The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-10-12

erly. | do not myself believe he can.
Mr.. Bryan's plea for the salvation Of
this country by the destruction Of what he
terms imperialism" as exemplifed in
the administration Of our affairs In the
Philippines, loses its force when it is re5
membered what he pledges himself to
carry out at home, in matters which cote
the personal and property interests Of
every citizen of the republic, no matter
how small such interests may be. ID
would be the height Of folly In this cam3
paign to forget the very important effect
which Mr.. Bryan's election would have
upon the business interests Of the coun-
try. In the minds of those who carry on
the affairs which make up our business
world he Is associated with uncertainty
and doubt. 1t win not do to say that
these interests are selfish and ought to res
ceive a lesson, for the creates sukererS
will be those who are most dependent
upon the largest daily activity in busiI
ness. No one would suffer SO much as the
laborer, for he must have steady work,
day in and day out. He has no reserve
capital from which to draw, and the cur
tailment Of business operations means
the curtailment Of employment of labor.
with attendant distress and idleness.
Dangerous to Labor Interests.
look upon Mr.. Bryan as the most
dangerous man to the labor interests to-
day in public life. In the first instance
he is a demagogue, possessed of certain
quality of oratory which appeals always
to prejudice. In the second, he Is well
grounded in no branch Of political econ1
omy and unsound In all. He would be
more unpopular with laboring men, IL
elected, than, 1t Is claimed, he is popular
with them now, because his success would
paralyze business for long time at least;
during which time the laborer of neces1
sity would he without employment.
Then, too, the laborer would soon dis
cover how utterly futile Mr.. Bryan's eff
forts would be to make better his condiI
ton by making war upon his employersl
The laborer certainly cannot be benefited
by az policy which is directed wholly to-
ward the unsettling of values, the reduce
ton of the purchasing power of his wage
and the enactment into law of views
which, tested by experience and history
are wholly unsound.
believe President Mckinley ought ia
be reelected as largely as possible by
Democratic votes. Under the present
domination Of Mr.. Bryan a conservative
Democrat can find no place of influence
In the party. Those who now return Ia
1t after rejecting Organism four years
ago will find themselves without voice in
the administration. Theey 60 back to ac1
cept Mr.. Bryan's views. He does not
accept theirs. They indorse him-he does
not indorse them; and, once elected, they
are not In a position, after changing 'front.'
to protest against his radicalism. BY voti
ing for him they do, in fact. indorse him.
despite mental reservation that they do
not approve OF his public utterances and
Populistic views. They disarm them-
selves Of a right to criticise and draw
down upon their heads more blame for
Mr.. Bryan's unsound views as a disturb
ing factor than does Mr.. Bryan himself
For by their act in voting for Mr.. Bryan
they have made it possible for him to do
the harm which they must know would
follow the carrying out of the principles
for which he stands.
Bryan,s Party Popuiistic.
The Democratic party cannot be both
Democratic and Populistic. Under Mr.,
Bryan it is Populistic. 1t is so out Of
power. 1t would be more so in power.
The best example Of what he would do
with the party IL in power is shown in
his own State, where even the kind of
Democrats they have in Nebraska are
only allotted one or two minor offices,
while the Popuiists are given all of inns
portance.
When Mr.. Bryan is eliminated Demo-
Gratis can readily assume position Of rel
spect and influence in the Democratic
party, and until he is they ought to fight
against him. They can aid the party best
by rescuing it from Populism by defeat,
ing Populistic candidates at the polls, not
by electing their candidates with the vain
hope that they can either reform Them
render them harmless, or prove them to
be pretentious boosters, publicly standing
for things which they never intended to
carry out.
As far as / am concerned, am going
to maintain my Democracy by voting and
speaking against Mr.. Bryan and those
who have debauched the party and placed
it in the attitude of defender of all the
isms that disturb the country. | do not
believe in Organism in the West or Gro
kerism in the East. If a continuation Of
Organism and Crokerism constitute Der
mocracy, sound political wisdom and hon5
est administrative ability, do not wish
to be of it. But l do not believe 1t does,
and, therefore, l have faith in there being
enough Democrats who are Democrats
from principle to defeat Mr.. Bryan SO
emphatically as to make impossible the
things we have witnessed during the past
years in alleged Democratic conventions!
| really would like to know what q
thoughtful Democrat thinks Of reforms
wrought in domestic and foreign affairs
through the combined wisdom and expe-
rience Of William J. Bryan and Richard
Croker. JAMES H. ECKELS,
Comptroller of the Currency under Cleye.
land.