New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-23

COLONEL BRTAN'S CHANGE OF FRONT
Signs multiply of a WEAKNESS on Colonel
Bryan's part of the paramount issue on
which he planned six weeks ago to ride tri-
umphantly into the White House. Toward the
middle of August the fusion Presidential can
didate made a trip through Kansas and Mis-
souri,, pictuTing in imprisoned rhetoric the
perils Of "militarsm" and warning all true
Americans against the encroa chments of En-
pire To his Populist friends. who were bliss
fully unaware when they held their National
Convention at Sioux Falls last May that Re-
publican institutions were already in danger he
appealed with solemn fervor to put aside all
merely economic issues for this campaign
The foundations of constitutional system
had been undermined, the inner temple Of
JeGersonian doctrine had been invaded, and
until the 'imperialistic assault on our liberties
had been repealed no patriot could wish to pro-
coed TO the settlement Of questions involving
merely our domestic or economic welfare"
Last week Colonel Bryan made a second
stumping trip through Missouri and Kansas
The ink was not yet dry on his letter accepting
the Democratic Presidential nomination-in
fact, though written, ii had not yet been issued
when he delivered at St Louis an elaborate
address ignoring entirely the paramount issue
Of MilitaTism and Empire and expendng all
his energy in philippe against the purely do
nestle and economic evils Of private monop-
oily" His letter of acceptance feebly reiterated
his purpose 10 subordinate all other issues to
that Of Saving the Republic" Yet in practice
at every way station his route through the
two States he has pushed the trust issue TO the
front to the unexplained and pointed neglect Of
the cause Of government with the consent Of
the governed" whether in the United States or
in the Philippines.
Why has Colonel Bryan so completely changed
front? He is doubtless a shrewd enough cam
paigner TO have realized by this time the hope
lessness Of a canvass based on the single
hollow and fictitious issue Of imperialism &"
He knows that the dominant element in his
own party-that which controls the 119 cleo
toral votes Of the South-tolerates his outcry
about Empire only as a useful campaign STRAIT
agem. He must perceive that not only is Re-
publican sentiment everywhere united in sup
port Of the policies 10 which this Government
has been committed by the results of the Span
isb war, but that in the West and Middle WeAt
thousands Of Democrats are not TO be shaken
In their ideas Of National duty and opportunity
by any baseless camor about an invasion of
the Filipino's natural rights" The audiences
he has faced in Missouri, in Kansas in his own
State of Nebraska, in every Commonwealth in
which he has travelled beyond the Mississippi
have listened with GOODNESS and Impotence to a
propaganda which offends both. common sense
and patriotic instinct. No skill at special plead
ing. however extraordinary, can make palatable
70 either Western or Eastern voters political
programme like his own paramount one.
which clearly lowers National dignity and
belittles National achievement. Where Colone
Bryan's "anti-imperialistic' canvass has mt
tracted the support Of dozen political poseur.
and notoriety hunters il has repealed that Of {
hundred thoughtful and hard headed American
citizens
Probably before the campaign closes Colone
Bryan viii recognize that on no issue was III,
party in power less vulnerable than the one IN
chose TO exploit paramount In his Indi
annapolis speech. Less interested observers al
ready recognize that on that issue he has los