The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-09
SEATTLE, THURSDAY, AUGUST ..


An Apoiogetic Acceptance.
Mr.. Bryan's reply 10 the committee
OF notification At Indianapolis yester-
day STAKES new note for him. and one
that presages disaster. An apologetic
campaign can never be a successful
campaign: and apologize. In It's con-
tents and its omissions. this speech Is
throughout. Mr.. Bryan appears to
have absorbed some caution from his
defeat. TO have acquired faint idea OF
the lack or confidence which the Amer
lean people feel and have expressed in
him and his policies. II h reflected no.
tably In this address.
The most manifest evidence II his
omission Of the financial issue 1t was
at his personal command that the is 70
declaration went into the Kansas City
platform. hut the magnitude and earn
estness OF the protest against It in his
own party impressed him. For the first
time. we viii give him credit for that.
he exhibits timidity He runs away
bodily from the issue that he made. the
issue on which hesfought. the issue that
he maintained necessarily for four
yenrs and forced again upon the De-
mocracy. Taking shelter behind the
paltry pretence that paramount
means ''only." he devotes himself ex-
ciusively to the non-existent thing that
he pleases to call imperialism" and
the silver bantiing IL left to its fate.
II Is a confession and apology that will
lose more votes than II viii win
Mr. Bryan's introduction again car
ries the strain Of apology. He knows
that the Chicago platform. which was
re-afiirmed at Kansas City. menaces
the maintenance Of order and the se-
curity OF property. He knows that this
is the root OF the deep distrust OF the
people. the sufficient condemnation OF
afilrms that II Ia not making war on
the acquisition OF wealth; and that de-
Mai. In the face OF evidence. is con-
cession and a sign-post TO direct the
people once more to the reasons why
the Democratic party II UNIT to rule
and incapable of administering justice.
lie explains at length his action In
vocatng the ratification Of the treaty
with Spain, while rejecting the conse-
auences that now naturally and neces-
sarily fron that act. II is another apoi-
ogyi and the public viii wonder what
has become OF the leader once so ag-
gressiye and now become so cxplana-
tory.
The remainder OF Mr.. Bryan's speech
which Is full % schooi-hoy rhetoric. IN
devoted TO the bogus issue that he
calls imperialism" II will not de-
ceivc child. We do not believe that
there Is one living American cliiscu
who has thought OK federation for en-
p,re MS against republic. one man OF any
party who ls not devoted intensely 70
the Institutions OF the fathers and their
preservation How foolish fan upon
their ears these arguments, applying
90 a condition and danger tina, do
I not exist. that never can exist In the
United States
The Bryanisie eatchwords that have
done duty IN ali his speeches are repeat.
ed here. lie invelghs against "con-
quest" an idea that has never ye, en-
tered the American thought. much less
affected American policy OF action He
Is as fan as ever OF what We are will
ing 20 call inaccuracies. though II that
Do proper he Is strangely ignorant. He
speaks Of compulsory service IN con-
nection with a standing army. knowing
that every man wearing our uniform Is
volunteer. lie says again that "a re-
sVhllc can have no subjects" Jnggilng
win words; since he and all OF us are
sabjNts OF the republic and It's laws
He saNs that Republican leaders pro-
pose 20 deal with the Philippines "nn-
restrained by the constitution and the
bin OF rights" which Is denied fatty In
the great acceptance speech OF Presl-
dent Mckinley. lie says that 'cltisens
Of territory enjoy the same eonstitu-