The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-10-12
HORNBLOWER.
NATIONAL HONOR OVER
COLONIAL QUESTIONS.
Why Judge HornbIOwer De.
cIines TO Support Bryan.
Opinion Of a Leading New York Jurist
Whose Elevation 10 the Supreme
Bench Was Beaten by
D. B. Hill.
(By Judge William b. Homblower OF
New York;

NOW IOTh.l
Judge William b. Hornblowcr Of New
York, who was nominated 10 the SUI
prcme bench of the United States by
President Cleveland, and whose confirm
alton was beaten in the Senate for pure
~ personal causes by David Il. Hill, has
made the following statement why he, u
Democrat. cannot support Bryan:
L have been repeatedly asked during
the past few weeks what, in my Judg
ment, is the duty OF Gold Democrat
who is also an AntiImperiaist, in the
pending presidential campaign. The
question is by no means a simple one,
and can well understand and appreciate
the position taken by such men as Mr.
Schurz, Mr.. Shepard and Mr.. Olney.
For my own part, however, cannot see
my way clear to reaching their conclu-
sions. The same reasons which compel
ed me to oppose Mr.. Bryan i'll 1896 com
pei me to oppose him in the present CAM
paign. All the heresies. financial and
Popuistic. which were embodied i'll the
un-Dcmocratic. crazy-quilt platform OF
1899 are readopted without any attempt
at modification or modification by the
Kansas City platform. The 1G to plank
is expressly rcatfirmed and redeclared,
and this at the instance of MIR. Bryan
himself. | cannot support candidate
who still adheres to proposition which
to my mind. is a monstrosity and which,
IL carried into effect, would in my judg-
ment produce untold disaster TO all
q ~ h,.ttl lie.
honor and humiliation to our nation. The
fact, if it be a fact. that recent lcgisla
ton has made it difficult for Mr.. Bryan
to carry into practice his avOwed princi
pies does not, it seems to be, make il
any the more right to vote for Il man
who still maintains these principles. ii
Is quite within the possibilities that dur
ing his administration, il he should be
elected, complete change might be ef-
fected in the political composition Of both
houses of Congress, and the verdict of
the people expressed at the polls in favor
of Mr.. Bryan's election as President
might be carried into effect. 1t will GER
tainly he Mr.. Bryan's duty, according to
mis- expressed declaration. to do what in
him lies to bring about this result.
y
is not only the candidate of what is left
of the Democratic party, but he is the
candidate also Of the Populist party. and
has accepted the nomination on their plat
form The radical notions of the Popu
lists. if ever carried into effect in this
country would reduce popular govern
ment to a position where We should he
the laughing stock of the nations, and
would produce n reaction in the minds of
the voters which would carry us far in
the direction Of domestic Imperialism,
which ! suppose will be conceded To he
of vastly more moment to us and to our
posterty than colonial imperialism. In
deed the chief objection to colonial ini-
perialism is its probable effect upon our
domestic institutions. and its tendency to-
wards enlarging the powers of the cxecu-
tive as between the executive and the
Legislative departments of the govern
ment, and towards increasing the pow |
ers of the Federal government as be-
tween itself and the States.
The question as 10 what is the ''para
mount issue" in this campaign is one on
which men may honestly differ. liz seems
10 me. however. that the most important
issue before us at the present moment is
whether our domestic affairs are to be
thrown into confusion and exposed to dis
aster. The rights and wrongs OF our CO.
lonial possessions must in this emergency
be subordnated TO the rights and wrongs
VI our own affairs.
Furthermore. am by no means. salts
lied that Mr.. Bryan would be a safe per-
"a nj HON m inf fh.. m uii lei is.
questions which will confront us in the
future. In my Judgment he ought to
nave made his light at the time when the
.reaty with Spain. was before the Sen
ite. He should have upheld the hands
Il such dissenting Republicans AZ Sena
or Hoar aud he should have opposed to
he bitter end the principle Of buying for
ign peoples without their consent and in
he midst Of Il war IL, Independence ON
heir part. BY supporting the treaty Mr..
Bryan made himself party 10 its com
,act, and is. more than any other one
nan, except Mr.. Mckinley, responsible
or the situation. The treaty was rati-
led, the purchase money was paid. the
Stands are in our possession. In my
Judgment. the question OF their future |
nd OF our future, as determined indi |
ectly by their future. must wait until we |
ave settled the question Of the present, {
nd that question is whether honesty, in /
cgrity and common sense shall be ap- |
lied 10 the financial affairs OF the United |
tates. or whether popular approval shall
e given To the vagaries. whims. AID fall /
,cies Of the Populists and Bryaniies, !
nth all the resulting disaster and dis Z
onor. n
WILLIAM d. H0RNBLowER. /!
New York. Sept. Is. ;