The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-14
THE REAL ISSUE OF 1900.

IN the current number Of the North
American Review, Mr.. w. J. Bryan
has a most interesting article ''The
Issue in the Presidential Campaign"
His first sentence gives the gist of the
whole political situation as II viii be
presented to the voter this fan. 'Trhe
issue presented in the campaign of
1900" says Mr.. Bryan, sis the issue
between plutccracy and democracy. All
the questions under discussion will, in
their last analysis, disclose the con-
fiict between the dollar and the man
a conflict as old as the human race
and one which viii continue as long
as the human race endures.
Outside of the most ardent partisans
few viii question the accuracy of this
statement. and the author gives the
history Of this administration in proof
of his declaration that the Republican
party is now aligned on the side Of
plutocracy. But the thing that arouses
me ire of Mr.. Bryan's opponents. and
the local organ of Mr. Hanna in par
ticular, is his citation of Benjamin
Franklin. Andrew jackson, Henry
Clay. John Quincy Adams and Abra-
ham Lincoln against the policies Of i'm
perialism, and the exaltation Of capt
tai at the expense of the common peo-
pie.
1t is, of course. embarrassing for
modern Republicans TO be reminded of
the views of Lincoln as applied 20 the
present attitude Of their party, and
they have taken TO abusing Mr..
Br1s4n as ralief from their dilemma.
The local mouth-Diece of the admins
tration even goes to the extent o. as
sorting that Mr.. Bryan appeals to
the avarice, the envy, the spites ana
the fears of the people, and these the
American people viii not be moved
by" All this because he quotes Lin
coins words on the tendency to place
eapitaI on an equal footing with if not
above labor in the structure of govern
ments.
It is the exact application of that
warning TO the present condition of the
Republican party that makes its de-
tenders frantic. Another ant quotation
from Lincoln is used in the discussion
IF the Philippine question. in which the
great emancipation. talking of the ex-
cuses made for kingly rule as against
liberty, says: Kings always bestride
the necks of the people. not because
hey desire to do so, but because the
people are better of for being ridden. %
Ia view Of the apologies made for
denying any promise of ultimate self
government to the Filipinos. it is not
remarkable that the imperiaHsts OBJ
ject to having these words of Lincoln
quoted.
On the Boer question. Mr.. Bryan
turns TO a man who was once supposed
TO be good authority on the doctrines
enunciated in the Declaration Of In
uependence-Jo Quincy Adams. An
gwering the question as to what
America has done for mankind, Adams
SAYS:
America, with the same voice which
spoke herself into existence as a nation
proclaimed TO mankind the ineXtinguish-
able rights of human nature and the only
lawful fOunud ions or government
Wherever the standard of independence
or freedom has been or shall be unfurled
there viii her heart her benediction and
her prayers be.
Adams evidently did not fOresee the
day when the president OF the United
States and his party leaders would
exert every effort to prevent national
expression of sympathy for a people
fighting TO preserve their independence
No wonder the party in power dis
likes to be reminded OF its own trad
itions; no wonder it is alarmed at the
growing tendency toward a revival Of
the Declaration of Independence as a
national guide; no wonder its sponsors
shout traitor" at the great leader OF
the people who prefers the rights OF
The people to the reign Of plutocracy
They have every reason to dislike hin
and his teachings, for his certain tri-
umph means the end Of their DONNA
ton and a return 10 a government Of
the people by the people and for tbs
people.