Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-14
DIVEsTED or ITS THORN.
The "Crown of Gold" Not az Danger
Gus as II Looked.

Brooklyn Eagle Gnd dem.)
The Omaha speech (of Colonel Bryan in
cluded sentence which was startling-"we
must later determine whether we have a
supply OF gold large enough to make silver
coinage unnecessary" All things have an
end. Four years ago gold was Staying it's
tens of thousands now the question is
whether the country really has enough of
It If 1t has, our fresides and our families
are all right. II 1t has, the crown has
been divested of its thorns. So there is a
clearly discernible sign of convalescence in
the matter Of the demi dollar. Bryan wants
more of what he would not have at any
price. He wants plenty of the cross.
Being assured of enough of 1t, he will
throw free silver to the dogs. This is a
sign of returning sanity, but 1t has been
lCng deferred IL is not altogether reas>
suring. The silver issue was worked not
only for all it was worth, but until it be-
, came positively worthless. Not until 1t
became absolutely valueess politically did
Bryan say a word suggesting the idea that
he was waverng in his faith. He is shelv-
| ing the heresy not because 1t Is a heresy.
but because 1t can no longer be Of any
sort of service. Talk OF a supply OF gold
large enough to make silver coinage un-
necessary is the sheerest drivel. There has
been no sudden increase OF the output since
Kansas City convention days. AS "a matter
of fact, the shoe is constructively on the
other foot the Transvaal war having ma /.
terially restricted gold mining operations
on a large scale in South Africa The
Omaha banqueters listened not to Bryan
the economist, but to Bryan the politician.
| He is beginning to stand from under
AS to the lofty strain, It is a trife too
| exalted. 1t may be fact that some OF
those who voted the republican ticket are
not fit to live. Tillman may go home and
| tell his people that he met men in Nebraska
who deserve to survive for the reason that
| they prefer to die giving their adherence
to Nebraskan principles, Heroics OF this
sort cross the line dividing the sublime
| from the ridiculous. They get on the
wrong side of il. They are food for gudge
ons and not fattening food at that. Bryan
supporters have not been asked to consult
! their preferences and die. 1t is doubtful
whether any such preferences have occurred
to them. II they have, they are men
tally dsordered. Party choice is not a
matter of life and death Too often il is o
matter less of reason than of habit. Toe
often il is a matter less of concern for the
countrys welfare than of political am
bition. The Omaha classification Is a
characteristic Organism. It separates those
who are fit to live and those who are not
The test OF fitness is belief in Bryanism
The evidence OF unfitness Is unbelief AnC
the logic OF it is that more than sever
millions have impeached their claim upor
existence. Bryan has never been accused
of an excess OF modesty, but he has nov
reached what must be recognized as tn,
limit. The man who says that only thos,
who share his political belief are 1T to Iiy,
is not in need of the services OF a genera
practitioner. A specialist would serve hi,
purposes.