The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-12
Mr.. TOwne OF Minnesota.

The Nan whom the Bryanite Populists
have nominated for Nice-President is not
very well known to the country. The Hon.
CHARLIE A. TowNE of Duluth served only a
single term in Congress. He was elected
in 1894 TO the FIT -fourth House az a Re-
publican. by about 10000 plurality. Two
years later, having renowned Republican
ism on account of his positive views on
silver, he ran for reelection as a Democrat
and Populist, and was defeated by about
800 votes. He tried it again in 1898, and was
again defeated.
Mr.. TowNE spoke rarely while a member
Of the House, His only important speeches
were on the financial question. They were
marked by conscientious industry in prepa-
ration, general good sense and sobriety Of
expression, and an earnest sincerity that
left no room for question, He was a re-
spectacle figure, He sacrificed his future
as a Republican leader because he believed
that the Republican party was going wrong
on the financial issue. Eis position in tho
House in 1890 was analogous to that Of
Senator TELLER Of Colorado at the other
end Of the Capitol.
The most elaborate oratorical effort Of
this gentleman was a speech delivered in
February of 1896 on the theme that tho
restoration Of silver was the duty of the
Republican party. II was a painstaking
attempt TO show that the low prices, the
business depression, the falling markets, all
the distreSses and disComforts of that
period, We're due solely - the fact that gold
.. and not silver was the standard of value.
Mr.. TowSE summed up his indictment in
n phrase which anticipated by several
months BRyAN's cross of gold
THE burden Of the gold standard on the world
could be measured only In blood and sweat and lesis "
In the coming campaign Mr.. TowNE will
have to square his old arguments with the
obvious circumstance that high prices and
rising markets and general prosperity and
content are not impossible under the burden
Of the gold standard, but in this respect
he Is no worse of than BRYAN and many
other silverites.
We wish we could say as much for Mr..
TONNES intellectual acuteness az we are
able to say for his earnestness and sim
certify. Perhaps the best measure of his
mental dimensions is found in his public
tribute, in that same speech, to the pre-
eminent intellectually of the Hon WHARTON
BARKER, now the Presidential candidate
OF another faction Of the Populists. mir.
WHARTON BARKER" said Mr.. TOwNF, Il
regard as without exception the ablest
writer on economics in the periodical liter
AZURE Of the United States"
We quote once more from the Hon.
CHARLES A owSE's remarks on Republican
duty in the national crisis of 1896:
IVAN gentlemen on this aoor-not as = prophe,
but as one who has always lived near the people
aud by the grace Of Con means TO continue near the
p~eople-our duty must not be neglected. tell you I
know what the people are thinking, and what they are
feeling in this year Of grace 1895. They know that
thu constructing gold standard Is existing by the per.
mission and growing at the cost Of the manhood and
the enterprise Of the universe, and that the time will
come when a stop must be put to II.
mr.. HARDY WI you state what you want the
Republican party To do
NJ TOwNE- M chair man, II Is TO the treat Re
publican party a. such a crisis that the people turn
with hoprfulneSs, even As In times past when the
hour was heavy and the way dark they CROPPED
anAiouSy that they might md and clasp with their
hands the hands Of III" Republican party. and thus
b. led again To the heights of peace and along the
paths Of prosperity"
II will be observed that part OF Mr..