The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-08-09
A Tough Dose.

The renegade newspaper which goes
over to the republican party because ii
does not like some of the planks of the
democratic platform must have a tough
enough digestive apparatus to assimi-
late the following;
First, the Nicely thefts in Cuba.
Secondly, the double taxation with
ont representation in Porto Rico.
Thirdly, the betrayal of the Nicara-
qua canal schome-the most important
of all enterprises to the progress and
prosperity of the south by the repub-
lican party in congress in spite of
solemn promises made in platforms for
many years.
Foufthly, the Hanna ship subsidy
steal, which it is estimated will cost
the people Of the United States some
whore between $500, 600, coo and $780,,
600, coo.
Filthy, the protective system, al
scheme devised torob the many for the
benefit of the rich few, under which
most of the big trusts have been en-
courOged and fostered
Sixthly, Endorsement of an admins
tration which has -dishonored its
pledges as to civil servicerefo which
has violated its own announced ''plain
party" which has sought to degrade
one of the greatest of modern seafight-
ers in the interest of a naval pedagogue
who has never been in a naval fight in
his life, which has made possible the
billion and half congress, and which
is absolutely controlled by the syndi-
Gates.
The renegade newspaper seeks usu-
ally to Justify its ishmaelite course on
the grounds that the Kansas City plat
form pronoundes against the retention
of the Philippines, and because if Bryan
were elected he could order the gov.
eminent obligations paid in silver and
thus create panic. Certainly these
two dangers" are as nothing when
compared with the programme of dis
honesty, mendacity, hypocrisy, spolia-
tion and extravaganza put forth by the
republican party. Even the most en-
thusiastic expansioGist knows that the
cession of the Philippines would in nc
way be a menace to our institutions.
Therefore the person who would desert
his party on this ground and go over tc
the party of organized greed, is simply
looking for pretext to desert.
An interesting question has recently
arisen as to what Mr., Bryan could dc
for silver in case he is elected. Some
have contended that he could entirely
disarrange our finances by paying
national obligations in silver. Others
have said that with the financial Law
now on the statute books, and a hostile
senate, bis hands would be absolutel,
tied Prof. Laughlin is a pretty gooC
goldbug authority, and so is the New
York Evening Post. They have beer
investigating this question and thei
conclusions are thus stated by the Post
1t was pointed out by Prof. Laughlll
in an article republished in or column
a short time since, that the new curren
cy law (the act Of March IA, 1900 doe
not prevent any secretary of the treas
ury from paying out silver dollars TO
any claims against the government eX
cept for the redemption Of greenback
and treasury notes, and for interest o
the new per cent. bonds Any secre
tary having a desire to worry tn
"plutocrats" could give them silye
dollars in payment of their claims, if h
had sufficient supply of them o
hand The probability is, however
that he would not have enough to d
any harm except to produce a scare
The silver dollara in the treasury az
mostly held for the redemption of sill
yer certificates III the hands Of the pee
pie. Not one Of these could be touch
ed by the secretary for any other pun
pose, and it is not likely that any ser
rotary would pay out silver merely t
create a pauic, which would Instant
arouse public feeling against the a(
ministration i'll power. Merely payin
out silver from the treasury would NJ
change the standard Of value The II
ceivers of it would either use it to pa
customs duties and other federal taxel
or would demand silver certificates fl
1t, when rendered to them, putting ii
terilatn circulation, The only pract
cal step to bring in the regime Of Ii