New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-03
THE HONEY POWER.

What Is this news which comes from Wash
ington. that stronghold of imperialism. trusts
and special privilege? Let Mr.. Bryan take
notice The equality Of citizens before the law
is trampled under foot. Favoritism sits en-
throned. servant OF the people-their hired
man, as Mr.. Bryan would says treated as
noble for whom the criminal laws may be
waived Such undemocratic practices-such OF
course. as are TO be expected In the progress of
empire and despotlsm-deserve and we are sure
will receive the attention of the great champion
of true and pure Jeffersoniansm. whatever that
mav be among all the inconsistent policies for
which Thomas jefferson can be quoted rs
authority A good. rousing leader from Mr..
BRYAN on our ariStOcratic tendencies, as Illus
trated in the courts Of the District of Columbia,
IS in order We are not sure hut that II would
strike the needed keynote for n Democratic
campaign. for certainly there is nothing dearcr
TO the popular heart than equality before the
law The people may endure the notion that
far off Filpinos are governed without their con
sent, that combinations of capital secure more
than a fair share OF this worlds goods that
foreign monarchs like the King of Spain are
treated with courtesy by our government when
they are crowned But when they face the fact
that judges smile at the aristocrats, and prose
cutors fail to plead against them for crimes for
which common people would be put In prison,
they are likely TO realize that liberty is at stake
and act accordingly.
Therefore let Mr.. Bryan contemplate the case
of fernando De Soto Money. He Is arlstO-
crat a Senator OF the United States, a member
of that "Millionaires Club" which Mr.. Bryan's
friends so often complain of as standing be
tween the sovereign people and their desires
This same fernando De Soto Money few days
ago with the superiority TO rules made for COM
mon folks which Mr. Bryan deplOres insisted
on riding in n streetcar without paying his fare
or showing transfer ticket. The conductor, a
rude person a commOner said that, If he would
neither pay fare show transfer ticket, he
must get Off The dignitary had no sword to
draw, but on this he drew his penknife. Then
some policemen, who must have been true dem
ocrats, overlooked. somehow, when every branch
of the government was being hOneycOmbed with
mlnions of deSpotism-these true democratic pO-
licemen, we say, interfered and dragged the
aristocrat to court on a charge of assault. But,
10 and behold! In court his standing is recog-
nized Special privilege is respected. The
prosecutor decides that he will not try to punish
the Honorable Senator Money of the Million
aires Club" for drawing a knife on one OF the
common people.
Now, Mr.. Bryan knows that If any corner
grocer or day laborer had drawn knife I'm a
streetcar and resisted n conductor who demanded
that he pay fare. show a transfer or get off,
that grocer or labOrer would have been sent
TO Jail. There would have been no request from
the District Attorney to the court for permits
sion to 'nolle' in his case. Let the good Demo-
Gratis of the country arouse themselves. Let the
free and equal people of Mississippi ask them
selves. Upon what meat does this our Money
feed that he is grown so great We have heard
much of late about the growth of the Money
power. which was making our old liberty and
| equality empty phrase Now we see it
] actually at it's nefarious work. Down with the
rule OF Money. Give the people back their
| freedom!