The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-24
ubdnOla
HUMOR IN THE CAMPAIGN.
1t Is There, Though People Are TAX
ing Their Politics Seriously.
New York Independent.

New YORK independent.
We notice that the American people are
not only taking their politics this year With
all the seriousness that the importance Of
pending questions suggests. but also seem
inclined to repress sternly their traditional
sense of humor when the many curious and
amusing things i'm the campaign are
brought to their attention. IL is well that
they should argue and mediate: IL is also
well that they should laugh over what may
reasonably provoke laughter. For a long
time there has not been so much 10 laugh
about in a campaign. Take, for example.
Tiilman, of South Carolina, reading so inn
pressively in the Kansas City convention
those declarations of the Democratic plat
form about 1.-The consent of the governed
and that menacing militarism which means
intimidation at home" and the destruction
OF free institutions. Or Mr.. Bryan In an
address OF ten thousand words eloQuentiy
saying to the members of the notification
committee from Louisiana, Mississippi,
South Carolina and North Carolina, that II
Is our duty 10 give the brown man I'm the
Philippines the rights which have been
taken from the black in those States.
Ought there not be an Irresistible appeal
TO the Yankee nations sense of humor in
the profound utterances OF Croker, who
advises that the coinage ratio lie changed
every four years and now urges young
men to support the Imperialism OF Tam
many in order that they may overthrow
that imperialism in the Philippines which
he commended six months ago because IL
gave them a CHANGER" Is there not food
for laughter in this autocratic Bosss sage
remark:
II don't know where we will end II we
keep on going this way. One-man power is
getting TO be serious thing in business
and government.
And his interesting discovery that Spain
recently, and the Roman Empire slong ago
were ruined by TRUSTS not that a jolly
bit of history? How can we help thinking
he. -1,- III
that pocket for which. he said, he il
working all the time'-and the $4,000 in
shares that got into his mayor s. pocket.
and those other shares owned by Deputy
Boss Carroll and the Van Wyck who was
once Cookers candidate for the presidency
on the trust issue? There is an inexhaustf-
bic mine of funny politics i'm Croker and
| Tammany. And the most amusing thing OF
| all is that Croker, who ought TO hs>e an
| lrishman's sense of humor, doesn't know H.
Then, again. there is the dreadful picture
| OF the Canton despot, drawn in startling
| colors by our friends, the anti-imperial-
| lists. At Indianapolis they had him "offer-
| ing an imperial crown TO the American peo-
| ple. and industriously engaged in chang
! ing the republic to an empire" In sonorous
resolutions they denounced his attempt to
| grasp imperial power" oh, this menacing
/ despot who prays half the night and has
| his ear TO the ground all day, trying to find
| out what the people want-the people TO
whom he humbly proffered an imperial
| CROWN There is nothing more amusing in
| the history of American politics than this
| attempt TO make despot out OF William
Mckinley. II we except the published pho
tographs OF Mr. Bryan in patched overalls
| and broken suspenders, husking corn and
feeding his cattle on his farm OF seven su-
burban houselots.
Keller. one OF Cookers commissioners I'm
the misgovernment of New York president
| of his club, and his candidate for the vice
presidency at the Kansas City convention
mournfully predicting before an audience
on the East Side in Cookers little empire
the impending destruction of the grandest
republic the world has ever seem" ex-Sen-
ator Henderson, of Missouri, saying that
the Republic is already gone, denouncing
the government for sending marines 10 the
rescue OF Conger. and seeing with his
minds eye debt OF 81, 600. 900 600 soon TO be
incurred by an inevitable war against
Russia and Germany" the venerable
boutweH solemnly asserting that our ac-
QUESTION of the Philippines was the chief
cause OF the revolution In China" George
Fred Williams warning the farmers OF YER
mont that our kings of industry will i'm
port p,OOV0 Chinese 10 displace as many
American workmen-these outgivings OF
midsummer madness may well provoke
laughter almost inextinguishable
The humorous mind may linger plea mt
| ly for moment upon Mr.. Bryan's explana-
uon That he procured votes for the ratifica-
/ ton OF the Paris treaty TO prevent a con-
tnuation OF the war with Spain. that treaty
having Deen ratified seven months after fha
| destruction of Cervera's feet and six
months after Spain had accepted the PresI-
| cents general terms of peace We would
| not treat with disrespect any reasona bic
ana earnest argument gainst the policy Of
the present government concerning the
| Islands acquired from Spain or against trust
| combinations. but we cannot help thinking
! tnat the specters Of Imperialism and mill
tarism that have been conjured up in this
campaign are laughable rather than alarm-
| Ing TO those who have confidence in the
good sense and patriotism of the America n
! people We may say also that IL the anus
| ing things OF which we have spoken are
| all on one and the same side OF the political
| fence this Is not our fault There are or
| have been on the other side some things
| which invite criticism OF are open 10 "a
charge or inconsistency-such as the work
| of Alger. the change OF mind as 10 s.our
| plain duty in Porto Rico and the adj
| vocacy OF high tariff duties for the protec-
ton OF manufacturers who export and sell
| in foreign countries great quantities OF
their products-but as a rule these do not
| minister TO sense OF humor although
some OF them may excite a sardonfc grin
! 1t Is to the opposition thus far that those
who are humorously inclined must look
| for the amusing side of the Campaign