The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-06

Bryan and His Hippodrome.

The nomination OF William J. Bryan
by the so-called Democrats at Kansas
City yesterday carried with II. OF course.
no elements OF surprise. For this he
has planned and to this end devoted his
1abors for four long years The
country has been treated to the unfa-
miliar sight OF man whose entire oc-
cupation and means OF support was run
ming for the presidency between cleo
lions. While the rest OF the people
were at work helping the return OF
prosperity. Mr.. Bryan has visited state
after state, made speech after speech.
and everywhere adjusted the maehin-
cry so that none but hs friends could
hold representative positions within the
party. Freedom of thought and action
have been virtually suppressed by this
tireless eampaigner: who has introduced
into American politics more OF the i'm
perial tone and spirit than they ever
knew before. As result OF his labors
and his despotIc power over his party, II
went to Kansas City utterly without lib
erty OF action; mere machine to reg
ister the wishes OF its dictator.
II Is not wonderful that when men
thus abdicate their independence OF
judgment and liberty of action. they run
into follies and excuses. IL Is no ex-
aggeratlon to say that the Kansas City
delegates exceeded all records and COM
passed the inimitable. For absurdty.
for childshness. for qualification. there
never was the like OF this convention.
]. burst into furious energy over trines.
since essentials We're not permitted to
enter its sphere OF activity. II COM
mitted Itself passionately TO the most
obvious and ridiculous contradictions.
II worked Itself into passion over the
difference between tweedledum and
twecdledce. Any man who. without
partisan feeling, sets Its performances
In the cold light OF well-known facts.
must monder II this was gather
ing of the delegates u once powerful
ana respected party or conclave OF
madmen.
Two Illustrations OF It's contempt of
sanity are enough. At the instance Of
Mr.. Croker, Augustus Van wyck was
seiected as New York's representative
ON the resolutions committee. II IL a
place 81 great importance. because New
York state expects and enjoyed. until
Nebraska became the United States Of
Democracy. great influence IN shaping
the platform To humillate David Il.
unl. he was rejected. which Ia natural
enough. Hut the appointment OF Van
wyck covers Democratic protestations
with slssuriity The party has anuounc-
ed opposition 10 the trusts as one q
the principal planks In is platform. Au-
sustus Van wyck Is a large holder o.
the stoCk OF thu Infamous New YORK Ice
Trust, With rs stock Tn his pocket he
made a vigorous antitrust speech be-
fcre the Commercial Travellers ssso-
Z citation. and no man has been denounced
more bitterly or more deserN aaly cor
his grNed. hypocrisy and defiance -
eommoa deccncy This 's Ihc man VII so
name was signed to tAe antitrust
plank In the Kansas city platform: Who
may possibly have had tho pleasure %
writing 1t. In the Intervals of axurins
uP his proa,s on lee Trus, stock
But the center ring in this marvellous
hippodrcmo was devoted 20 the is u l
Performance. The equal of this the
American people have never scca. We
are familiar With hrSted and acrtmo-
NOUS discussion % party principles az
national conventions The Democracy
itself has been rent by the nShi. in pas,
days, over a choico between "tarin fcg
revenue only and tariff for revenue