The sun., 1900-06-08
CAMPAIGN ISSUES.

Never before, perhaps, have the op-
psuents of national administration in
this country, made such persistently
eager efforts to distract public attention
from the real issues OF an impending
cam paign as now. Never before was
there such variety of topics suggested
for public consideration and never were
they so remote from the real issue. In
this the Democrats seem to be rich to
repletion-gorged to safety, Yet with
all this richness of material and appar-
ent opportunity they are not happy. are
not able 10 connect-their varied posses
sions or 10 consolidate upon ANY one or
more Of them. It is fair case OF short
blanket. Too much to cover and too
little to cover it with-too much GER
taiuty about q candidate and too little
about q platform. Bryan seen to be q
certainty. but whether the Chicago plat
form with all its populisiic and anarch-
istic vagaries is to be reafiirmed in the
denomination Of the Chicago candidate
is question OF distracling doub'. Mr..
Bryau's anxiety 10 run again" has,
however, really answered tha question.
He has already been nominated bv the
populistic party, and has, if no. formal
ly, taeitly accepted that nomination ard
adopted the populistic platform as his
own. L. follows that in his renomina-
tion the Democratic party approves and
accepts that platform, and however much
those who dissent may object to this, it
cannot now be obviated excep. by bolt
and the defeat of Mr.. Bryan. His nomi-
nation at Kansas City will make every
Democrat populist and every populist
Democrat. Thus the Democratic out
look is not pleasant, as it apparently in.
wolves the acceptance of a platform and
candidate, both of which have been re-
pudiated by a large proportion of the
Democratic voters and defeated by the
people.
In this dilemma the Democratic party
is driven to repetition of the tactics it
adopted in 1896. The real issue in that
campaign was between free trade and
protection. The apparent issue was be.
tween the free silver advocates and the
single gold standard people. The ex-
perieuce of the country under the Cleve.
land free trade administration had dis
gusted the people with Democratic eco.
nomic theories, and the Democratic party
did not dare to attempt a campaign upon
that line; hence the fight was made in
the Interest Of free coinage Of silver at a
ratio OF Ii to l.. The fight on that issue
was furious one. 1t was made so to
distract attention from the complete
failure OF the Democratic administration
III the application OF its free trade prin.
etpes. and to offer panacea for the ills
n had produced. The scheme failed.
The people listened to the financial argu-
ment and voted for protection. The re-
suit has more than justified the decision
of the voters.
The real issue upon which the people
are TO vote and decide in the coming
election is identical with that of 1896,
except that in that campaign they
were seeking what they must protect
and retain in this campaign. Realiz.
ing this the Democrats are shouting
about the dangers of imperialism-a
bogy of their own imag!nstions-and Of
trusts, the apparent evil results of which
are yet only in anticipation, and hence
now only another bogy, and are shout
ing about these things to disturb the
peace and destroy the content which has
come to the people as result OF the de-