The Yale expositor., 1900-10-19
NATIONAL HONOR OVER
COLONIAL QUESTIONS.
Why Judge HOrnblOwer 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. Hornblower of
New York;

NEW Ork.J
Judge William b. Hornblower Of New
York, who was nominated to the Su-
preme bench of the United States by
President Cleveland, and whose confirm
alton was beaten in the Senate for pure
ly personal causes by David b. Hill, has
made the following statement why he, a
Democrat, cannot support Bryan:
have been repeatedly asked during
the past few weeks what in my judg
ment, is the duty of Gold Democrat
who is also an Anti-lmperialist, in the
pending presidential campaign. The
question is by no means n 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 in 1896 COM
pei me to oppose him in the present cam
pagn. All the heresies, financial and
Populistic, which were embodied in the
un-DemOcratic, crazy-Quilt platform of
1896 are readoptcd without any attempt
at modification or modification by the
Kansas City platform. The 16 to l plank
is expressly reaftirmed and redeclared
and this at the instance OF Mr. Bryan
himself. / cannot support a candidate
who still adhcres to proposition which
TO my mind, is n monstrosity and which,
il carried into effect. would in my judg-
ment produce untold disaster TO all
classes Of the community and bring dis
honor and humiliation TO our nation. The
fact if ii be a fact, that recent legisla-
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 a man
who still maintains these principles. II
is quite within the possibilities that dur
ing his administration. if he should be
elected. complete change might be Of
fected in the political composition Of both
houses of Congress, and the verdict Of
Tie people expressed at the polls in favor
Of Mr.. Bryans election as President
might be carried into effect. 1t will Ger
tainly be Mr~Bryan's duty, according 10
ais expressed declaration, to do what in
him lies to bring about this result.
i 1t is not TO be forgotten that Mr.. Bryan
is not only the candidate of what is left
Of the Democratic party, but he is the
cahdidate also of the Populist party. and
has accepted the nomination on their plat
form. The radical notions of the Popu-
lists, il ever carried into effect in this
country, would reduce popular govern
mcnt to q position where we should be
the laughing stock of the nations, and
would produce a reaction in the minds Of
the voters which would carry us far in
the direction of domestic Imperialism,
which | suppose Will be conceded TO be
Of vastly more moment to us and to our
posterty than colonial Imperialism. In
deed the chief objection to colonial inn
perialism is its probable effect upon our
domestic institutions, and its tendency to-
wards charging the powers of the cxecu-
tive rs between the executive and the
/ legislative departments of the govern
mont and towards increasing the pow
| ers Of the Federal government as be-
tween itself and the States.
The question as TO what is the para
mount issue" in this campaign is one on
which men may honestly differ II seems
TO me. however, that the most important
issue before us at the present moment is
whether our domestic affairs are 10 be
thrown into confusion and exposed to dis
aster The rights and wrongs of our CO.
lonial possessions must in this emergency
be subordinated to the rights and wrongs
Of our own affairs.
Furthermore ! am by no means salts
fled that Mr.. Bryan would be a safe per-
son to whom 10 intrust the imperialistic
questions which will confront us in the
future. In my Judgment he ought TO
have made his fight at the time when the
treaty with Spain was before the Sen
ate. lie should have upheld the hands
OF such dissenting Republicans as Sena-
tor Hoar, and he should have opposed to
the bitter end the principle Of buying for
cign peoples without their consent and in
the midst of war Tor independence on
their part By supporting the treaty Mr..
Bryan made himself n party TO its com
pact, and is. more than any other one
man. except Mr.. Mckinley, responsible
for the situation. The treaty was rati-
fed. the purchase money was paid the
islands are in our possession. In my
/ Judgment. the question Of their future
and OF our future, as determined indi-
recily by their future, must wait until we
have settled the question Of the present,
and thatqucstion is whether honesty. in
tegrity aud common sense shall he APP
piled 10 the financial affairs OF the United
States. or whether popular approval shall
lie given to the vagarics, whims. aad fail
laces Of the Populsts and Organizes,
with all the resulting disaster and dis
honor.
WILLIAM y. HORSEPOWER.
New York. Sept. IS.