The sun., 1903-11-01
Mr.. McCIeIIan's Record In Congress.

To THE EDITOR or TIL SrS-- Si,. As
Democrat who cannot reach Democrats
through any newspaper Of that party willing
to publish unwelcome comments upon any
Of its candidates upon the Tammany ticket.
| and twithstanding that the fusion press
has repeatedly provoked me TO prote agens,
the illusions made by II TO the admirable
record" OF Col. George Mcclellan IN Con-
gross, as illustrating his industry and hon.
es'y and bravery. J seek an opportunity to
remove some doubts IRON the minds OF those
who may still be 10 Indifferent as rot to u.
convinced one way or tho other, 10 ask how
II is that Col Mcclellan has acquired such A
reputation as II member OF the House Of Pen
resentatves as 10 lead anybody to expect
that ne will be either brave, independent
responsive TO either his convictions or H..
opinio' of the men who constitute tho bacn-
bone of the great city of New York.
II We must judge OF McC.cllan's S ability and
independence and courage by the record he
has I'M 1e during his eight years in Congress,
let us look at that record. II will no; take
| long, For the most part IL will be ioun''
| rneven'iul and commonplace. thus thruetins
| into stronger light the evidence that he has
been donbter and a plodder when he was
not blundercr. Tho most important votes
cns, BY him have been cast OF the harmful
side Of interests that concerned the whole
COuntry-for repudation and confusion IN
financial matters, the treatment OF which
demands ia" best thought and most fearless
action Of he citizen.
In the second session OF the Fifty-ffth
Congress, Just before .he Kansas City
platform was given to the Democratic party.
with William Jennings Bryan as It's candi-
date, the House sent to the Senate a concur
rent resolution designed to secure the just
| payment OF national obligations. and re-
! ceived it back converted. by the help of the
| Silvertes Of he Senate. into a measure TO sc-
| compish almost the reverse thing--a reeo-
| luton au horzing the Treasury to pay bonds
in gold or silver. at the option of the Treasury
II was meant TO he an. order. Mcclellan.
who had been regarded as a sound money
| man, made a speech on the motion to agree
with the amendment of the Senate. in which
he argued that 81 the law said that the ob-
cations Of the Government we're to be paid
sin standard money" and silver was standard
money. it was not only lawful and right. but
obligatory. to permit it to do what the Senate
had proposed to direct II to do He voted
for this fiat effort TO approve policy OF re-
pndiation, and only the fortunate presence
of body of men who could not accept obso-
lcte law. as a pattern for making new and
appropriate laws killed the botchwork OF
the Senate.
BRYAN was about to 60 before the country on
the Kansas City platform and be again re-
iected with his free silver and populistio
views indorsed with McCellans help. when
the Hon. Jesse Overstreet Of Indiana brought
up in he House bill TO define the standard
Of valuation" the Gold bill OF 1900. Hero
WAS measure intended to meet what was
considered to be condition requiring
remedy. II was to place out OF doubt the
disrute whether this was a single or double
standard country. Gold men voted for II.
Silver men voted against 1t. 1t left no
niche for anybody to hide away in. On this
occasion he did not dodge or evsde. He
voted NO with most OF his party. but ti.e
bill became Law by strong majority In both
houses.
When the House paid John BAY the de-
seryed compliment OF thanking him for his
address in the House on the life and work
Of Nick inley, Col. Mcclellan sat In his seat and
answered, rather superciliously. Present,
and did not vote. 1t would have done him
Infinitely more credit il he had voted NO.
II he had considered the compliment unde-
served or likely to do great harm to bis party
His silent rebuke would never have been
known unles. had taken the trouble to dis
cover It.
am sorry came across McClellan's most
rcnarkable speech That was delivered so
recently as April 8, 1902, after Bryan had
been for two years q repudiated man, and
I trust. a dropped man for the purposes OF the
party of which am wandering member
A rupnin debate had sprung up on the Cuban
reciprocity question. and Mcclellan had
! gained the privilege OF the floor. In the
course of bis remarks he quoted freely from
Mr.. Bryans Commoner, and provoked the
jeers OF his political opponents. he do
not like them, and he showed unusual temper
In hurting back his replies. After one item
of wisdom from Lincoln he was asked II he
considered that good Democracy With
voice choked with emotion and head throw
proudly back. he resorted: I think the
Democracy preached by william Jennings
Bryan is pretty good Democracy. nine times
out OF ten
II looks to me as though Mcclellan bad
been playing a sly pantomime part to Us, to
lead us To approve him for sound money
man. while his moro oonsenial sna'sno"
VAS that which knew him to be just the