The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-08-18

SlNe, as unqueStiOnaby il would have
been II the SO called conservatives had
controlled the convention. can anybody
doubt that the Republicans would have
met evasion with evasion and that the
financial issue would be still unsettled
hanging like a sinister shadow over our
industrial system. Mr.. Bryans frank
sincere and uneQuiyOcal advocacy of
the free coinage of silver forced the
republican party reluctantly to de-
clare in favor of the gold standard.
The result was not that which Mr..
Bryan sought: none the less it was
produced by him. Because he was sin
cerely wrong, he forced the Repub-
ncan politicians to become insincerely
right To this sincerity of Mr.. Bryan
the country is indebted for the oppor-
tunity to pass Squarely and decisively
upon the issue Of Imperialism. If the
republic is to be OVerthroWn the as
sault must now be made in the open
light Of day. 1t is no longer possible
TO strange it under cover of mislead-
ing and hypocritical phrases.
In this open fight for liberty surely
every anti-imperialist should be ready
TO bear his part. Hesitation to avail
ourselves of the leadership under
which alone opposition to Imperialism
can be made effective. through distrust
of the leaders, views on an economic
question not now in issue. would be
as senseleSS as hesitation to employ d
surgeon on whose skill depended the
sole prospect of life. through dislike of
his religious beliefs.
1t can hardly be necessary to say
that we, who four years ago sacrificed
our political prospects and personal as
sOCiatiOnS rather than lend even a
passive support of silence to declara-
lions which we believed to be subver-
sive of order, viii pursue the same
-.
ever recur..
The best evidence of our capacity
to deal with the issues of 1902 or 1904
whatever they may be is to deal intelli-
gently now with the issues of 1900. On |
that issue. Mr. Bryan stands for JUS |
tice. liberty and the constitution, and
since all these would be imperiled by |
his defeat. il is to be hoped that the |
liberty convention viii not be swerved |
from supporting him by prejudices |
springing from past antagoniSms or by !
gTOundleSs approximations of the future. |
Yours very sincerely,
Wv. BOURKE COCHRAN.
''To EDWIN BURRITT SMITH, Esq"
The first days session of the liberty
congress was somewhat disappointing
SO far as the attendance of delegates
was concerned. About 300 accredited |
delegates were present and more are
promised for tomorrow In spite OF
the small attendance. the speeches Of
Edwin B. Smith. the temporary chair
man and George s Boutwell,, the
permanent president brought forth
much enthusiasm. The public meeting
in the evening was much better at
tended, and the reading of Bourke
COckran's letter was the signal for
tremendous applause.
But the greatest demonstration of
the session came this evening when
AF.e-
sachusetts and secretary of the treas
ury in the cabinet under President
Grant. concluded his address as chair
man with the declaration that he had !
turned his back on the Republican
party and should support Bryan for !
president. The delegates rose in their I,
seats and rendered the ex-governor an
ovation that lasted several minutes
Tomlinson hall was deliberately decor
lted with American flags. pictures of
Lincoln. jefferson. Thomas
A. Hendricks and Oliver p. Morton. !
Swung directly over the speakers :
platform was an immense banner with )
he following inscription: !
Il speak not Of fOrcible annexation, :
or that cannot be thought of. That |
" our code of morals would be
criminal aggression.
WILLIAM GKINLEY."
Behold a republic standing erect /
With empires all around her bowed be-
eath the weight of their ornaments o
republic whose flag is loved while G
Their flags are only feared.
WIN. J. BRYAN" $
General George Mercer of Philadel- d
hia. called the convention to order at Il
o'clock, presenting Edwin Burritt II
NTH of Chicago as temporary chair s.
ian. Professor A H Tolman of D.
hicago read the declaration of indie Il
Evidence Rev. Herbert s. Bigelow of d'
incinnati invoked the divine blessing o.
D the deliberations of the body, after pi
hich Mr. Smith delivered his address al
which he said: IN
4hii VIM cherish American liberty. IL
/ who believe in the universal appI-
Ltinn Of the principles of the declara- II