The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-17


determined by the national convention
at Kansas City. In view Of the con-
vention's actions, 81 rests with the
Populis.s and Silver Republicans to
determine their duty toward the Dem
ocratic party. It wss without doubt
the hope Of the advance reiormers that
Mr.. Towne might be accepted for the
vice presidency, and it is natural that
personal disappointment should find
frat expression among the Populists
and Silver Republican allies of the
Democracy. But their s>cond thought
must inevitably be-what is the broad
and patriotic duty OF every man who
wishes 70 emphasize bis protest against
the evils whicn McKinleyism has foist-
ed upon this republi
1t must be considered whether the
democracy has so placed itself that it
may command the confidence of the
reform forces in this campaign. 1t was
that Populists and Silver Republicans
expected the test to be made by which
the Silver Republicans and Populists
might determine their duty. But IL is
happened that the test came in an en-
tirely different form. and the issue up
on which the battle was fought be-
tween the bimetallists and the so-call~
ed conservative elements was made up
in the division of the committee on
resolutions upon the inclusion or the
exclusion of the specific declaration Of
the Chicago platform upon the coinage
of silver at the ratio of IS 10 /. The
issue was determined after a battle
royal, in which no one will deny
that the so-called conservative
elements had every practical
advantage; yet, after one of the
greatest discussions which has been
known ia the history of American pol
itics, the bimeta.lists won the victory,
and it was decided that Mr.. Bryan
should 90 to the people without apol-
ogy for the principles aud the policies
upon which the reform forces were
aligned in 1896.
Is it not now the duty of the Popu
lists and Silver Republicans 20 accept
this invitation TO trust their principles
to the leadership of Mr.. Bryan and his
party, and to regard Mr.. Townes de-
feat as an after event, not crucial in
its nature, bat insignificant as com
pared with the fundamental character
Of the contest upon the platform? The
question for every Populist and Silver
Republican TO now determine is
whether he will desert or embarrass
Mr.. Bryan, who so bravely made this
issue, and whether the Democratic
party is not absolutely entitled by
virtue Of it's decision TO the co-opera-
tion of all the reform forces. We crit
icised the gold Democrats in 1896 for
their sulking, Indifference and desar~
/ tion on account Of the radical de-
parture of the Democracy in that year.
What shall be said of the Porulists
and Silver Republicans who even hes
itate in their allegiance to Mr.. Bryan
and the Democracy, now that the
great battle has been forced end it
has been determined that no back
ward step shall be taken in this cam
paign?
The Omaha World Herald, published
by Gilbert Hitchcock, who stands close
to Bryan, in discussing the attitude Of
/ the Democratic allies, says:
1t should be considered that it was
not for the Peoples party nor for the
Silver Republicans to determine how
all the issues should be made, and they
ought not to withdraw their confidence
an d support because Mr.. Bryan chose
to force the question upon the repeti-
tion of the free coinage declaration
rather than upon the nomination Of
Mr. Towne Had Mr.. Towne been
nominated il would have unnecessarily y
emphasized the defeat which the con-
servative forces suffered in the con
vention, and would have uttered un.
necessary defiance TO thousands Of
voters who are ready TO join us next
November in,rebuking the Repu blican
administration. Mr.. Bryan and his
forces which won the victory upon the
platform had moral right TO feel
confident that that victory would suf-
| dce as a guarantee TO the Populists