The Yale expositor., 1900-09-28
Bryan's Pre- ensieus DiSsected
by a Former Supporter.
DcmcCracy's Death Is Prerequisite 10
Any Political Reform, Says George
rutherford, the Popuiisi

ever since that party was formed and
Is well and favorahly known as man
OF high integrity. When giving his rea-
sons for not voting for Bryan this year,
as he did in 1896, Mr.. Rutherford said:
Il severed my connection with the Re
publican party solely on the question of
finance. voting for Peter Cooper in 1876
Since then, till 1896. i uniformly voted,
when voting at all, fer tie presidential
candidate Of the third parry.
Il supported w. j. Bryan four years
ngD because:
Il. lie stood for bimetallism at the
ratio Of 1G to /. demanding also in the
platform that the standard silver dollar
should be a full legal tender, equal with
gold, for all debts public and private
-. The Democratic p&rty, for the first
tire since the Civil Wan, took the affirm
ativc side of the live issues. and we Popu-
lists duped ourselves into the belief that
Mr.. Bryan and his patty really meant IL
for at least, as many years rs five.
80. That party actually named II can
ddatc for President outside of New
York, political heresy they had not dar-
cd to be guilty OF bur twice in thirty-siX
years.
II cannot support Bryan and Steven
son this year for various reasons, some
of which are:
II. They stand f~r 45-cent silver dol
lar BY purposely ieaving out of their
silver plank at Kansas City the legal ten
der clause, their so-callcd silver dollar
shrinks to it's bullion value.
80 Mr.. Bryan said in accepting the
Populist nomination: 1t is true that the
Populists believe in an irredeenlable
greenback, while the Democrats believe
in greenback redecmable in coin.
tom Merit of Salem says: In fishing
for Populsts YOU need no bait. Instead
throw in the naked hook: they will bite
mt anything Bryan and Tom attended
the same school.
''3. Bryan's party relegated to the rear
the silver question by 'paramounting the
bosy imperialism which is II child Of
Bryan's begetting he acting as accouch-
eur in securing the one majority for the
Spanish American treaty. Then he took
the place of wet nurse, having the child
dressed at Kansas City. afterwards car
ried to Indianapolis. and holding the pub
lie wcakling up before the gaze Of his
auditors, he attempts to justify his liai-
son by the following Self-conyicting tcsti-
nOny:
81 believe that we are now in a better
position to wage a successful contest
against Imperialism than we would have
been had the treaty been rejected
HE, not like ST. Paul. would do evil
that good 10 his party might come.
His actions in urging the members OF
his party in the Senate To vote for the
ratification OF that treaty, and his Ian
guagc in justification convicts him be-
yond doubt, To say the least. of duplicity.
That treaty provided for the payment -
$4,000, 600 to Spain for the Philippines.
the United States agreeing TO certain
stipulations, the performance of which
requires ten years from the date of the
ratification of the treaty. \ fight had
occurred between the American soldiers
and the Filipinos two days before the
treaty was ratified; and that treaty con
tains the following section: The civil
rights and political status Of the native
inhabitants Of the territory herein coded
to the United States shall be determined
by Congress-
"All of this Mr.. Bryan knew. yet he
poses as the champion of the ratification
champion anti-imperialist.
II. The Kansas City platform charac-
terizes the Philippine war a. 1t war Of
criminal aggression Mr.. Bryan running
upon that platform said in substance at
Indianapolis: If elected President, my
first act after Inauguration will be to con-
yenc Congress in extraordinary session
and give to the Filipinos q stable and in
dependent government
III Mr. Bryan is a friend Of the Amer
lean soldier, as well rs friend to the
Filipinos, how can he be- consistent in
the Endorsement of that clause of his
platform knowing. as he does that It can
have no other effect than the encourage
ment OF the latter To fight on till after
November 6g
''Ie may Ice able TO reconcile it with
his superintendent love for humanity. cs-
pecially the Democratic portion Of IL. on
tho theory that it puts him and them in
a better position to wage Il successful
war against imperialism than il il was
not i'm the platform.
"Thc Democratic party has the bold ef-
frontery TO talk about the consent Of the
governed when they are the only party
in the United States that has been and
is guilty OF governing people without
their consent, and not long since believed
in the divine right of one man to own
another.
Had IL not been for he TRANSMISSION
OF oxldizcd Populst blood into the veins
Of the Democratic party in 1896 the old
"Reminiscences would have ceased cheating
the undertaken, and sandstone slab
would now be marking the spot " its
everlasting home. Its death i prereqni-
site % any political reform. 1t is the
veritablc dog in the manger. II stands
to-day MS ii has always stood. asininely
and stubb0rnly across the pathway Of
progress.
THE party with which ] have been
identified for nearly twenty-five years has
committed suicide. and ] am. metaphor