The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-07
siblar,a oonveraion Compiled.


pressing Views that are entertained BY
thousands Of honest-minded Democrats
OF the country has been driven out Of
the party controlled by Bryan and his
fatuous followers. This is an exceed
inEly good thing for Mr.. slbley, for in
his communication he carries many
sympathizers with his sentiments with
him. It must be borne On mind that
Mr.. sIbley's revolt from the domination
Of the anti-expausIon, free-silver fanat-
icIsm that has the Democratic party
by the throat. is a very important one.
He was a vigorous supporter Of Bryan
in 1895, and narrowly escaped being
nominated for ce-president with Bry-
an. But being an honest, as well as a
wise man, he has foreseen the evil Of
the Chicago platform, and does not
propose to march on with the simple
and be punished. A man Of wisdom
changes his mind; fool, never.
On the heels Of MI. slbley's renun-
citation. Of Democracy came the inter-
view with the late candidate for vice
president on the Bryan ticket in which
he commended the policy OF the present
administration with regard to our Pa
cific possessions; and in which he also
expressed the opinion that the Democ-
.racy had no show whatever in the COM
ing campaign.
Mr., sibley was elected to Congress on
the Democratic ticket from the Erie,
Pa, district, but he has replied to the
earnest request of Republicans in that
district, giving his assent to a Repub-
llcan nomination next fall, and we have
no doubt that he will be elected. There
is no question about Mr.. sIbley's free
mlndedness In this affair. In the house
of Representatives on Monday he was
tuunted by the Democrats that all the
applause nc received was from the Re-
publican side, to which he replied in the
following language:
Perhaps that is correct, want to
say, Mr.. Chairman, that have been IN
vIted SO many times to take my seat
upon the other side Of the chamber that
II standing by the convictions hold,
IL standing in defense Of all that makes
for higher life and better government,
II standing periodically by my coun-
try and against her open enemies,
makes It necessary for a man to sit on
that side Of the chamber, you can con-
structively place this seat there this
very minute. / want to tell you to-
day that on the floor OF this house you
have said that my position in the past
was one thing, at present another. and
that two years from now It might be
very different. That grant yoH.
hope may ever keep with the living
present rather than with the dead past.
l would rather be true to the present
than consistent with the past. have
been charged with turning my coat
want to tell you that whenever the time
comes that the other side Of my coat
looks better than this side will change
It quicker than any man you ever saw.
/ want to tell you that there Is many a
Democrat who can change his coat and
cover up the rags and tatters he is now
wearing, and present more respect0-
BILE appearance to the public view. II
was prodigal, living on the dry huSks
OF the past, and was compelled to eat
lie LUuuEE WIFI LIE 9hAHG ! ANNtbs anu
quarrel with them for a Bcanty pittRnce,
upon an invitation to a feast and a
clean robe. would leave the husks for
the sake Of the better surroundings else
where afforded, and leave to my friend
from Arkansas, II he chooses, the diet
Of husks.
According to these able remarks the
Democrats made a sorry mess of 1t.
sIbley is not in need Of comfort from
his former Democratic colleagues in
Congress, for he claims that he has re-
ceived kilograms OF congratulation on
his speech last week from Democrats
in forty states, and commenting on this
fact said the Democratic expansion
sentiment was stronger than he had be-
lleved It to be. After all Mr.. sIbley is
only breaking the Ice for u stampede
next November.