Lewiston evening teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1900, 1900-09-15
washington Budget.

the TELLER. Some democrats, who, in
their anxiety to say something against
the administration, have endeavored to
c,iticise the action of the president in
sending troops to rescue the American
citizens imprisoned in the Chinese CAPT.
raj as imperialism" But such utter
ances have proven so unpopular that
nearly every man who has said anything
on that line has had to explain. One of
the most recent explanations of that
kind came from L. w. Habercrom, who
evidently talked too much at the recent
indianapolis gathering. When he got
back to Washington Habercrom had to
explain, and attempted to modify his
statement. The modification amounted
to about this: ait was right to send
troops to rescue the American citizens,
but it was wrong for Mckinley to do it..
There are few chronic kickers who
insisted that before anything was done
or before the troops were sent, or now
that the troops are there awaiting the
pacifcation of China, so that negotia-
tons can go forward for a settlement,
that congress should be called into ses
sion. They want something of that sort
to plunge the country into a state of UNI
certainty and trepidation. Now no one
wants war with China, and barring
very few persons, no one wants con-
gress in session. More than that, the
satisfaction with which every act of the
president is viewed is guarantee that
he has taken the right course, and that
his position will be endorsed This talk
about getting congress in session in order
to raise an army is one of the most alb
surb propositions that the democrats
have advanced. 1t would take months
to raise volunteer army after it was
authorized by congress, and everything
so far has shown that the raising of such
an army is absolutely unnecessary. One of
the brightest pages in the history of this
administration will be the manner in
which it has dealt with the difficult Chi
nese situation.
Curbstone political arguments are Of
tentimes Improbable, but at the same
time gems of thought sometimes are
heard in these same discussions that are
well worth recording and setting before
the American people. Tell me what
Bryan stands for9' l heard man in an |
outside town say to Bryanite who was
trying to make some impression upon a |
small crowd who were listening. 1t is
needless to say the question was not an
swered, for any statement as to what the
democratic candidate stands for is almost
sure to be misleading, and promptly de.
MED by anyone arguing the other side.
Four years ago Bryan stood for free
silver; for practical destruction of the Su-
preme court; for the Chicago riots; for a
reduction of the tariff which would
bring back the disastrous democratic
times from 1898 to 1896. His careful
avoidance of such issues in his speech of
acceptance shows that Bryan is shifty
politician and that he does not stand for
free silver as he did in 1896, but that he
mas taken up another cry which he thinks
is popular. Bryan does not stard for the L
same things now that he stood for when
inc Kansas City convention met, and a
NIUE brlef inside history of how the So
called imperialism was made the "par-
amount issue' will show how BRYAN
siii'ted his position in order to catch
what he thought was a popular wave.
Everybody knows that Bryan forced IS
10 IN the democratic platform. 1t was
ny threatening to refuse the nomination
unless 1t was specifically declared After
lne committee on resolutions had, by a
narrow margin, inserted I6 to /, there
was threat that minority report would
De made, and the silver issue would be
fought ont on the floor of the convention.
~ was known that two-thirds of the con.
Vention did not want Is to mentioned,
anu there was some fear that it might be
voted out. In order to avoid fight in
.he convention the Is to one men on the
committee on resolutions allowed the op-
ponents to draft the plank making Tim
= ridhsh the paramount issue" and
!nat was the way it came to be the lead.
I'M ing feature of the platform as reported.
me delegates who were disappointed IN
asalh having 10 face Is to I took advan-
,.ase OF that declaration to make yio-
!. demonstration which seemed to give
~. PRIME Importance at the Kansas City
ssi,heii,,ng. 1t was their effort to smother
sn.;, siiver question, and to exhibit their
tha,lp, atny TO having I6 to thrust upon
.,nal that they made SO much of the
paramount issue"
;o,, n~ mat Bryan takes this more SER
and 'y than was warranted by the facts,
t;o,, 50 he has shifted his posi-
ns n 70 an issue which the nti.silver
;nst On the Platform committee made, and
sturJ', OF having the reputation for a
~ ana stanch advocate of the old