The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-09-13

Ina private letter Richard Oiney o
Massachusetts, one of the ablest living
Democrats, who was secretary OF stat'
in the Cleveland administration comes
out boldly and unreservedly for Bryan
In his communication he says:
Dear Sir: / have yours OF the 12tl
ult You refer to a previous converse
ton in which had intimated my inten
ton to vote the Democratic ticket at the
coming presidential election, and ask fol
the grounds fol so doing. You urged al
our interview that such a decision
should as a matter of duty, be accom-
panied by willingness to avow the rea
sons behind it. / recognize the force OF
that view, and, though it is against my
inclinations and habits, | proceed to
state some considerations which seem tc
me to Justify the purpose have formed.
I need hardly say that Mr.. Bryan is
not the candidate should choose coulC
have had my way in the matter, and
that entirely dissent from parts of the
Kansas City platform. But in laying his
course upon the all-important subject OF
the presidency, a citizen is bound to bear
in mind that he is dealing with a practi-
cal matter, and must seek the best prac-
tical results through such legitimate
practical methods as are available.
Parties cannot be ignored, for exam
pie, because ours is a government of par
ties. The real issue is which of them
shall control, and individual effort indie
pendent of party must at best he abor-
tive while it may further the success OF
the worst party in the field. So the
choice between the parties, one of which
must certainly prevail, calls for the ex-
ercise of the same common sound sense.
Perfection in candidate or platform
is an idle dream, and infirmities in its
creed and defects in its leadership will
always characterize every party. But
they IL no wise excuse citizen from
taking his assigned part III the govern
ment of the country from making up
his mind what the common veal de-
mands and what party's success will
come nearest satisfying the demand and
from using his influence and casting his
vote accordingly. If one citizen may
properly withhold his vote, logically oil
may, and all the wheels of government
b. stopped, while to decline voting be-
cause practically assured that others
will vote is but to give the latter an I'M
due share of political power and to for
felt the right to complain of any abuse
of it,
The obligations of citizenship are
avoided not performed, by standing
neutral III an election. The voting po-
wer is trust which calls for use and is
violated by the neglect to use it. There
is always choice between the conse-
quences of one partys ascendency and
those of its opponent, and therefore the
true question before each citizen always
is of the general attitude of party up
on the vital issues of the day and
whether. in view of that attitude, its
success is not the best thing in sight.
Such is the real Issue now confronting
every American citizen.
Be it admitted that the Democratic
party, its platform and its candidate are
open to much unjust criticism, yet all
things considered, would not its triumph
be the best out of the present presiden
tial contest
In my judgment nothing is now so
important as that the American people
should take this their first opportunity
to emphatically protest against that ex-
crescence upon original Republicanism
which may be called McKinleyism
term used solely for brevity and not be-
cause Mr. Mckinley is largely response
BILE for what it comprehends except as
he has proved himself unable or unwill-
ing to resist the pressure OF political or
personal friends and to withstand the
temptation of trimming his sails to
every wind of apparently popular doc
trlne.
1t may not be feasible to undo what
has beer done-the weakest and silliest
of administrations may involve the
country in difficulties from which the
strongest and wisest may not be able to
extricate it. Nevertheless, the evil
courses pursued should be condemned
and not condoned. The futre may be
helped and safegaurded even if the past
is remediless, while, so far as the injuri-
Gus consequences of past courses can be
averted or mitigated something may be
hoped for from those not primarily re-