The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-28

4 am Simply "a OtLllbIAetAI N-SA--'--~ 60
jectiVe, qualification or hyphen-
In 1896 L believed that fidelity TO
Democratic principles, imposed oppOsl-
ton to the Democratic party. There-
fore. I supported the Republican canotl-
date. Ny opposition, however was
confined 10 the platform. To the can
didate there was no objection and there
could have been none. Before MS nom
inatiOn 1 had served four years with
him in congress, and the nlgn opinion
which 1 formed then Of his personal
qualities 1 am glad to say is now held
by the whole American people But MI
Bryan's personal virtues, far from di-
minishing my objection to the platform
on which he stood in 1896, intenSifieS 1t.
Vicious principles are never danger
Gus when supported by vicious or conf
monplace men. It is only when they
enlist the advocacy Of enthusiastic, but
misguided virtue that they become re-
ally formidable
his Opinion of Bryan.
From all This you will perceive that
the reason which led me to regard Mr.
Bryan as a most dangerous candidate
while he represented, what IS believed
to be a virtUOus platform, would lead
me to support him warmly If ne stood
on a sound platform"
DO YOU believe that 8Ir. Bryan can
be persuaded to eliminate the silver
question from the next campaign
Il am very much mistaken in him if
he would be capable Of suppTeSSing, re-
nOuncing OF Disgusting his views on
any question for any reward, even the
presidency of the United States. But
the issues of the campaign do not de-
pend upon Mr.. Bryan or any other
leader. They are fixed by the pre-oe-
cupation Of the electors.
Campaigns are always Waged on the
question which happens to be of chief
interest to the people at the time. IN
This respect the convention has no other
function than to formulate the Cpin-
ion reached by the rank and file Of the
party as Uhe result of individual re-
Election and of local discussions. The
people seldom, if ever, pass upon more
than one issue at a time for the obvious
reason that men who agree upon any
one question are likely 10 differ upon
another and therefore, the paramount
question becomes the decisive issue.
Imperialism or Silver.
THE issue in the next election will
be imperialism or silver; 1t cannot be
both. No matter what platform the
convention may adopt, If it's candidate
were elected the currency OF this coun-
Try could not be reduced 10 a silver
basis for at least four years. The silver
question, therefore, will Tot play a de-.
cisive part in the campaign. A ques-
ton which cannot be decided by the
election caPnOt become one Of its is
sues. The American people have never
waged a presidential contest on an alb
stractiCu. The maintenance of an inn
perialisuc policy or it, abandonment is
the one question which can be decided
and decided fOreyer-by the popular
verdict next November.
There is little doubt that it viii be
rejected if all who condemn it are al
lowed to unite in opposing it, The only
chance of its success lies in the danger
by the injection of a financial discus
sion into the campaign. For my part,
however / believe this issue viii be
presented without any distracting
question to cOmplicate 1t. 1t is incon-
ceivable that under our political sys-
TEN the people should be denied the
right to pass directly upon question
involving the very structure and es-
sonce of our government.
Demands of the People.
while a desire for Mr.. Bryan's re-
nomination appears to be unanimous
in his party the sentiment is still
stronger that the people of this coun-
try should have an opportunity TO vote
squarely upon this policy, which threat
ems to effect d divorce between our flag
and our constitution by unfurling the
one over countries where the other
cannot exist, ana which has already de-
prive0 Us Of that unquestiOned primacy
among civilized nations which we had
achieved during the first glorious cen
fury of our existence
To unite the Democratic party IL is
not necessary that it should repUdiate
any Of its former expressions; that il
should renOunce, suppress or even dis
guise any Of its beliefs. The Demo-
cratic party would be invincible if
recognizing the fact that the silver
question has been postponed by the peO-
pie for at least four years. reaffirming
II necessary. the faith Of the majority
IN the declarations of 90 anC their de
termination to press them whenever an
occasion again arises for obtaining a
popular verdict upon them, realizing
hat this election involves not any one
policy, but the very existence Of demo-
cratic government. the convention
should invite all others who abhOr the
attempt 10 ClOthe this republic in the
JaWdry rags Of imperialism TO cooper
ate in maintaining the territorial integ-
questions affecting the financial integ-
Tity Of the United States 10 be settled
hereafter"
What, then. would be your plat
form?"
Cockran's Platform.
Il would reafirm the declaration Of
independence and go to the people on
that alone. On such a platform the
ID lem r4-nrr1H H.
campaign of 1900 in its issues. its tenn
per and its results Who can doubt
that JeHerSOn's immortal work would
OBTAIN IN 1900 an endorsement as en-
phauc and as salutary as its author
received in 1902"
You are sure that Mr. Bryan him
self insists on the readoptien of the
ShicaSo platform in its entirety?"
have no doubt Mr.. Bryan viii ad-
Nocate that course. and I am equally
confident that he would decline to be q
candidate or to remain in the conven-
Ton II the Chicago platform were re-
puGi2ted directly in words. or Indirect
~ by silence. But I cannot and do not
believe that he would refuse to ACCEPT
the judgment of the convention as to
whether this is the proper time and
occasion for submitting the doctrine
embodied IN that platform 10 the judg
ment Of the people.
If Bryan We1e Elected.
II Mr. Bryan were elected upon a
PLATFORM declaring thar the financial
status quo should be preserved for the
next -FOUR years, 1 have no doubt that
ne would Loyalty ABIDE by il. He
would. Of course, be free to seek re-
eisetioa IN 1904 as an advocate Of free
sliftI. ana If he were Ten0minated on
EUEn FNHfHfersra- Z
again IS earnestly as / did in 1886.
In the meantime. he weald have an