New-York tribune., 1900-10-08
NOW THE STAATS-ZEITUNG.
IN AN EDITORIAL THIS MORNING IT
ADVOCATES THE ELECTION OF
MKINLEY THE TREND
OF OPINION

The "Staats-Zeitung,'' of this city, will print
an editorial this morning advocating the re-
election of William Mckinley as President The
trend of opinion among Communications re-
Gently ali the country has been toward the
Republican candidates and doctrines, despite as
sertions by the followers of Bryan, and the po-
sition Of the ''Staats-Zeitung" well illustrates
this. The editorial. which appears under the
caption The Lesser Evil is as follows
The campaign has entered upon its last month
and the situation has become tOerably clear 1t
does not appear likely that events will occur
which materially change the present aspect.
The Democrats have not succeeded in the at
tempt undertaken by their convention to make
imperialism the paramount issue and to place
the silver question in the rear. Their own can
didate has frustrated all efforts in this direction
by his letter of acceptance. in which he took
a decided stand for free silver coinage, and by
asserting in numerous speeches that he and his
party had not changed their attitude toward
the financial question since 1896. This means
that William J. Bryan is still resolved to use
his whole power to destroy the gold standard
and to bring about the free and unlimited coin
age of silver
our estimate of the dangers connected with
President McKney's colonial policy has under
gone no change. We are not only firmly con-
vinced that the Philippine Islands Will never
pay in material advantages the sacrifices made
for their possession, but we are also satisfied
beyond all doubt that a continuation of the
policy of conquest must hopelessly corrupt our
public life and either destroy our free lnst1tu-
tions entirely or at least compel us to engage in
q severe struggle for their preservation, not to
mention the dangers of foreign complications.
Furthermore. are fully aware Of the fact
that Mr.. McKinley's election will be interpreted
and exploited a victory Of Imperialism, even
if it has been caused by the distrust of MI
Bryan's teachings and character
In spite Of all this, consider a Republican
victory less dangerous for the welfare Of the
Nation than the election of William J. Bryan.
1t would have been possible to overlook many
of the weaknesses of the Democratic candidate
If he had stood firmly upon the ground he took
in his speech of acceptance in Indianapolis. But
after he has shown, in his formal letter Of
ceptance and IN numerous speeches delivered
since then, that he has not learned cannot and
VIII not learn anything IN regard to the financial
question, that his ignorance and lack Of percep-
tiOn in this direction incurable, he must be
considered the greater immediate danger. His
election would undoubtedly produce a wide
spread disturbance of present economic condi-
tOns from which hardly anybody would
cape. and which would subject a large part Of
the American people to severe suffering.
1t is not we'll to rely too firmly upon the hope
that Congress will not contain majority
friendly to silver. The lack Of confidence in
that his election would suffice to produce grave
economic convulsions even if his hands were
completely tied. But he can do untold harm
without the assistance of Congress. And we
must consider that his election would be inter
preted by the politicians as a victory for silver.
Politicians always anxious to be on the
popular side of every question, and it is more
than possible that, as President, Bryan would
be able TO secure majority for his schemes
tors ard congressman who are now opposed to
free coinage have voted for it before when
they thought the majority Of the people desired
It, and they would do so again.
While we earnestly desired an entirely differ
ent solution, and we must acknowledge that we
bitterly disappointed, we cannot resist the
conclusion thai the success of the -F2cpubIfcan.
ticket, while undoubtedly a grave evil. will be
the lesser Of two evils. and that therefore the
election Of William Mckinley will be connected
with less immediate danger than that of Will
lam J. Bryan.