New-York tribune., 1900-07-14
RESIDES EREE SILIER.

Those Gold DEMOCRATS who by way or eN-
cuSng desire to vote against Mckinley are
anXiuuSly trying To show that the free silver
plank of the Kansas City platform would prove
of little practical Importance in case of Bryan 5
election are put in an awkward position by Il
letter chiefly relating To other matters which
Mr. Charlton T. Lewis has written to The
Evening Post" Mr. Lewis emphaticaly con-
demned the idea Of third ticket several days
ago. leaving no doubt as to his own attitude
and intentions: but this letter should be useful
in clearing the minds of such as Still hesitate
to recognize the duty which he sees 50 dis
tinctly.
The Kansas City platform" Mr.. Lewis says.
contains some paragraphs which met with OPP
position at least in committee; but the one
''declaration which was mQueStiOned anywhere
(which was universally anticipated and ap-
proved with enthusiasm ana manmity, was
this: We rcattrm and indorse the principles
" of thr National Democratic platform adopted
at Chicago in 1896" That. of course, com
plrtely covers free silver as well as every other
article of the creed proclaimed four years ago,
and the mere citation of it should mOrtify those
who We're So SolictOuS tn have rs to |
declaration omitted either for the sake of fool
ing light minded voters or easing their own con
sciences. But this is not the point that Mr.
Lewis has in mind, The principles of the Chi
cago platform, thus cOmprehensively and ex-
preSsly reatirmed have not been forgotten, he
says, 'at least by the representatives of gen
''uine Democracy, who at Indianapolis on Sep
'tember 3 1896 united in this Judgment of
them The declarations of the Chicago Con
"'vpntion attack individual freedom, the right
" of private contract. the independence of the
"'.iudiciary and the authority of the President
IN nuf obi Indictment
was deliberate and accurate. 1t may he ig-
nored this year by some of those by whom it
was framed and rendered four years ago, but
they cannot refute it Mr.. Lewis does well in
these impressive words to remind all concerned
Of its existence and its binding force upon every
man who sincerely subscribed to it in 1896:
The language in which the forces of disturb
ance and disorder now express themselves is in
some respects smoother and more disguised
than that Of the earlier creed but this only
shows that in a faction led by fanatics and
demagogues its progressive degeneracy has
brought somewhat more influence to the latter
at the expense Of the former No man
foresee what the triumph of such faction
would mean. 1t is an alliance OF the discOn-
tented, rebelliOus and destructive elements Of
the community against orderly progress. If ii
were possible that the Nation should deliberate
ly surrender itself to its control should be
far on the way to political and social chaos.
The only bond Of union which holds together
the revolutionary mob is antagOniSm to existing
rights. interests and institutions AS long as
such a movement continues 10 gain strength
every success intensihes it's radicalism and fury
until. after immeasurable waste and ruin. the
frenzied democracy submits to the ineVita BILE
straitjacket OF despotism. The logical goal Of
BrYaniSm Is worse form of imperialism than
has ever been threatened by the Administra-
tiOn's colonial policy. even in the imagination
OF its EXTREMIST opponents. The American peo-
pie are not the material out OF which French
Mountain or Commune be formed; and the
embryo Jack Cades Robespierres and Marats
OF the Kansas City rebellion will never have
opportunity to mature. They belong to a darker
age and a lower plane Of civilization than ours
Nevertheless, Organism Is now the foremost
enemy OF the Republic, Of social enlightenment
up its head and aims at supremacy the first
duty Of patriotism and wise craftsmanship is to
crush It.
We who are earnestly opposed to conquest
"and cOloniZatiOn." Mr.. Lewis adds "can still
''join in this work" Of crushing Bryanism "and
SHOULD do it with manimity and zeal. in order
that our right to voice In the conduct Of the
Government. when it is saved from this I'm
mediate danger, may be evident" In this sen
tence as we firmly believe. lie signifies an err
roneouS estimate Of the duties imposed upon
the United States by the issue of the war with
Spain, but like Senator IOar and unlike others
with Wnom he has been associated he DOS
sesScS n sense of proportion clearly discerns
the duty that lies nearest and IS resolved TO
perform il. so far as his responsibility extends
happily. there is good reason to believe that
great majority of those Democrats who de-
clared RryaniSm to be detestabe and dangerous
four years ago are still incapable of Joining
'the madmen who are surviving to scuttle the
ship because they do not wholly approve Of
tine course on which it is sailing.
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