The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-03
He ADMIRES Mr.. BRYAN
ELECT HIM ON AiNTUIMPERIALl-
ISM AND ANTITRUST.
IMPERIALISM DECLARED THE GREAT ISSUE
The Administration Policy Threatens Divorce
Between Our Flag and Our Constitution.
Mr.. Cochran Thinks Silver Should
be Put Aside Until 1904.
be Put Aside Until 1904
(New York Sum

The Sun received dispatch from Ne
braska City, Neb., to the effect that
according to a story which was being
circulated through the State, j. Sterling
Morton, Secretary of Agriculture under
President Cleveland, and other old-timo
Democrats were making plans to control
the conventions which will name the
delegates from Nebraska to the National
Democratic Convention. The object OF
this move was, according to the story,
to send to the National Democratic Con-
vention delegation unalterably opposed
TO the nomination of Mr.. Bryan, and
thus, If possible, to make his nomination
in the convention impossible. The story
had it that Mr.. Morton was being as
sisted in organizing the State against
Bryan by W. Bourke Cochran and other
Eastern Democrats. The dispatch was
shown to Mr.. Cochran yesterday after
noon. After reading il ae made the
following ~.aiement:
There is no truth in the statement
so far as | am concerned. l am not
engaged in any movements, plots or en-
terprises to aid any Democratic faction
or thwart any Democratic politicians. |
am neither Gold Democrat nor a
Silver Democrat Bryan or an anti
Bryan Democrat l am simply a Demo
crat, without adjective, qualification or
hyphen.
In 1896 | believed that fidelity TO
Democratic principles imposed opposition
to the Democratic party. Therefore. 1
supported the Republican candidate. NV
opposition, however, was confined to the
platform. To the candidate there was
no objection, and there could have been
none. Before his nomination l had
served -four years with him in Congress,
and the high opinion which formed then
of his personal qualities | am glad to
say is now held by the whole American
people. But Mr.. Bryan's personal viz
tues. far from diminishing my objection
TO the platform on which he stood in
'96, intensities it. Vicious principles are
never dangerous when supported by Il
vicious commonplace man. 1T is only
when they enlist the advocacy of enthu-
siastic, but misguided virtue. that they
become really formidable From all this
YOU will perceive that the reason which
led me to regard Ml. Bryan as a most
dangerous candidate while he represent
ed what believed to be a vicious plat
form would lead me to support him
warmly IL ne SlOOu On Il SOu1lu PLATFORM.
do you believe that Mr. Bryan can
be persuaded to eliminate the silver
question from the next campaign?'
Il am very much mistaken in him If
he would be capable of suppressing re-
nouncing or Disgusting his views on any
question for any reward, even the Presi-
dency of the United States But the
issues of the campaign do not depend
They are fixed by the preoccupation of
the electors. Campaigns are always
waged ON the question which happens to
be of chief interest to the people at
the time In this respect the convention
has no other function than to formulate
the opinion reached by the rank and
file of the party-as the result of individ-
ual reflection and of local discussions