The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-30
Brvan and Hoar.

The ~. Louis GlODe-iteInOtIdC II ~
hard driven to find point against MT.
Bryan that it is compelled to rely on
Senator Hoar. whose political prlnci-
pies are in such tottering and shady
condition that they had to be left on
the roadside when he joined the Nc
Kinlev procession. The Globe-Democrat
SAYS that the senator makes IAN ex-
ceedingly serious charge against Bry-
an" and then quotes this remark from
one of Hoar's speeches or letters: Il
knew from the opponents OF the treaty
with whom Bryan labored. and who Ia
bored with him, Just what he said and
did at that time He first put his sup
port OF the treaty squarely upon the
ground that it was better 10 keep the
issue for the presidential campaign"
Now it is only fair to all concerned TO
say that even at his best-eyen If ho
had not discarded his own CONVICTIONS
for the purpose Of promoting a policy
which he has publicly and repeatedly
declared to be crime against liberty
and a vicious attack on our institutions
Senator IIoar would be n very poor
witness against William J. Bryan. AS a
matter of fact the senator has demon
strated to tho great disgust Of hundreds
of his New England friends that parti-
sanship is tho very breath Of his politi-
cal life, being more important than his
convictions, and he Is not a capable
witness when he comes to give evil
dence against a political opponent.
Fortunately Senator Uoar made n
public demonstration Of his weakness
when the moment arrived for him to
choose between his cherished convic-
tions and his relish for partisanship.
He did not vote for the ratification Of
the treaty Of Paris. but what is he do
ing now? He IS supporting the party
that negotiated the treaty, and he is
beslobhering with fuls0me praise a
president who. having declared what
our plain duty was IN regard TO the
Porto Rican tariff. did what he could to
compel republican congressman to
change their minds and vote precisely
contrary to the policy which ho had de-
clared to be our plain duty.
Under all the circumstances It will
be impossible for any reasonable man
to accept Mr.. Hoar as a competent wit
ness against a political opponent More
over, the facts are all against the "se-
Tious charge" which the senator. in or
der TO excuse his own disordered and
disheveled record. has made.
When he says that at was
wholly on party grounds that Mr..
Bryan urged democrats TO vote for the
treaty he gives himself thrust in
vital point. On what ground has the
senator surrendered his convictions?
On what grounds does he propose to
promote q policy which he has de-
nounced up and down as crime
against liberty?
The facts. as we have said. are all in
favor OF Mr.. Bryan In the first place,
with respect 10 the treaty, all but two
Of the votes against the treaty were
democratic votes. as The Springfield
Republican points out. and all but two
or three Of the democratic senators
who voted for ratification were aYowed
expansiOnists In short, Mr.. Bryan's at
titude and efforts had no perceptiole
influence on democratic senator's who
had made up their minds.
There are other facts which show
that Mr.. Bryan had no purpose or de-
sire to make the Philippine question
party issue. He was heartily in favor OF
the Bacon resolutions, which were in
the nature OF a solemn declaration to
the effect that the United States had
acquired the Philippines for the pur-
pose OF securing and guaranteeing their
independence to them Now, the adop-
tion Of these resolutions would have
put an end to the Philippine question
as a party issue, and nobody knows
. T. NnVPTt o.
less Mr.. Bryan was enthusiastically In
favor of them; and so we're the demo-
cratic senators. Indeed. the vote in the
senate, in spite of the efforts or the
syndicated administration, was tie,
and the vote OF the republican vice
president was necessary TO deieat them.
Had they passed congress the Phlllp-
pine question would have cut no more
figure as political issue than the
Cuban question, which plays no part in
politics. 1t stands to reason that Mr..
Bryan would not have been so earnest
ly in favor OF the Bacon resolutions II
he had been disposed to keep Imperial
ism before the country as a polltleal
issue. The democratic candidate mas
been consistent and patriotic all the
way through. His motives nave Deen as
high as his principles. He has never
shown any patience with what is
merely expedient. as was shown when
he was urged to evade the silver ques-
ton. He simply said that If there was
tn be anv evasion, the convention must
choose another man for its candidate;
whereas Mr.. Hoar has not only desert
ed his principles. but is promoting the
very policy which he has been engaged
in denouncing for so many months