New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-26
FOUL TACTICS.

People of the AnglO-SaxOn race enjoy fight
If it is fairly fought, and stand ready to cheer
the victor. There is a sportsmanlike desire TO
have the best man win, while the vanquished
receives honest sympathy if he makes brave
fight. But great as is the power OF the Eng
lish language, words fail to express the con-
tempt that Is felt for one who resorts to dis
honest tactics and underhand methods. Yet
Mr. Bryan is of our race, and asks for the high
est Office in the greatest English speaking ma
ton, while his manner of fighting the other
candidate is unworthy of an American. To
debate a mooted question with one honestly mis-
guided is pleasure and duty, which has the
possibility of reward in clearing away doubts
and intoxicating truths. But when n man ignores
facts which must be obvious to him, quotes only
partial truths and makes comparisons which
convey erroneous impressions, 1t is like trying
to convince prestidigitator that it is physically
impossible to grow rose bush in an instant.
He knows it cannot actually be done, but 1t Is
his business to deceive his audience by making
it appear possible There is no harm in enter
tanning hOuseful of people by deceivng them
cleverly. That is what they expect when they
purchase tickets. But there is great harm in
Mr.. Bryan's juggling because 1t may deceive
honest men into voting away their prosperity.
When Mr.. Bryan quotes "Dun's Review" as
authority for the statement that failures were
greater in every month of 1900 than in the
preceding year. his intention is obviously to con-
vey the impression that business had been stead
lily growing more unsound during the present
Administration. Otherwise there is no occa-
sion for this part Of his speeches. He has facil-
titles for making comparisons, that go back of
1899, and hence is not ignorant of that chapter
Of history He takes care to omit the vital
fact that failures in 1890 were the smallest in
any year since 1881, while the number Of con-
Germs in business had increased 80 per cent
during those eighteen years. Moreover, the
liabilities per firm in business last year were
ST. 80. which is much less than in any year
since these records We're begun in 1915, and
the proportion of defaults to solvent business
as measured by bank exchanges was 81 cents
per $1,000 which is also far below any previous
record. Had Mr.. Bryan been an honest man
he would never have referred to these stats
tics as an argument against Mr.. Mckinley. for
he is sufficiently intelligent to realize that their
weight Is altogether on the other side of the
scales. Immediately after Mr. MCKinleys cleo
ton there began such an improvement in bust
ness conditions that failures in 1897 were 81
per cent smaller than in the previous year.
i'll 1898 they were 10 per cent smaller than in
1897, and in 1899 they were 80 per cent smaller
undsturbed domestic conditions although in
Guiding the Spanish war, brought decrease
of over 30 per cent in failures last year as
compared with 1896
1t would be unreasonable to expect such
wonderful record to continue without Interrupt
ton, especially when the Presidential year
brought a revival of free silver agitation and
a natural timidity on the part of capital to take
further risks in operations that might be ruined
by the election of a President who would re-
verse the conditions that had been so desirable.
Why did not Mr.. Bryan make his comparison
with 1896. when the same fear of an unsound
financial policy caused the withdrawal of funds
from many enterprises and started boarding Of
gold to an extent that brought extreme en-
barrassment in ordinary business transactions?
None of these things unknown to the Pop
ulist orator, but. being a charlatan. the facts
were distorted and the truth so far garbled
that uninstructed voters might easily be de-
Ceivcd. There is in attempting to en-
tighten the mind of Mr. Bryan. for he knows |
these things we'll as any one can. The same
report that he quoted in his speeches contained |
detailed figures for many years but for the |
benefit of those who may be misled it is worth |
while to give the facts that are ignored by the |
man who does not wish to fight an honest bat |
tie It is not difficult to the ultimate pO- |
stion in international affairs of a nation with |
such a leader Confidence would cease. and |
the United States would he regarded as a good |
country to leave alone. We should be distrusted |
by foreign governments and our present hard |
won position as a great Power would soon be |
lost