New-York tribune., 1900-10-24
DICKINSON ON BRYAN.

Ex-Postmaster- General Dickinson's letter.
which we printed yesterday, is one Of the
most telling arraignments of Organism yet
produced. He is a lifelong Democrat, was a
member of the Cabinet in President Cleve-
lands first AdminiStra ton, and has since
mained on intimate terms with his former
chief When he says, Let no Democrat be
influenced by false reports as to the attitude
lin this crisis of any man whom we have
trusted who, pointing to his record to speak
for him now may deem it unnecessary to
speak again." he clearly refers to Mr.. Cleve-
land and evidently does so with due sense
of his responsibility IN calling attention to the
ex-Presidents views at time when the Demo
cratic managers are seeking from him some
word at least not unfriendly TO Mr.. Bryan. Re
publcanS will be a triie amused to see Mr..
Dickinson pointing in one paragraph to the
Democracy as 1.-The party Of sound finance from
Jefferson to Cleveland" and in another para
graph recalling "the time when greenbacksm
dominated the Democratic party" and warn
ing Democrats that regularity purchased by ad-
hesiOn to wrong policies will, as a blot on their
records, be a curse rather than a benefit to
politicians when the craze for the wrong has
subsided. Nevertheless. his views are so pa
triOtic and sensible that he can be pardoned
the illusion and the inconsistency. He has been
Democracy, and he has a right to protest
against the stealing of the organization by the
Popusts. He is justified in saying that Bryan
ism is not Democracy and has no rightful claim
to Democratic allegiance.
Many Democrats are supporting Mr. McKin-
ley purely because Of the financial question and
in spite of the attitude Of the Republican party
concerning the Philippines, but Mr. Dickinson
does not give the Bryanites the satisfaction of
thinking he is against them merely because of
silver and encouraging them to keep the money
issue in the background in the hope of holding
other gold with talk of imperialism and
trusts. On reading Mr. Dickinson's letter Mr..
Bryan must realize that his recent speeches
have hurt rather than helped him with intelli-
gent men. He may hope by appeals to envy
and hate to gather in the votes of the envious
and hating, but the great body of the people
do not belong to that class and see what Mr..
Dickinson sees in the Bryanite campaign. 1.-The
always dangerous appeal to the evil in human
nature" That Characterization is emphatical-
ly just. Even the topics on which Mr.. Bryan
pretends to appeal to higher nature with his
talk about liberty and the Constitution are dis
cussed in a quibbling, demagogic manner which
stamps assumption of virtue as hypocrisy.
Mr.. Dickinsons disposition of imperialism is
particularly Interesting and effective, especially
in view of the declarations of some other Demo
cratic supporters of President Mckinley show
ing that they had been deuded by the cry, but
not to the extent Of embracing free silver. Mr..
Dickinson is not in the least deluded. He
knows his Democratic history too WELL and up
holds the Republican view of the Constitution
with the same arguments that The Tribune has
frequently employed:
This talk about "despotism and "despots"
nf ntn 1fafa @Ha
of royal powers" governing without the con-
sent of the governed" King George the Third
and the like is not at all new in respect of the
government of unorganized territories Of the
United States All these phrases and epithets
were used and applied to Jefferson and his Ad-
mln1stration of the newly acquired Louisiana
Purchase under the bill signed by him and
drawn by Madison. The same is practically true
Of Florida, when, following the Jefferson prece-
dent, it's government was debated An amend
ment providing that all the principles of the
Constitution be declared to be applicable to the
said territories as paramount acts" was voted
down. Webster indorsed the same theory as to
Florida in 1923. But these Popuists and Boxers
set up sort Of Joss and then desecrate our
saints calendar by labelling 1t St. Jefferson.
What can Mr.. Bryan say to this? The same
facts have frequently been brought to his at
tention but he has way of avoiding facts
stated by Republicans But when a lifelong
Democrat of great influence traces the Repub-
lican policy back to Jefferson and Jackson it
becomes him to take some notice. Mr. Dickin-
sons points are not met by the customary dec
laration that the Republicans plan to found a
monarchy. Such tactics only emphasize the
truth of Mr.. Dickinson's views OF the character
of Bryanism shown in its wicked attempts
to appeal to the base passions and prejudices
Of ignorant people especially of foreign birth.
and plant in them the seeds of discomfort.
hatred and disorder, which some day may bear
terrible fruit for the country.