Washington telegraph., 1900-08-24
URGES BRYAN's ELECTION.
W. BOurISe Cochran Says II Would
Serve as IA Check to Inn
periaIism.


response to an invitation to attend
and address an anti-imperialist con
gress here:
"New York Aug. 14.-My Dear Sir: l re-
gret very much that owing to business en-
gagements here | will be unable to attend
the liberty convention at indianapolis on
the 18th. The attitude of antt-imperialists
to imperialism cannot be open to doubt,
and therefore | assume the object of the
convention is not to express opposition, but
to devise method of making that oDPoSi-
tion effective.
"The issue of Imperialism having been
squarely raised between the two great
parties, it must be plain that the only way
in which a citizen can exercise any direct
influence upon the result is by voting for
the republican candidate who supports IL
or the democratic candidate who opposes 1t.
Nothing can be accomplished by the
nomination of third candidate that can
not be accomplished equally by abstentfon
from the polls, except that the citizen who
remains at home on election day passes
unnotieed, white he who votes third ticket
attracts attention. The difference between
a silent and a vociferous refusal to exercise
the suffrage is not WORTH discussion, since
abstention from civic duty is never com
mendable.
"When the republic is in danger the only
place for the patriot is in the ranks of the
active defenders. Absence from the field
of contest or shooting in the air can never
be justified.
1T cannot be denied that while antrim
perialists unanimously approve Mr., Bryan $
position on Imperialism many of them hes1-
tate to vote for his election to the prest-
dercy because they regard his views upon
other questions with distrust and appre-
hension.
Political Changes Since 1896.
I'VE cannot hope to deal intelligently
with the issues of this campaign unless we
liberate ourselves from the domination of
the questions, discussions and passions of
the last campaign. Within four years po-
litical conditions have changed decisively,
and conditions change issues change
with them. The question which the people
must decide now is radically different from
that submitted to them in 1896.
"Fhen the election of Mr. Bryan would
have placed the democratic party in COM
plete control of the legislative as well as OF
the executive branch of the government,
with full power to enact all its beliefs into
laws, while now his election will result not
In placing the control of the government
in the hands of the democratic party, but
in dividing it's control between the two
parties. Whatever may be the result of
this election, the senate will remain repub-
lican for two years certainly and probably
for four.
Even II the people fdlSeu MI, bryan ~
the presidency in November the demo-
cratic party cannot possibly achieve any
power of legislation during the existence
of the next congress- and without leSts-
latiVe sanction no change in the standard of
value, no reorganization of the supreme
court no modification whatever of our
financial, industrial or political systems
could be accomplished.
"Fhere is one issue which the popular
verdict will settle irreVoeably, and that is
the issue of Imperialism. If the republican
party be successful its control of the Ju-
dicial as well as of the executive and legis-
lative departments of the government Will
be absolute, and its disposition to exercise
all its power for the enforcement of an i'm
perialstic policy cannot be doubted. AT
the end of four years imperialism will be so
firmly imbedded in our political life that 1t
can never be expelled.
Br9un's Election the Cure.
"Mr. Bryan's election of itself would put
a quietus on the imperialistic adventure.
Imperialism rebuked at the polls and
shown to be Improbable would not have a
single supporter in the country. Within a
month of election, Senator Hoar could re-
duce his noble conceptions of freedom and
duty to definite proposals of pacification
which both parties would accept The
country having pronounced for justice, pol
ticians of every shape and description will
be eager to do justice, and where the desire
for justice is sincere the way to justice is
soon discovered.
"Since the election of Mr.. Bryan is GER
tain to deliver the country from the fmmi-
nent peril of Imperialism, can the liberty
convention hesitate to support him because
of impalpable danger arising from his Opin-
ions on subjects with which as president
he cannot possibly deal?
81 confess it is hard to understand the
attitude of those gentlemen who would
have supported him if the convention had
| been silent or evasive on the free coinage of
| silver, but who hesitate to support him on a
| platform which excludes that question
| from the serious discussions of the contest
| by relegating it to a subordinate position.
Paramount Issue Is Plain.
"Tho democratic platform declares that
| Imperialism is the paramount issue of the
| campaign and Mr.. Bryan's speech at In
| dianapolis accepts this conception of the
| issue, emphasizes it and vindicates it. But
| a declaration that Imperialism is a para
| mount issue is equivalent to declaration
| that it is the sole issue, for no presidential
| election ever decided more than one ques-
| tion. In my judgment the platform actual
| ly adopted by the democratic convention
| should be much more satisfactory to sound
money men than any of the substitutes
suggested by older and more conservative
| managers.
"Since nobody pretends that Mr.. Bryan s
| opinions on the questions raised by the Chi
cago platform of 1886 have been changed,
his refusal to disguise them in any way
was highly creditable to his honesty, and
| honesty is the first essential of patriotic
| presidential service.
"Mr. Bryan's conversion to a belief in
sound money would in my opinion be a rea-
son for national rejoicing, but any aban-
| donment or abasement of the frankness and
sincerity which have always distinguished
him would be little short of national cal
| amity. We need not accept Mr. Bryan as
| an infalible or even as a sound authority
! on economics to acknowledge that his in
| tegrity, his truthfulness and absolute sin
cerity have been among the most salutary
| influences of this generation on our polit-
| ical life.
at is certain that this country is indebt-