The Leon reporter., 1902-06-26
Connnoner Comment.
Extracts From W. J. Bryan's Paper.



AS an illustration of the temper OF
the people, attention is called to
democratic convention in Wayne coun-
ty, Illinois. The committee reported
a series of resolutions that did not
mention the Kansas City platform and
in the noise and confusion usually at
tendant upon conventions, many did
not notice the omission. However, as
soon as attention was called to it the
convention showed it's feelings on the
subject and it only required a mo-
ment's time to add a resolution indors-
ing democratic principles as set forth
in the Kansas City platform, and hav-
ing thus set themselves right the dem
ocrats proceeded to the other business
before the convention. One stalwart
and watchful democrat can thwart the
schemes of the reorganizers in al
most any precinct and few who are
on the alert can usually prevent the
reorganizers from capturing county
convention. The nearer you get to the
voters the less strength the reorgan-
iZers show.
1t is a pity that more of the min
listers do not follow the example set
by Rev. DR.. w. M. Hindman, of Ken
ton, Ohio, in the address, delivered by
him on the last memorial day. After
speaking touchingly and tenderly of
the dead he turned to the future and
pointed out the path of national honor
and duty. Instead of seeing the hand
of providence in the conquering and
dispoiling of helpless people, he de-
clared that nations as we'll as indivi-
duals must be guided by moral prin-
cib1es, and insisted that those moral
| principles could not be violated with
out bringing punishment upon the ma
tion. He said that the people are pa
tiently waiting for the administration
and congress to solve the Philippine
question, and that if they discovered
| that greed instead of principle was to
be the guide, there would go up from
an outraged people "a laundering for
justice and right akin to the thund-
ering on Mt. Sinai."
| In the Courier-J Journal, Henry Wat
terson says: eff it be insisted that
we turn back for platform, why not
to that of 1892 on which we won our
last presidential battle?" A king was
once congratulated upon a triumph he
had won in battle after desperate
| struggle in which the larger portion
| of his army was annihilated. "Anoth-
er victory like that" said the king,
"and my kingdom rs gone." 1t is true
| that in 1892 1--WE won our last presi-
Dental BATTLE" but when the demo
crat recalls the record of the admins
tration elected in '92 he is impressed
with the thought that that was the
most expensive victory that ever came
to political organization.
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa would have us
believe that General Smiths attorney
uttered a falsehood when he admitted
that General Smith had issued the
brutal order. But Mr.. Hepburn be-
lieves that men can tax themselves
rich, that the narrower the finanG9al
base the stronger the financial situa-
ton, and the the Declaration OF In
dependence has not been ignored by
abandoning the principle of consent OF
the governed. This Will explain MT.
Hepburn's position.
Hill and Cleveland are to attend a
harmony meeting in New York. Why
should it seem necessary to harmonic
Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Cleveland? They
have always been in harmony when
ever the interests of Wall street de-
manded harmony Why should Cleve-
land be invited to a democratic meet
ing? Until he expresses an intention
to return to the democratic party there
is no reason why he should be invited
to speak before democrats.
The Chicago Tribune asserts that
there are too many anthracite coal
mines operated, and says: eff the sur
plus laborers were out of the way it
would be possible for the operators to
give the miners at least 200 days Work
in the year at fair wages" Of course
the Tribune knows that if the surplus
laborers were out of the way the op-
orators would import more. That's
one way they have of keeping the
wages down.
Congressman Green of Pennsylvania,
who visited the Philippine islands last
summer, has delivered speech in the
house of representatives setting forth
the evidence collected by him in sup
port of the proposition that the Fill
pinos are capable of self-government.
1t is a convincing document and will
appear in The Commoner in full dur
ing the campaign.
The democrats of Logan county,
Ohio, met at Bellefontaine the other
day and not only indorsed the Kansas
City platform, but instructed their del
egates to the state convention to sup
port no man for state or congressional
honors who is not in full sympathy
with democratic principles as set forth
in said platform" This has the right
ring to it.
A reader of The Commoner calls at