Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-23
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN.
ARCHY, IN THE COMMONER.
Republican Policies and Republican Practices
Have Contributed More to the Conditions That
Produced CzoIsosz Than Anything Urged or
Defended by the Democratic Party.

Defenoeo ny the Democratic Party.
When congress is called upon to con-
slider measures aimed at the suppression
of anai chy there will probably be some
discussion OF the causes which produce
anarchy, and if the republican members
of congress follow the example set by
republican editors, they will attempt to
place upon the democratic party respon-
siblity for recent manifestations of the
anarchistic spirit in the United States.
If such a charge is made it must not only
be met blythe democrats, but it should
be met with arguments which will show
that the real cause of anarchy is to be
found in republican policies rather than
democratic speeches.
Republican papers are in the habit of
charging the democrats with rousing
passions and string up hatred, malice
and envy. Anarchy is protest against
all forms of government. and no demo-
crat has said anything or done anything
to give encouragement to that doctrine.
The democrats believe in government,
and they show their love of government
by trying so to improve it that it will
command the confidence of all the
people. The physician who suggests
rules for health and applies restoratives
in sickness is better friend than the
one who encourages dissipation and
SCOTS at the approach of disease.
Republican papers are in the habit Of
charging democrats with stirring up class
prejudice and hatred. This would be a
serious charge if founded upon fact, and
it raises the question: Is it wrong to
criticise public official, or to point out
the evil effects of policy? If so, how
is reform to be accomplished? Must we
assume that the president not only can
do no wrong, but can make no mistake?
When the Wilson bill was passed re-
publican papers all over the country
claimed that mills were closed, that men
were thrown out of employment, and
that restitution and starvation were
brought to tens of thousands of people.
If some man out of work had taken a
notion to kill the author Of the bill, the
congressman and senators who voted fol
it, or the president who permitted it tC
become law and then enforced it's pro.
visions, would the republican editors
have been morally responsible for the
assassination?
The republican newspaper and speak
ers charged that the panic OF 1898 was
due to the agitation of the money ques
ton. That panic broke up business
men, suspended enterprises and largely
increased the necessity OF charity.
some one who suffered by the panic had
undertaken to avenge himself by killing
the advocates of bimetallism, would the
republican editors have been morally
responsible for the act?
The New York Sun recently declared
that the owe, throw of trusts would cause
terrible disasters and the same charge
has been made by other republican
papers. Suppose some man who ha
faith in the judgement of the editor o
the Sun undertakes to prevent the pre-
dicted calamity by killing the men wh'
are trying to exterminate the trusts
will the Sun be responsible for the act
No rule is sound which is not of gen
eral application. If the democrats mus
abstain from criticism for fear SOM
ignorant or vicious man may resort t,
force instead of the ballot to correct tn
wrong, the rule must apply to republi
cans as well, and we must suspend en-
tirely the discussion OF trust questions
The republicans say that the democrat
attempt to array class against class. Ii
the first place this is untrue in the sens
in which the republicans use the term
and in the second place every edito
who makes this charge is more guilt
than those whom. he accuses. The re
pub!icans coined the phrases, "hom
industries. and "infant industries
they have appealedto the manufacturer
as CLASS anu COllcClcl ldISc CdIl pay
funds.from them on the ground that the
are specially interested in republica
policies. They have constantly arraye
the interest of one portion of the popu
lation against the interests of anothe
portion: In 1896 they charged that tn
mine owners were seeking to secure a
advantage at the expense of the rest {
the people, and they asserted that tn
debtors were trying to get out of debt b
the use OF cheap dollars; they exited tn
fears of bankers; they frightened de
positors they coerced employees. The
never hesitated to attack any class {
any portion of the country that oppose
republican policies. In the campaign
1900 they claimed credit for better time
and said that panic would follow