The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-07
SEATTLE, FRIDAY, SEPT. =.
In a Hole.

The attempt 20 put candidate In a
hole is common and not usually very
successful. But when candidate puts
himself in hole. he II not deserving
of sympathy or rescue. This Is the
position OF Mr. Bryan. He was beaten
in 1895 on the financial issue II was
open 10 him 20 admit his error or to
persist In II and take the consequences.
lie persisted. The Kansas City con-
vention declared explicitly for Is to 1
at his demand. against the wishes OF
perhaps majority Of the delegates,
under a threat that Mr.. Bryan would
decline the nomination II his wishes
were not compiled with. Now he Is
trying to shirk the consequences Of
that act.
The correspondence between Secre-
tary Gage and Mr.. Schurx Is absolutely
final as TO the imminent danger TO this
country n Mr., Bryan were to be elect
ed. II is true. as the Post-Intelligencer
pointed out long ago and as Mr.. Gage
has shown. that a secretary OF the
treasury whom Mr. Bryan might select
could bring the country TO a silver ba-
sis by paying interest on the public
debt and other expenses in silver. The
only reply that Mr. schurx has 70
make In that Republican congress
might enact such legislation az would
prevent 1t. We do not think this IL
true. for no legislation could guard
every point against determined exec
utive. But even II II were true. con-
slider for one moment the position In
asks sound money men TO vote for
Bryan. knowing that he would wreck
the country financially. and throws
upon the opposite party the burden of
preventing him from carrying out his
previously announced policy The
proposition Is one that we should not
expect 60 hear outside Of msdhouse.
The issue which calls forth this cor
respondencc Ia the desperate desire Of
Mr. BRYAN and his friends TO secure the
votes OF believers In sound money.
without these. he and they know that
he cannot he elected, The vote In 1895
Is conclusive Of that Moreover, their
anxiety In the premises declares very
clearly what they consider the para
mount" issue. They may chatter about
imperialism" IA much as they please.
bot the effort now being put forth TO
show that a sound money man may
eonsclsntiously cast BRYAN ballot
shows that they know and tear the real
issue--whlch Is the same as four years
ago. That. however. they should have
considered before the Kansas City plat
form was adopted.
Il Is established that Mr. Bryan a.
president could destroy the gold stand
ard ~ he would II Is equally CertalF
tina, be woula II he could, Mfr Gag,
quotes the now famous speech in whiot
he said. ~ there Is any enc who be
ueves that the gold standard Is gsoI
thing or that u must be maintained
warn him NOT 10 cast his vote for me
because promise him q VIII not b
maintained Ia this country LANCER thar
am able 70 set rid Of a." THIS dec
laration Ia ot record, Il has never bae'
d,sayowed, A representative " IN
New York Herald has Interviewed Nj
Ryan and pu; 20 him the direct ques
ton whether. a. president he would Al
tack the kold standard by paying ma
Sionai obligations IN silver. His answe
was. SAY tina, MIR Bryan declines TO b
interviewed on the subject"
A bold man and frank man, this,
no not2 sincerity ard courage arc IN
qualities that his admirers claim Il
him. II he possesses either. Why thl
resieenee9 He knows that IL he SAL
yes, he would lose the vote OF ever
Gold Democrat. and II he said, no, h