Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-09
TWELVE PAGES.
SATURDAY. JUNE .. 1860.
THE HABIT OF BEING "AGIN."

Our esteemed contemporary. the
Petersburg Index Appeal, asserts that
Mr.. Bryan has said that Boer civiliza-
ffon is better than our own; that he
hiss advocated enlarging the powers
of the Federal government at the
expense of the state; that mis- advocacy
of the Pari:; treaty was UBIQUITOUS. And
then 1t proceeds to lambast Mr. Bryan
in the approved fashion that no longer
permits of an variations. Everything
mas been said against MIR. Bryan that
can be said without grossly slandering
him and most things that can be said
by rcsor;ing TO that. For a matter OF
four years he has been assaulted With n
virulence and a vic.ousness unparalleled
ed in qualify and quantity: assaulted
by Republtcane ana by those who claim
10 be Democrats. until the assaults no
longer excite anything save feeling
or WEAKNESS and OF surprise THAI they
should continue.
Still in this country. where most men
profess allegiance TO fairlplay, even to-
ward n political enemy. it is worth
while TO occasionally p5nt ont that
MIR. Bryan does not get 1t, not by n
great deal. There Is the ndex-Appeal
for instAnce--!n many matters a fair
enough newspaper ana Intelligent be-
You'd the assumption That abuse con-
Misunderstanding that Mr. Bryan said
Eoer civilization should be substituted
FOR our own How did the lndax-Ap-
said no such thing. nothing even re-
motely iustifying such inference. Nor
has he advocated eniarging me powers
OF the Federal government al the ex-
pense OF the state. He did not recon-
mend. as has been 50 often asserted.
that the constitution be forthwith
amended so that the Federal govern
ment should assume control of trusts
and corporations. lie ea!d If it should
be found that the states could not CON
trl trusts and that the general gov
ernment had not the power, then such
power should be given by an amend
tnent 90 the Unitcd States constitution
"a sane and reasonable view that all
Democrats Will share
Mr.. Bryan did advocate the ratifica.
zion OF the treaty with Spain. That
im'aa matter in which he differed with
many able Democrats Senator Daniel
among them. He may have been right:
he may have been wrong. 1t Is not
possible to say yet or definitely. The
evils Of Imperialism are not the inevi-
table brood of that treaty. II cut This
nlatiior off from no fair and honorable
opportunity to give the hllipinos self
government; 1T forced upon us no ne
cessitY OF war or OF bloodshed. OF for
edgn conquest OF OF standing armies.
These things have come, not from ;hc
kreaty, but from the men VINO admin
tstered affairs under IT, If Mr.. BRYAN
gave them credit of broader esta;es
rnansh!p. deeper sympathy with
american principles of government
Than they Possessed. that was an error
pf judgment, burt one. w!thal, that did
Enedft to his nlagnanmdty. Certainly
1t was not more grcvious than the very
haurts he was unwilling to attribute TO
his opponents. Shall he be held more
cuipable for advocating giving Mr.
Mckinley certain powers, Denenccnt
enough II rightly used. than Mr.. Nc
Riney Is for having abused them.
A truce to the outworn abuse and
stale Misrepresentation OF Mr.. Bryan.
Tie is not infalhHe; nobody claims it;
be least OF all But who shall name