The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-10
KANSAS oITY's MANIFESTO.

KANSAS OITY'S MANIFESTO.
Bryan and Stevenson, free-silver 81
16 to l, anti.imperialism, snti'mili'
tarism, anti.trusts-these are the
chief products Of Kansas City's three
days of toll and sweat.
The candidates present about rs
strong team IS the Democratic
party was able to muster after David
B Hill had doggedly refused to be a
vice. Presidential candidate. The re-
suit in this, as also in certain parts
of the platform, is a little surpris-
ing to the people at large. On the two
very important points-those Of nam
ing the vice. Presidential candidate
and the adoption Of the l6 to l clause
the country at large was entirely"at
sea-" The FREE LANCE has never
doubted for q moment that the party
would unnecessarily handicap itself
by . reiterstion of the ratio, and has
so stated time and again. Our prog
nostication went further and has been
verified in toto. Hill, as We thought
could have been nominated for Sec
ond place but held out steadfsstly tc
the finish. Seeing that he was de-
termined to do this, several issues
ago this paper said that Stevenson oil
Carter Harrison would come in FOL
the honors, and Stevenson it was
Not paper previous to that time
which had come within our vision
had mentioned him, and the people
had almost forgotten that the Demo
cratic party had an ex'vice'P President
living. So astonished were some o.
the delegates at Kansas City wher
his name was mentioned that they ex
claimed, "strsnge; wonder We hadn't
thought of him before"
AdlAi E. Stevenson is q strong mar
and it will be no fault of his if the
ticket goes down in defeat. Con
ditions made Mr.. Bryan the logies
candidate for the head of the
ticket, and conditions would moi
permit the naming Of q stronger
within the party. All but one plank
in the platform will invite the conf
denoe of the party and the free
thinking, independent voters Of the
country. The platform is strong; no
evasion, no equivocstion. We be-
lieve, if victorious, the Democratic
party will sadeavor to carry out its
enuncisted principles to the letter
Its platform is in striking contrast to
the Republican document which has
been termed "a mass of glitterinR
generalities, "snd which We have said
was evidently made to catch votes
and not to stand upon.
SO far, so good, for our Democratic
friends. With all these good points
we fear, nay, we positively believe
and predict, that several things will
conspire to bring about certain defeat
for Bryan and Stevenson. We might
say one thing and not several u
and that is, Mr.. Brysn's autocratiC
dictatorship, as displayed during the
convention. 1t was he who demanded
and caused " 16 to l" to be speci6'
cally alluded to, against the earnest
protest of majority Of his party and
OF the people of the South, North and
East almost unanimously. This in
itself would invite defeat. The Re-
publican party, il necessary to defeat
il, could command millions in money
where the Democrats have not thous'
ands, and, though sad commentary
on the patriotism and integrity of this
country, it is nevertheless true tna'
money will control elections.
Another and very serious mistake
OF Mr.. Bryan's has been his catering
to all dissatisfied political elements,
which has put him into disfsvor with
numbers Of strsight'out Democrats.
he is the nominee of one wing Of the
Populist party, as also Of the SILVER
Republicans. In trucking to this lat
ter element he so far forgot that
he was supposed to be servant,
and not master of the people,
that he is said to have command
cd the convention not to nominate
Hill, when that body was on the verge
Of lassooipg the sage Of Woolfert's
Roost nolens volens, and to have ex.
pressed desire to have Mr.. Towne
nominated, Silver Republican, who
has never claimed to have drop OF
Democratic blood in his veins.
By these autocrstic manifestations
much dissatisfaction and unrest have
found Judgement in the ranks of the
party, and the nomination Of Mr..
Stevenson was, in a measure, a re-
sentiment of his dictatorship.
IT is quite evident that should the
Chinese war progress "pig taip' pro-
tectors will be largely in demand.