The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-09-21
BIASED NEWSPAPERS INCONSISTENCY.
From Bryan's Commoner.

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In It's issue of September 5, the Kansas City Star took Mr., Bryan to
task because of his labor day address. The Star insisted that Mr. Bryan
was shocking on the dark sde" Among other things that newspaper
said:
"LOok at the wealth of This counry-is the division iustP" was one Of
Mr. Bryans interrogaious' No. it Is not just nor can the ds.1ou.onO
wealth be absolutely just under any form of government and with any race
of people Even the sOcalistc doctrine, which aims at ideal cooperation,
ome Jessrve moro, bsD o,hor, Oa osU mss p Ia o'bers Sncb a question
answers itself, but the effect of asking it of The poorer class is o engender
sfeehng among that class against the rcher-and that is moi in accordance
acquire and possess
To say that absolute perfection can not be attained in the distribution
of wealth is no defense of a bad law o a bad system. It should be the aim
Of every good citizen to aid in making the government as nearly perfect as
possible. Each person should receive from society in proportion as he
contributes to socety-ths is the ideal condition and should be
approached as nearly as human ingenuity can devise. Blu: the purpose of
this editorial is not to defend Mr.. Bryan but to call attention to the Stars
Inconsistency.
In Its issue of Wednesday, September 4, the Star made admirable
answer to itself. Under the headline "Wounds of a Friend" the Star had
this to say:
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, said Solomon, the WISE man of
old. Under this head may be classed the utterances of Theodore Roose-
welt in his address at Minneapolis on labor day. Standing out strong and
clear among all Of the declarations which have been made on the subject
1t necessary in the future to shackle cunning, as In the past we have
shacked force :" : . 1.-The vast individual and corporate fortunes, the
vast combinations of capital which have marked the development Of our
industrial system create new conditions and necessiate a change from the
old attitude OF the state and the nation toward property.
"These are direct and pointed sentiments inspired by conditions TO
which no thoughtful and sober minded man can be blind. They are not
uttered in any spirit of Incorporate agitation or with any purpose to excite
false alarm FOR political purposes. They come from an influential member
of the party which capital in modern years has regarded as its chosen
champion. They do not proceed from a person who has excited the ss-
picion of the conservative element BY the radical character of his opinions.
"ln admonlshlng the large capitalists of their duty Mr.. Roosevelt is
speaking to persons with whom he has been lntlmateya associated. He is
prominently identified with the social and political life of the richest COM
esteemed by the so-caled money kings. He could have no possible motive
in wishing to overthrow a fabric which would bring destruction to those
VINO are o the same political household of faith with himself.
"Mr' Roosevelt speaks as a friend to the rich men who re rapidly
gaming control OF the industries and the commerce of The nation. Will 1t
not be infinitely wiser for them to hear him and heed him and follow his
counsel chan to persist in their scheme of seltaggraudizement at the
certain risk OF inviting a violent and implacabe conflict with avowed
enemies, who have none Of tho regard for the rights of capital which Mr..
Roosevelt has always shownP'
Why does the Star publish editorials like this which have the effect
"fo engender a feeling among that class 0he workingmeu) against the
richerP"
Htis wrong for a man who has "excited the Suspicion of the conser.
valve element by the radical character Of his opinions" to utter the senti.
ments which Mr.. Bryan did at Kansas City, is it not all the more wrong
for a 'rhoughtul and sober minded man" like MIR. Roosevelt to give
expression to similar senimentsP
Mr.. Roosevelt said that "we shall find it necessary in the to,ura ,o
shackle cunning as in the past we have shacked force" He wen went so
lar d 10 intimate That 1t would be necessary to make ga change from the
old attitude of the state and the nation toward property;r the very thing
"nch ABOVE a IL Others the republican party has insisted is sacred.
When Mr.. Bryan said things of this character the Kansas Civ Star
SAL" " W a mot in accordance with the democratic spirit of this country
winch gives every man a right to acquire and possess" But when Mr..
Roosevelt said these things this same newspaper cordially commended the
speaker ana warned "te rich men who are rapidly gaining control of the
industries and commerce of the nation" that they will do we'll to hear and
heed and follow the counsel of Theodore Roosevelt.
ms same newspaper warns the trust magnates that they will make a
mistake If they persist in their 'Hcheme of SELF aggrandzement - and that
persistence In that direction will be sat the risk of inviting a violent and
implacabe conflict" ~
Will be observed that the Star points out that the opinions expressed
WI oOse'e" IL not proceed from a person who has caused the ss-
P"on '" 'e serVaI element BY the radical character of his
opinions" and then in the same issue IN which the Star commends Mr.
hoosevelts protest against the trusts it in another editorial sav
William Jennings Bryan, with all his protested hostility for combiua.
sNns against trade' has never said anything In relation to trusts so
Paa' ID uneqniVoca as the utterances of Vice President Roosevelt,
az mnneapons. II the notable political epigrams of the dav must he
auueu q declaration OF Mi. Roosevelt that "we shall find Il necessary in Tho
!uture &c snackle force The whole range of modern democratic ltera.
.We mHgnt oe searched In vain for a pronunclameuto more uraoe
'nan ID a. o % tyrannical Capitalization Of capital
So according to the Stars own statement there ia nora u, bo o,.a,,.,
character" about Mr. RooSevelss opinion than attached to The opinion
OF Mr.. Bryan. Op'"
D' 'ne question is-of what moment iIt who gave utterance to
pfO""S against these 'schemes of geltaggrandHementP" OF what
importance Is 1t whether the protests were uttered bv a man lilo NJ
Diysn' o I'M star says has "excted the suspicion of the conservative
element oy the radical character of his opinions or from Tbeodoro
roosevelt whom this republican organ is pleased to consider "a tbouobt,r,
au minded man'P Is not the Quesnon-.Is it the ,rmh p,- ,bo off
important one IN thu contemplation of such a protest.
HcondiionS warrant such a protest, if the protest il based m ;ustico
au truth, Is the fact in any wise altered whether the protect ia mado hr
Mr.. Bryan or by Mr.. ROOSEVELT
w Is " tnaI' wher a democrat enters protest against uselta ooran
zement, this Kansas City paper finds it necessary to IRON thu. .rob
FO""'H '"o' III accordance with the democratic spirit of this country
""cn gives every man a right to acquire and possess. ~ while wbon
'in"arP protest made by a republican this same Kansas Civ On
Tue very Following day refers to The latter protest as "drect and noin,oa
sentiments inspired by conditions to which no ,bouObtfnl and sohor
lind man nn h. LII nA SSA