The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-11
No Third Party.

The Bryan committee on resolutions
may declare that imperialism is the
paramount ISSUE" and the Bryan mob
10 national convention howl its as
sent, but the paramount issue with the
people is raised by the resolution in ia
vor of the free coinage of silver in the
ratio of l6 to l. This was also the
paramount issue with the Democratic
platform makers. Over it they con-
tended all night till the dawn streaked
the eastern horizon, and it was finally
carried by the narrow margin of two
votes, at the imperious command of
Bryan himself, with whom the princi-
pie was, in no rhetorical sense, the
paramount issue. The story of the
Kansas City convention, and the long
cherished belief and determination of
its candidate for the presidency, belle
the declaration of its platform as to the
issue which in this canvass is supreme.
With Bryan and the makers Of the
platform the foremost issue was 16
to l. Everything else was subsidiary.
SO will it be with the people.
This indisputable fact of the Kansas
City convention determines the atti-
tude of the Democrats who abide by
principle and who are unalterably OPP
posed to Mr.. Bryans financial views
BY them the money resolution of the
Democratic platform is pronounced
false and dangerous, and the general
results Of the convention repugnant to
the sober-minded and right-thinking
people of the United States. To those
men who are opposed to Republican
administration on other than financial
grounds the New York Times Demo
cratic) addresses these considerations:
The spokesman of anti-imperialism have
repeatedly told US what men OF conscience
ought to do in this campaign, and they have
attempted to point out the path Of duty for
those who fear that the republic is in dam
ger. But now that they are confronted by
Bryan at his worst, defantly Haunting his
destructive principles in their faces, they
grumble and draw back. There is talk Of
third ticket a refuge OF comfort for those
whom misjudgment Of the issues before the
country has blinded to the nature of the
contest now beginning. There should be
no third ticket. This is no year for retiring
into caves and wasting upon the candidates
of self-indulgent and whimsical party of
impotent protest votes that should be cast
in such way that they will have full force
and effect against the dangerous man and
the false principles put before the country
by the Democratic convention.
There are many voters who abhor Bryan,
but do not like the political principles Of
the Republican party nor approve of the
policies of William Mckinley. 1t is to
spare themselves the discomfort of voting
for the Republican candidate that they pro-
pose third ticket That is selfish and
most unpatriotic motive. This is not a
question of discomfort but of positive peril,
for no man who is intelligent enough to be
alarmed by the purely imaginary dangers
OF what is called imperialism can fail to
perceive the very real menace involved in
the possible election OF W. j Bryan as
President of the United States. The con-
sideration that as lifelong Democrat or as
friend OF the Flipinos one could 90 to the
polls and vote with greater comfort for a
third candidate is unworthy to be enter
tanned by reasonable men in a campaign
when the honor of the country, the stability
OF its financial and judicial systems, and the
prosperity Of its industries are assailed by 6
~, I'D al ~
proved strength. Conscience and patriot
ism forbid the paltering and perilous folly
Of voting in the air.
The Times declares that "Mr. Nc
Kinley deserves, and will receive, {
vote of renewed confidence and re
election to the Office he has we'll ad
ministered," and that the Times twill
use its influence to bring about that re
suit" 1t sees the way to victory fo
the Republican party plainly in view
aud believes the campaign managers
will not miss it. Truth and safet,
must be opposed to error and danger
Appealed to with absolute candor ant
straightforward truth-telling on behal
of President Mckinley" says tn
Times, "the people will respond with
great majority vote of confidence. LIE
the Bryan party have monopoly O
the humbug and deceit, of the littl
tricks and trite hypoCrisies of cam
paign tactics. A perfectly frank expo
sition Of the aims of the party at HON
and abroad, if those aims are just an
the purposes safe, will win the conf
dence and the votes of the electorate
The people will not condemn the ad
ministration for promising to do it
duty in the Philippines, in Cuba, or 6
Washington. An honest avowal q
principle and intention will make tn
Mckinley and Roosevelt ticket invinc
BILE. William Mckinley has the oppol
tunity to write letter of acceptanc
that will paralyze the Bryan campaign
With equal force and directness tn
Il II. - n