Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-07-13
HE TICKET AND PLATFORM.

The Democratic ticket and platform
are this We elk presented to our readers
The nomination OF Mr.. Bryan war n
fOregene conclusion, but the nomina
ton of the Vice Presidential candidate
was a subj CT of interest, and was long
in doubt.
The ticket is as strong as it could
have been made. Mr.. Bryan is the
embOdim-ut of the Democracy of to
day, and any mau who cannot vote for
him had az well renouuce, like Gen.
ROsser. his further allegiance to the
party aud desert to the Camp OF The
enemy. MIR. Stevenson is too well
known to Democrats to Iced an intro
duction. He served with Cleveland as
Vics President and is every way &C.
ceptable to Democrats OF all shades OF
opinion. There are some persons who
have affiliated heretofore with the
Democratic party who do not like
either Mr.. bryan or the platform, but
it is safe to say that 10 platform writ
ten by the Kansas City convention
would have suited them, no platform
but platfOi LII mole resonant OF the
gold standard than the Philadelphia
platform would have attracted their
notice much less enlisted their ADM
ration. To such there is no pOsslbili
ty of playing, nor is there any posi-
biIity that hey could be appeased or
drawn Loyalty into Democratic ranks.
Their ways and ours have parted and
without bitterness, without luminosity,
without any feeling save regret, we
bid them adiue, because we can no
longer be political friends. 1t is far
better that we be separated, that each
shall show his true colors, than that
there be holding with the hare, and
IA running with the hounds.
But who conceived the idea that an
issue which was THE ISSUE Of the last
campaign would be wholly ignored in
this. To have thought SO would have
been to characterize all Democrats
who had Loyalty supported the silver
issue, and there were millions of them,
as fools, and the gold element of the
party and the Republicans as possess.
ing all wisdom. We for one are not
yet ready to cOncede this, though we
are willing to subordinate silver under
existing circumstances to other issues
which have sprung up since the last
presidential battle, and are threatening
the life of the Nation. With the vast
volume of money the national banks
have given us, and the tons upon top
of tons of gold and silver certificates
which the government has issued we
can subsist, but we cannot much long
er endure other things the present
administration is heaping on US. I'M
perialism, and trusts. and war taxa.
ton, are each in themselves enough to
damn any party that has foisted them
on the people. When we see Congress
and the President assuming to rule
colonies. appoint yassals, levy taxes,
and dictate policies, without authority,
and in violation of law, we behold al
approach to the same kingly power
and tyranny which caused the revolu
tion of 1910. When we see trusts
formed under partisan Republican
laws, which in return for their crea
ton pour millions into the Campaign
fund to perpetuate the power which
created them, when we behold our
selves taxed beyond the limit of human
endurance. not to carry on war, but
that there may be money to squandel
in the re election of VIM. Mckinley
we realize that something must b.
done, or we will be reduced to a serf
dom, equal to that OF any eastern
country. Do the people not realiz'
that the expenses of our government
independent Of the war expenses ar
Two Hundred Million Dollars NOR,
than under Cleveland; then they wer,
three hundred and sixty million, now
they are five hundred and sixty million
Soon all the money in the country will
be passed by taxation into the treas
ury. Some OF these matters need i'm
mediate attention, and the Democratic
party will strive to correct them. Tht
CONTEMPORARIES of Mr.. Bryan, his hon
esty of purpose. and his sworn loyalty
to the people inspire the hope that in
him they have a leader who will lead
them ont of their present bondage. II
he does not then the people must pre-
fer slavery TO freedom.