The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-07
MFR. Olney Locks Arms with Altgeld.

The correspondent who drew from the
Hon. RICHARD OLSEY n public statement
of lis reasons for desiring the defeat Of
McKGNLRY and the election OF BRYAN did
not render Mr, OLNEY a personal service,
II there were good reasons warranting
@ man like OLSEY In ranging himself with
LLrGEID on the side Of BbYAS this year,
nobody in America would be more capable
Of stating those reasons In al inpelligihle
and forcible, II not q convincing nner
The fact that he fails 20 be either ~intelligible
or forcble Is the only answer really re-
quired by his mn argument. The labored
weakness Of this surprising document, its
evidently conscious evasion and suppres-
sion Of the main factors. the scattering
and hay array Of prete1ts for doins the
wrong thing, and the awful, pitiable error
Of logic which fairly Jumps at your eyes
out Of his written words, are not character
istic Of the bold mind that shaped the Fed
eral policy at the time Of the Chicago riots
I'm 1894, or that produced the Venezuela
message Of CLEvEIAND's second term.
The friends of Mr.. oLSEr can hardly
avoid the conclusion. after reading his
letter. that It's purpose Is not TO ascertain
by candid examination TIM duty Of good
citizenship. but to present any and every
colorado excuse for lodging duty for the
, sake of self-satisfaction In the mere mat
ter OF political nd .eLciatdre.
We shall consider Nj. OLNEY's letter In
detail 40 far us Is necessary TO justify the
foregoing general remarks about its char
aoter and purpose.
From beginning TO end there Is NOT one
word concerning the vital issue Of the pres
ent campaign. the maintenance Of the gold
! standard and the preservation Of the ma
tons good faith n It's creditors. There
Is not one word, either. about hat particu-
lar aspect OF Bryanism which commands
tho hearttast approval of NIGEL and
all the socialist and anarchist wing Of the
party. On both of these ISSUES Mr.. OLSrr's
record IA too distinct TO encourage the
s,lpposition that his adherence OF free
silver at sixteen TO one has weakened. or
that he has lost interest in that assault on
the supremacy of law which he himself
encountered and resisted 50 cuura4eously
in The days Of DEBs. Yet he is absolutely
dumb on both subjects. II they appear
Indirectly In his estimate ~ present political
conditions, IL IS only " Incidental and un-
important differences Of opinion between
himself and BRYAN. Perfection In a eau
| didate or PLATFORM be pleads. " is an idle
dream. and inirmitcs in It's creed and
defects IN it's leadership win always char
a~nterize every party
Ia It conceivable that this IL tho Hon. RICH
AKD OLSEY Speaking? Altgodism, the pro-
Tossed intention to overthrow tho barriers
-hlch the power Of the Federal courts inter
poses against organized disorder. is q more
= inflrmity Of creed not 20 be taken into &C.
nous account by the man who was Attorney
General at the time Of the Chicago riots!
Republication and national dishopor RS repre-
scented by BRYAN, the candidate who has
declared that the gold standard " viii not
he maintained In this country longer than
! avn ahle 70 get rid Of It are no more Than
a mere falling short Of perfection In
BRYAN Gs a neutrality-suspicious. which
Il would be an Idle dream TO expect!
Mr.. OLNEY's shAme-faced evasion Of
The main issue seems 10 US less respectable.
morally and intellectually, than CARL
ScHURz's treatment Of the same queetion.
Nr. SCBUR2 and his immediate followers
alege imperialism as an o~vershadoving
tsue Of such tremendous Consequence that
they are willing to pay even the " pnoe
Of q panic 70 saw the country from
CRsAR. Mr.. oLSEY. on the other hand.
dbmissss free silver at sixteen to ons
without even msnuopins 1t, lumpdng IL
with other minor differences OF ~oufr4c,
which may be overlooked by any Demo,ra,
9 -io,s to remain With his party.
Nor has he any paramount issue to set
~ above the question Of honest money.
lmpsrialism II not an available prscut
now Tor the expansionist statesman who