Evening journal., 1900-07-07

country for an indefinite period. What
ever may be Mr.. Bryan's fate, the DEM
ocratic party should make a supreme
effort to elect a majority Of the House
Of Representatives, and thus curb the
perniciOus influences which now domi-
nate the government.
Bryan and Free Coinage of Silver Again
From the Every Evening
The expected happened at Kansas
City, last night, when William J.
Bryan was unanimously nominated for
president by the Democratic National
Convention, upon platform declaring
unequivocally for the free and unlim-
tied coinage Of silver at the ratio Of 16
to 1, without waiting for the consent
Of any other nation"
1t was due to the absolute domina-
ton of Mr. Bryan that the silver
plank was inserted into the plat
form. He demanded it, imperiously.
His request was disapproved by the
delegates from a large number OF
sure Democratic states, who, in view
of the disastrous results of the last ma
tiOnal campaign, which the Demo-
cratic party conducted upon the issue
of Free Silver coinage, desired to avoid
what they knew to be a losing issue.
Thsy wanted the silver question
ignored and the campaign conducted
upon the living issues OF imperialism,
militarism and the expressions by
tariff-prOtected trusts. But Mr.. Bryan
insisted that a specific declaration in
favor of Free Silver coinage must go
into the platform, and his will prevail
ed, against the real sentiment OF prob
ably three-fourths OF the delegates.
Such a pronounced personal domina-
tion of the national convention OF a
great political party was never before
seen in this country. Bryan refused
to be guided by the advice of the rep
resentatives Of the party. and the rep
resentatives OF the party consented to
be guided by Bryan.
Mr. Bryan has already been nomi-
mated by the Populists, and is to be
nominated to-day by the Free Silver
Republicans. This gives him three
nominations, and the handspring of all
of them is his attitude upon the ques-
tion Of Free Silver coinage. Upon this
platform he was supported in 1896 by
these elements, and the result was his
overwhelming defeat. And despite the
changed conditions In other respects.
there is no more assurance of his cleo
tiOn in 1900 than there was in 1896.
Without the disrupting and debilitat-
ing issue Of Free Silver coinage, there
was every prospect OF Democratic vic
tory in this years elections, even with
Mr.. Bryan as the candidate for presi-
dent. Now that prospect is dissipated
by the revival of an issue that brought
about one great Democratic disaster
and as surely will bring about another
To-day the convention will nominate
candidate for vice-president, and in
order to carry out the surrender to
Bryan and Free Silver coinage to it's
logical conclusion, the convention will
probably accept the nominee OF the
POpulists and Free Silver Republicans,
| Towne OF Minnesota, an adherent Of
the latter party. Without Free Silver
coinage in the platform, there is no
doubt that the convention would have
nominated Stevenson OF Illinois, or
some other Democrat, but such a nomi-
nation now could do nothing to stem
the tide of defeat. The Demo-
cratic party, at the nomination OF Mr..
Bryan, has chosen to again make alli-
ance with the forces OF POpulism, and
It might as well accept the entire out
ht-Bryan, Towne and Free Silver
coinage-which the Populists laid out
with an impudent demand for its ac-
ceptance Two OF the three have al
ready been accepted, and no further
mischief can be wrought by accepting
the third.
The action of the Kansas City Con-
vention places thousands Of good and
\ consistent Democrats in the position
they were in during the campaign OF
1896, unable to follow their party and
unwilling to give the slightest aid OF
encouragement to the Republicans
What they will do is a question. As
, in 1886, they may nominate a ticket
which will enable them to give express
sion to their sentiments by their votes
With respect to other features of the
/, election, they may adopt the course
/, recommended by the Baltimore Sun
which is to bend every energy towards
! the election Of a Democratic House O
Representatives, in order to check the
alarming imperialistic tendencies Of thu
Mckinley administration. With th'
Democrats In control Of the lowe
/ branch Of Congress" says the Sun, 81
! will be possible to check to a considera
! bic extent the rapid strides which thu
4 country is making toward militarisn
and Imperialism. II Mr.. McKinle,
should be reelected he would not b.
able to carry out his imperial program
o against the opposition of a Democrati
. House. II the Republican party con
a trolls both branches OF Congress, witt
Mr.. Mckinley in the White House 10
4 another term, it will fasten It's danger
{ GUS policies upon the country for al
o indefinite period Whatever may b
9 Mr.. Bryan's fate, the Democratic part,
. should make a supreme effort to elec
a majority OF the House OF Representa-
! tives, and thus curb the pernicious in
s huences which now dominate the gov
Il eminent"