New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-17
HEssRs. BELMONT AVID oocKRAN.

Messrs. Perry Belmont and W. Bourke Cock
ran on Wednesday simultaneously declared
| themselves in favor of the election OF Mr..
| Bryan They did so in the full consciousness
| that Mr. Bryan stands to-day. as much as he
did four years ago for the free coinage OF silver
at the ratio Of IS to /; that indeed, he stands SO
| emphatcaIly for that paramount issue that he
refused to stand at all unless specifically for
and upon that issue Its reaffirmatiOn in the
platform was his sine qua non. Free Trade
might or might not be in the platform. Anti
| Imperialism might or might not be in II. Any
one of the various other planks might or might
| not be adopted as the Convention saw fit. But
free silver at 16 to / must be there, or he would
refuse the nomination. 1t is with that fact
kept clearly in mind that Messrs. Belmont and
Cochran give their support TO Mr.. Bryan.
Four years ago this week on August Is,
1896 MeSsrs Belmont and Cochran simultane-
ously declared themselves unalterably opposed
To the election of Mr.. Bryan because of that
very issue Said Mr.. Belmont: I'VE want no
victory under a false flag. The Democratic
standard was supplanted at Chicago by the
rag of PopuIism, which we firmly refuse to
follow to the discredit of the Nation To-day
that rag Of Popusm" is still held up at the
head Of the Bryanite forces and Mr.. Belmont
now declares his intention to follow It. Said
Mr. Cochran: THE issue is one of
morals and Of Justice 1t involves the exist
"ence Of social order II is the contest for
CIVILIZATION itself. On this question honest
men cannot differ. We must oppose the nomi-
nee of the Chicago Convention" To-day Mr.
Cochran advocates the election of the nominee
of the Chicago Convention on the same old
Chicago platform According to his own words
he thus sets himself against morals and Justice,
against social order. against civilization itself.
ION this question honest men cannot differ"
But say Messrs. Belmont and Cochran apollo
getically the issue Is changed because, as Mr..
Cochran says 1.-The Democratic platform de-
"clares that imperialism is the paramount Issue,
land Mr. Bryan's speech at Indianapolis accepts
this conception of the issue. emphasizes and
"vindicates it," Thus Mr.. Cochran deems in
fallible Mr.. Bryan's speech Of acceptance, But
what did he say four years ago of the speech OF
acceptance which the same Mr. Bryan had then
lust delivered2 1--WE would look in vain through
''the speech to find true statement of the Issue
involved In this canvass" True, Mr.. Cochran,
true as Gospel then, and IL is equally true now.
You will look in vain through that Indianapolis
speech OF Mr. Bryan's for a true statement OF
the Issue involved in this campaign. The issue
is not one of territorial contraction OF expan
sion. It is not one of standing by or repudiat
ing the Treaty OF Peace with Spain, the ratiti
cation of which Mr. Bryan favored Just as
much as did Mr. Mckinley. No, 1t is an issue
'of morals and of justice; IL involves the exist
"ence Of social order; II is the contest for civil
'fzatiun itself" How Iamentably strange that
upon II honest men like Mr.. Belmont and Mr.
Cochran should Numerically differ from the
position they so uneQuivocally assumed only
four years ago!