The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-10
SEATTLE. TUESDAY, JULY 10.


The general acquiescence OF the two
great political parties IN the choice Of
candidates prior to the meeting Of their
conventions this year lends additional
weight to the PLATFORMS on which they
appeal 10 the people. The personal
character OF william Mckinley and
william ]. Bryan viii not be assailed.
Both are men Of pure life. Both have
run the gauntlet OF national cam
paign. The Issue Is Joined about the
principles which they represent. and
those principles VIII be found embodied
with unusual care and explicitness In
the party platforms. These VIII there
fore have conspicuous place in the
campaign and deserve a careful scru-
tiny.
In this respec, Mr.. Bryan is under an
embarrassment which would discour-
age a less versatile gentleman. q po-
litical lIghtning-chanee artist less ia
miliar with his role. The difficulty OF
sitting on two stools has passed into
proverb. and no one has yet succeeded
In riding at the same time two horses
going In different directions. Mr.. Bryan
steeds are charging furiously away
from his agile limbs He is the nominee
Of the Sioux Falls convention; and I'M
less he declines that nomination. which
ne will not. he must accept the Popu-
list platform. He II the nominee OF the
so-caiied Democratic convention at
Kansas City. ana its platform Is his
own, That body also reaf'irmed the
Chicago platform of 1896. and II is the
gospel from which he draws his 0ssplra-
ton. He must md harmony between
the three. A comparison of this trim
ity OF Popuiist creeds win show his diff
ncuh position. A comparison OF any
one OF them with the Republican plat
form win ofYer 90 the voter abundant
opportunity for the exercise OF inteiii-
gent and patriotic choice.
From time TO time the Post -InteilI-
ample platform literature thus offered.
II begins with what IL at bottom the
most serious difference between the
parties. namely, the preservation Of or
derby government under the oonstitu
ton. This Is fundamental II should
take precedence Of the trusts. OF i'm
pcriaiism," even Of the financial aues-
ton. For u Ia obvious that the exist
enec Of a government OF law and order
ls the nFst object OF the institution Of
any government at all. that tariffs and
trusts and money ana expansion must
he considered before. not after. we
have decided whether the United states
IL to be a government of law or chaos
Of disorder; whether we are to have the
or the rule Of the majority. admins
tered by the executive ard enforced ua.
DEF proper penalties by the courts This
Is tbs paramount issue NOW, as It was
IN iSes
The Democratic PARTY. by rcaftrming
the Chicago platform. stands Ter the
suhverslon of the courts aud tho non
interference % pablle authorities with
acts % public disturbance. personal vtO-
lence and thc des;ructiaa ~ private
property The Chicago platform SAYS
tn effect that the courts shaulA bend
their decisions 60 the wh.ms of lexis-
lAtures, ard that " they refuse 90 do
th,s they should De reconstructed SO
compel obedience rAr Income tax
plank was omitteL at Kansas city
Questioned s6e9t thiS oversight Mr.
Hyan rrfcrs 90 the plank sn the Chi-
csgo platform as reafirmed That
plank demands that congress shah use
all the power lclt 20 It ~ the decision
q the supreme court. "cr which NAV
come from It's reversal by the supreme
court as u may heres ttev - constiiut-
ed" 20 secure an income tax The ref
sT~nce 20 the proper method 81 coerclnS
the supreme court IS too plain TO be
misunderstood
But there is more vital feature. Is
the authority Of the government TO be