Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-11-02

| consistency on his part In fact. OF
late he only mentions 1t when some
one In the audience asks him about II
ana then he drops II like hot potato
with the simple declaration that the
| democratic party favors the free coin.
! age OF silver"
Months before the national conyen.
tion met Mr.. Bryan went down to New
YORK and plead with the leaders OF
Tammany Hall for reunited party.
None OF the leaders. or members OF that
organization have changed their views
on the money question. Not one of
them has ever SO stated, nor has any
one OF them said one word in favor of
silver. Mr.. Bryan does not claim that
they have; no democratic or fusion ora
tor or newspaper claims it. What hope
Is there for silver in such an alliance? !?
But this is not the worst feature OF the
anair 1t is we'll known that Tammany
Is the most corrupt political organiza-
tlon in this country. Such democrats
as Seymour and Tilden preferred de-
feat to association with it. In 1896 the
party split at Chicago and Mr.. Bryan's
speeches and the democratic orators
and press had great deal to say about
the new birth OF the party, the purifi-
cation OF the party. the casting out the
dregs," the kicking out of the goats" :"
ETC., referring always to the corrupt
element OF which Tammany was the
main body. Mr. Bryan was defeated
in 1896. but with his political ambi-
ton still seeking the presidency, he
seeks. and on terms known only to the
few who fixed the plan, obtains an
alliance with this same element. They
are all shouting for Mr.. Bryan now.
Do yoN hear anything from Mr. Croker,
Mr.. Cochran, or any of them on the
silver question? There are other rea-
sons why. as l believe silver repub.
licans and populists should no longer
trust the democratic party on the sill
yer question. They have turned down
every silver republican and given only
few crumbs here and there to the
populists. Principle has been lost sight
OF and their sole endeavor has been to
get as many as possible in position
where their only refuge would be in
the democratic camp. Dubois and
Towne are two Of their victims. Their
followers are few and growing less
daily.
Silver republicans and populists
working independently or combined
can not hope to secure legislation IA
vorable to silver, nor can they reason
ably be expected to continue as a pleas
ant pastime the task of pulling demo
cratic chestnuts from the fire. Some
may feel that it is their duty to do SO.
do not, and have once more inscribed
my name under the old banner.
The morning paper tells us that
there was grand demonstration" in
Madison Square Garden, New York,
yesterday, and Mr.. Bryan was escorted
to the platform by Mr.. Croker. He
was the guest Of Tammany. Is not this
sight to make angels weep? What
there is left of the silver republican
party is in alliance with the democratic
party and its policies and practice, not
reformed party. but reunited"
party
Fellow citizens. l need no other rea-
sons for quitting the silver republican
party. But there are others. Anti
trust and anti-imperialism are now the
war cry of the democratic party If 1
had confidence in their good intentions
and ability to settle the trust question
rightly-Which | have not-and could
agree with them in the settlement OF
the questions and disposition of the
territory acquired in the war with
Spain, l would vote the ticket
AS regards trusts, We have heard
that cry before. Smash the trusts"
said Cleveland and his party; We all
know how faithfully he and his corpo-
ration attorney general performed the
work. The only obstacle placed in the
way of trusts was times so hard that
even trust could not do business sue.
cessfully. and yet that same Richard
Olney. who as attorney general did
porting Bryan and states as his main
reason that he is the enemy OF trusts.
At the time he was in a position to do
something toward suppressing them.
the Sherman Antitrust law was on
the statute books, but not one attempt
was made to enforce it, nor was any
thing done in the way Of legislation to
strengthen it. Every line OF legisla-
tion on the United States statutes to-
day that is against trusts has been
placed there by republican votes and
against the practically solid opposition
of democratic members.
Mr.. Bryan has partially admitted the
lack OF power by congress to enact leg
islation strong enough to control them.
and suggested that constitutional
amendment could be passed IL neces-
sary, granting to congress the needed
power. During the last session bill
for such an amendment was intro
duced. 1t was very strong and in the
judgment of the best attorneys was all
that is needed
1t required a twothirds vote TO pass