The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-19

1t has been we'll said that the people
make the issues. Conventions may make
one or another issue paramount in their
platforms; but the issue made paramount
by the convention may not, a few weeks
later. appear TO be paramount in the
minds of the voting masses and then, in
one way or another. they speak and estab-
Iish what they will as the issue of the
campaign.
The shrewd sense of the common peo-
pie, often shown in our national politics,
has once more demonstrated its ability
10 strike at the root of the evil of exist
ing conditions of government. The Demo-
cratic National Convention made impe-
rialism paramount among issues. The peo-
pie have accepted it as such, but. and
We think wisely. have discerned that the
trust issue involves that of Imperialism.
If we could get rid Of the trust danger
the other would disappear; because it is
the awful menace of plutocratic oligarchy
which throws the shadow of the empire
upon the screen of cur eountrys future.
In his letter of acceptance Mr.. Bryan
shows that he is at one with the people
in considering the trust issue as the one
which is immediate. He says that eff, as
may be fairly assumed, from the conduct
and speeches CT the Republican leaders,
that party does not intend to take the
peoples side against these organizations.
then the weak and qualified condemnation
of trusts to be found in the Republican
platform is designed to distract atten-
tion while industrial despctism is com
plotting its work
No language could be more to the point.
Candidate Mckinley argues that we
should hesitate about attacking the trusts
until We can dinerentiate the good from
the bad Candidate Roosevelt urges that
We should wait and first get at the facts.
Both are chargeable with desire to dis
tract attention while Industrial despotism
is completing its work" They cannot es-
cape that position VIGOROUSLY they are
the candidates and creatures of the trusts
Every mile they travel. every move that
is made for them in the canvass, every
District of Columbia. Maryland. Virginia.
and North Carolina negro who is trans
ported and colonized in doubtful States
to vote for them fraudulently and crimi-
nally. is paid for by trust money. All the
perfunctory denunciations of the Phila-
delphia platform. and all the platitudes
of which Mr.. Mckinley is capable, will not
alter the facts or the knowledge of them
among the people Mr.. Bryan says:
"A private monopoly has always been an out
law. No defence can be made Of an indu trial
81 stem in which one, a few men, can control
for their own profit the output or price OF any
article OF merchandise. Under such a system
the consumer suffers extortion. the producer of
material has but purchaser and must
sell at the arbitrary price fixed; the laborer
has but employer and Is pOwerless TO pro-
test against injustice. either IN wages in coH-
ditions Of labor; the small stockholdsr is at
the mercy Of the Spectator, while the travel
ing salesman contributes his salary TO the over
grown profits Of the trust. Since but small
proportion Of the people share in the ad-
yantageg secured by private monopoly, it follows
that the remainder Of the people are not only
excluded from the benefits. but are the help
less victims 81 every monopoly Organized
The language of the quotation is axiom
attic. There is no ground for doubt that
"a private monopoly is an outlaw" yet it
is combination of these outlaws which
rules the country today, through the
media of Mark Hanna and William Nc
Kinley. We have only to recur to the in
cidents of the Dingley sugar schedule.
which was written and enacted at the die
tatlon OF the Sugar Trust; to the violation
of what Mr. Mckinley declared to be "our
plain duty to Porto Rico" and of the Con-
stitution on the demand OF the oil, sugar.
tobacco, and rum trusts; to the smother
ing Of the Nicaragua Canal bill. under the
order of the transcontinental railway
trust, to see evidences that from its birth
the Mckinley Administration has been
owned and operated by the trusts. In his
letter of acceptance Mr. Bryan makes this
deelafasfon:
sIf elected. ] shall select an Attorney General
xhc VIII. without fear or favor, enforce existing
laws; | shall recommend such additional legisis.
iion as may be necessary 10 dissolve every pri-
sate monopoly which does business outside Of the
State Of its origin, and. IL contrary TO ms be-
lief and hope, constitutional amendment Is
fc=snd to be Necessary. l shall recommend such
Of the existing rights Of The States, empower
from injury at the hands OF individuals or cor
2orations engaged in interstate commerce"
Mr.. Mckinley goes through the motion
of denouncing the trusts upon whose con-
sributions to the Republican corruption
fund he hopes to ride into office again.
VIII he meet the tacit challenge Of his
honest opponent and say that he, too, II
elected, will select an Attorney General
who will. without fear or favor, enforce
existing lawsT' We think not: and. il he
should do so, it is doubtful II his prom
ise would be generally accepted Mr.. Nc
Kinley has had two Attorneys General.