Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-08-08
Democratic Ticket.
FOR NONRESIDENT,
A. E. STEVENSON,
OF ILLINOIS.

sss City, says the Baltimore Sun,
while testifying to it's mistaken con-
fidence in Mr.. Bryan by unanimously
renominsting him for the Presidency,
in its platform proclsims: "The burn
ing issue of Imperialism involves the
very existence of the Republic and
the destruction of our free institu-
tions. We regard 1t as the paramount
issue Of the campaign" There is no
going back upon the principles for
which the Chicago Convention stood
in 1896, but recognizing, as in 1884,
chat as the nation grows older new
issues are born of time and progress
and old issues perish" or at least lose
their relative Importance, the conven-
ton in 1900 properly gives the first
place to the Lying, burning issues of
1900.
This is the platform upon which
Mr.. Bryan has been nominated, and
the golden opportunity which is now
his is, in his speech or letter of acoep
tanoe of that nomination which he is
expected to deliver at Indianapolis
some time this week, to emphasize
and make clear to the whole people
his cordial and loyal acceptance of
the issue which the convention has
declared. in the name of the party, to
be the paramount issue in the cam
paign." Those who know Mr.. Bryan
best, and who vouch for the absolute
loyalty, strsightforwardness and sim
gleheartedness of the man, profess to
have no doubt that such will be his
action. The Importance of clear
and explicit declaration from his own
lips in his own forcible language at
this time is twofold.
While the democratic platform de-
clares Imperialism to be the para
mount issue of the campaign" the
republicans are by no means anxious
to meet the democrats upon that is
sue. They would like to evade it and
to ignore it. All their speakers, with
out exception, seek to belittle it, in
sisting that the danger of Imperialism
is a mere fgment of the brain, born
of the heated Imagination of "little
Americans" or the cunning of politi-
clans at loss for an issue. The re-
publicans would prefer to fight the
Presidential battle over again on the
lines of 1896. The candidates are
the same, why not the issues? Nc
man can so effectually extinguish this
hope of the republicans as Mr.. Bryan
Then, there are thousands of voters
republicans as we'll as democrats, who
are of the opinion that Imperialism il
the paramount issue-that it is tn
only issue worth talking about-ant
who wish to vote for candidate VIII
will make his fight upon that issu
above and before all others. The
may be gold men, who consider tina
the silver issue is permanently dea'
or that it is laid at rest-at all event
for the presenter that, if living,
is of secondary Importance as com
pared with a question which involve
the existence of the republic, the in
tegrity and permanency of our fire
institutions. Or they may be silve
men, who may share the same view
as to the relative Importance of th
money issue and the issue of reput
lie or empire, and who, perfectly sat
isfed with Mr.. Bryan's views upo
the money question, only wait to kno'
how he personally stands upon th
greater and more vital issue of whetl
er this government shall he constitr
tional and free or imperial and ha,
slave. Here, again, no man can pI
all doubts to rest and contribute {
effectually to settle the minds of IL
wavering as MIR. Bryan.
1t must not be forgotten that
their anxiety to prevent imperialis
from becoming the paramount issl
of the campaign Republicans ha
been found willing to impugn Il
consistency, if not sincerity, of N
Bryan's own opposition to imperis
ism. OF this Senator George
Hoar has given a notable illustrate,
in his great speech against imperi'
ism, and in condemnation of t
policy pursued by the Administr
ton, when he attempts to hold N
Bryan responsible instead of N
Mckinley for the ratification of t