The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-24
asIx DOLLARS REWARD.

"SIX DOLLARS REWARD"
Mr.. Bryan was in the East last week.
lie spent two OF three days in New York
| and day or two in Philadelphia, gath
ering information with respect to the
publishing business, to be made use of
1 ia the office Of his weekly journal, the
! Commoner. But notwithstanding he was
| giving more attention than usual to the
! financial side of his journalistic venture,
Nj. Bryan found time TO pay his respects,
through the columns Of the Commoner,
TO the Hon. Grover Cleveland. in the mat
ter Of a recent letter by Mr.. Cleveland
q political affairs.
Mr. Bryan doesn't like Mr.. Cleveland.
He regards the ex-President as being an
unfit person to counsel and advise the
Democracy. Indeed, he refers to him as
a distinguished ex-Democrat," and
sarcastically offers a reward" of 8 to
Mr.. Cleveland, or anybody who can Sc
cure his signature. for an article explain
ing what he meant in his letter. The
Commoner goes on to say; Mr.. Cleve-
land and his political associates are long
on high sounding phrases. but short on
definitions. If Mr.. Cleveland's recent ad-
monition had been spoken, instead Of
written. it might have been explained by
a wink or a gesture suggesting that he
himself was the embodiment of the prin-
ciples to which the party should return.
but when the words appear in cold type
they require a key
Then follows the offer of five dollars
reward" for "a written statement, not to
exceed five hundred words. signed by Mr..
Cleveland. applying Democratic princi-
pies, as he understands them, TO at least
five questions now before the country"
This is coupled with another reward"
Of one dollar for a signed statement by
Mr.. Cleveland, explaining why he con-
sidered his opinion on public questions of
no Importance during the recent cam
paign. but regards such opinions as i'm
portant now"
Mr.. Bryan continues to resent Mr..
Clevelsnd's non-interference during the
last campaign. At that time, he says. the
battle was between a republic and an EN-
pire-between a democracy and plu-
tocracy-and Mr.. Cleveland refused 10 say
a word. But, "as soon as the election was
over ne came forth from his seclusion and
made the air vocal with his suggestions.
Assuming to be inspired by purer Dem
ocracy and boasting of a superior virtue,
he began TO offer unsolicited advice to
the party to which he once belonged. He
is like the soldier who was described as
invisible in war and invincible in
peace"
This is sufficient to show the state Of
mind Of the eminent Nebraskan with re-
spect to the eminent New Jerseyite. Mr.
Bryan is convinced that no good can come
out Of Cleveland; and no doubt the lat
ter is similarly convinced with regard to
the former The matter as it now stands
offers a good opportunity for a contro-
versy between the man who was twice
A President, and the man who was twice
a presidential candidate. But it may be
doubted that Mr.. Cleveland win reply. If
he were to do so, the cross-fring between
the two gentlemen might furnish some
good reading, but it is not likely that it
would be attended with any important
results. For political purposes, both Mr..
Cleveland and Mr.. Bryan are back num-
bers. They are respected by their fellow
countrymen for their intrinsic worth But
the time is past for either of them to d.
rect public opinion and lead a great party
4
cratic party goes into it's next national
tight it will be neither "Bryanite" nor
"Clevelandite," but the plain, unqualified,
winning Democracy, the party of the peo-
pie