturb business conditions or
that L Involves the slightest danger Of a panic.
that a. he would have no control over ieais-
lation he could not disturb the existing financial
N believe that his election. OF itself. would
cause business men through senseless appre-
h.nsion Of impossible events 10 precipitate a
property. This is 10 pretend that men who
have shown the highest capacity for acquiring
preserving It. Panics proceed from actual
conditions, not from Rroundless fears. No panic
was ever caused by events which had not hap
pened and which could not happen.
| think il can be demonstrated that disaster
10 oGr prosperity, lies not in the election OF
Imperialism involving high military operations.
eNtravsgant appropriations and civic cor
tLpnoPs, The diversion Of capital from the
'.H'h' fNNAllNN NAAFIN~ VI W INV W.
t,ructivs employments Of war, the Withdrawal
ni the flower OF our youth from the fields of
Productive labor to the demoralizing idleness
o' harraCk life, must necessarily operate 70
restrict the productive energies OF the nation.
and a restriction Of production inevitably
PRODUCES not a temporary disturbance from
Ehlch recovery, however slow. is always certain.
wv commercial decay, permanent. progressive
and irremrdlEhle.
Like The business scare, the charge that Demo-
Gratc success will lead n an assault on tho
judiciary Is nm invention 70 delude the inno-
cent The independence " the supreme Court
scout which Republican managers express
concern Is in much graver peril from the sue
,uesS oi MI. Mckinley than from that 81 MIR.
hrvan. Tor the simple reason that II the Demo-
ctat' II successful, will have no power b. leg
,ale c'rCerning II, while the Republicans
successful will have full power TO increase
III membership or TO alter its jurisdiction.
Mhethsr the Republican party would be cap
40" ~ lnvuktng that power TO force n deCi-
tmn upholding the constitutionality Of the
rrmperlalStIC plans Of government for Porto
ntco or ne Philippines may be Judged by the
SENnher IN which the same power was used
the same party 10 force n Judicial sanction
m,the Legal Tender acts.
nder The actual political conditions OF the
Souhuy seems TO me that the dangers which
YOU apprehend from Mr.. Bryan's election are
Instant as. 10 be almost Intangible. while
we danger ~ Imperialism from MIR. Mckinley's
rLI"S y palpable and pressing. Surely a
Lu1eh VINO places the safety Of the country
suVNe Ue victory OF n marty" should NOT ba