Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-08-23
years Imperialism Will be so firmly inn
bedded in our political lie that it can

bedded in our political lie that it can
never be expelled.
Mr.. Bryan's election of itself would |
put quietus on the imperialistic adven-
ture No policy specifically condemned
by the people has ever been adopted into
our system, and Imperialism would prove
no exception to the rule. Mr.. Hoar's sug-
gestion that the senate would refuse to
follow Democratic president in policy
OF humanity approved by the people does
faint justice to his own patriotic capacity
when-liberated from the exigences of a
campaign for re-election-his intellect and
his conscience would be restored to har-
monious and effective cooperation. I'M
perialism rebuked at the polls and shown
to be Improbable, would not have sim
gle supporter in the country. Within a
month of election Senator Hoar could re-
duce his noble conceptions of freedom
and duty to definite proposals of pacifica-
ton, which both parties would accept.
The country having pronounced for JUS
tice, politicians of every shape and de-
scription will be eager to do justice, and
when the desire for justice is sincere the
way to justice is soon discovered.
"Since the election Of Mr.. Bryan is GER
tain to deliver the country from the i'm
minent peril of Imperialism, can the lib
| erty convention hesitate to support him
because Of impalpable danger arising
from his opinions on subjects with
which, as president, he cannot possibly
deal? I confess it is hard to understand
the attitude of those gentlemen who
would have supported him if the conven-
| ton had been silent or evasive on the
free coinage of silver, but who hesitate
TO 1t >1-kc@
| cludes that question from the serious dis
| cussions of the contest by RELOCATING it
| to a subordinate position. The Demo-
| cratic platform declares that imperial
ism is the paramount issue of the cam
paign, and Mr.. Bryans speech at In
dianapolis accepts this conception of the
issue, emphasizing it and vindicates it.
But a declaration that Imperialism is
paramount issue is equivalent to dec
laration that it is the sole issue, for no
presidential election ever decided more
than one question. In my judgment, the
platform actually adopted by the DEM
ocratic convention should be much more
satisfactory to sound money men than
any of the substitutes suggested by older
and more conservative managers. Since
nobody pretends that Mr.. Bryan's opin-
ions on the questions raised by the Chi
cago platform of 1896 have been changed
| his refusal to disguise them in any way
| is highly creditable to his honesty, and
| honesty is the first essential of patriotic
| presidential service. Mr.. Bryan's con-
version to belief in sound money would,
in my opinion be a cause for national re-
joicing, but any abandonment or abase-
ment of the frankness and sincerity
which have always distinguished him
would be little short of a national ca
lamty. We need not accept Mr.. Bryan
as an infallible or even as sound au-
thority on economies to acknowledge
that his integrity, his truthfulness and
absolute sincerity have been among the
most salutary influences of this genera
ton on our political life 1t is certain
that this country is indebted to him for
the gold standard law. which, though 1t
has the defects of Its party origin, is
the best contribution of our national
stability since the resumption of specie
payments. If the Democratic platform
of 1896 had been eyasive, as unquestion-
ably it would have been if the so-called
conservatives had controlled the conven-
ton, can anybody doubt that the Re-
publicans would have met evasion with
evasion and that the financial issue
would be still unsettled, hanging like a
sinister shadow over our industrial sys-
tenn? Mr.. Bryan's frank, sincere and I'M
equivocal advocacy of the free coinage
Of silver forced the Republican party re-
luctantly to declare in favor of the gold
standard The result was not that which
Mr.. Bryan sought; none the less it was
produced by him. Because he was sin
cerely wrong he forced the Republican
politicians to become :lsincerey right.
To this sincerity of Mr.. Bryan the coun-
try is indebted for the opportunity to
pass squarely and decisvely on the issue
of imperialism. If the republic is to be
overthrown the assault must now be
made in the open light of day. 1t is no
longer possible to strange it under cover
of misleading or hypocritical phrases.
SIN this open fight for liberty, surely
every anti-imperialist should be ready to
bear his part Hesitation to avail our
selves of the leadership under which
alone opposition to imperialism can be
made effective, through distrust of the
leaders views on economic questions not
now in issue, would be as senseless as
hesitation to employ a surgeon on whose
skill depended the sole prospect of life,
through dislike of his religious beliefs.
III can nardly De necessary TO say
that we who four years ago sacrificed
our political prospects and personal as
sociations rather than lend even passive
support of silence to declarations which
we believed to be subversive of order,
will pursue the same course again If
these questions should ever occur. The
best evidence of our capacity to deal with
the issues of 1902 or 1904, whatever they
may be, is to deal intelligently now with
the issues of 1900. On that issue Mr..
Bryan stands for justice, liberty and the
constitution, and since all these would
be imperiled by his defeat it is to be
hoped that the liberty convention will
not be swerved from supporting him by
prejudices springing from past antagon-
isms or by groundless apprehensions Of
the future.
-"W Bourke Cochran"
| CLOSING DAY.
| al sfa AAinnrn After Tn.