Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-16

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
RELOCATING it to a subordinate position.
The Democratic platform declares that
Imperialism Is the paramount issue OF
the campaign. and Mr. Bryan's speech
at Indianapolis accepts this conception
OF the issue, emphasizes it and vindi-
Gates it.
But a declaration that imperialism
is paramount issue is equivalent 10
declaration that it is the sole issue,
for no presidential election ever decid-
ed more than one question. In my
judgment, the platform actually adopt
ed 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 pretended that Mr.. Bryan's
opinions on the questions raised by
the Chicago platform of 1896 have been
changed, his refusal to disguise them
in any way is highly
CreditabIe 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 reason for national rejoicing, but
any abandonment or abasement of the
frankness and sincerity which have
always distinguished him would be lit
tie short Of a national calamity. We
need not accept Mr.. Bryan as infalli-
bic, or even as sound authority on
Economics, to acknowledge that his
integrity, his truthfulneSs and abso-
lutte sincerity have been among the
most salutary influences of this genera
ton on our political life
1t is certain that this country is in
debted to him for the gold standard
law, which, though it has the defects
of its party origin, is the best contri-
button to our national stability, since
the resumption of specie payments. II
the Democratic platform or 1896 had
been evasiye, as unquestionaibly it
would have been II the so-called con-
servatives had controlled the con-
vention, can any one doubt that the
Republicans would have
Met Evasion with Evasion,
and that the financial issue would be
still unsettled, hanging like sinister
shadow over our industrial system.
Mr.. Bryan's frank, sincere and une-
Quivocsl advocacy of the free coinage
of silver forced the Republican party,
reluctantly, to declare in favor of the
gold standard.
The result was not that which Mr..
rararfh ol II
produced by him. Because he was
sincerely wrong he forced the Repub-
lican politicians to become insincere-
ly right To this sincerity of Mr..
Bryan the country is indebted for the
opportunity to pass squarely and decise-
fvely upon the issue of Imperialism.
Ifthe republic rs TO be overthr0wn. the
assault must now be made In the open
light Of day. 1t is no longer possible
to strangle it under cover of mislead-
ing and hypocritical phrases.
In this open fight for liberty. surely
every anti-imperialist should be ready
to bear his part. Hesitation to avail
ourselves of the leadership under
which alone opposition to imperialism
can be made effective through distrust
vi lnS bcdUcIS fIGN5 On CCOuOlutC QutS-
tons not now in issue, would be as
senseless as hesitation to employ
surgeon on whose skill depended the
sole prospect of life, through dislike
of his religious beliefs.
1t can hardly be necessary to say
that we who four years ago sacrificed
our political prospects and personal
associations rather than lend
Even n Passive Support
of silence to declarations which we be-
lieved to be Of subversive order, will
pursue the same course again If these
questions should ever recur.
The best evidence of our capacity to
deal with the issues of 1902 or 1904
whatever they may be, is to deal intel
ligently now with the isues of 1900 a
On that issue Mr.. Bryan stands for
justice. liberty and the Constitution.
and since all these would be imperilled
by his defeat, it is to be hoped that the
Liberty Convention will not be swerved
from supporting him by prejudices
sprlnging from past antagonisms or by
groundless apprehensions of the fu-
ture. Yours very sincerely,
w. BOURKE COCHRAN.
To Edwin Burritt Smith Fsn