Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-09-01
A LOST OPPORTUNITY
HOW DEMOCRATS MISSED BEING SANE
AND CONSERVATIVE.

william Jennings Bryan Forced Up
on the Democratic Party the Plat
form Declaration 10 the Eject That
Fl All Protection Is Robbery.
Il is refreshing in these days OF par
usan radicallsm 10 encounter so calm.
80 sane and 30 intelligent an expression
en- a subject OF high importance as the
following from the Brooklyn Eagle, an
Independent newspaper OF Democratic
procIivities:
THE Bryan substitute for the VII
lIams draft begins with a characters
he Organism. At this writing the full
text Of il has not come from ST. Louis,
but It is described as declaring that
all protection is robbery. This IS
proposition with which the country
II may take issue. II is undoubtedly a
H proposition from which the voters may
. withhold the seal OF their Endorsement.
They do not regard protection as rob
berry. The rank and file OF Republic
II ans aud many more Democrats than
can be counted regard the schedules,
with an their inflrmities. as a shield.
H Prices paid for labor in Europe are
such rs are suggestive OF pauperism
here. The difference is a sort Of credit
balance In favor OF the American ar
tisan. II IS balance he is more than
disposed to keep on the right side OF
II his ledger. To ask him TO vote IL out
q existence is TO invite him to become
bis own worst enemy"
Il was the Bryan substitute which
went through, while the far more mod
crate and guarded draft OF John Sharp
Williams was voted down in the com
mittee on resolutions Bryan was in
the saddle so far as concerned the form
q declaration 10 be used or not used
relative 10 vital questions. The Ne
bmska malcontent could not control the
presidential nomination either affirma-
lively or negatively, but he could and
did bar the way TO the recognition OF
the gold standard as an accomplished
fact, and he could and did compel the
adoption OF a tariff plank whose rabid
folly Of denouncing protection as
felony must offend many Democrats
ind alarm many Republicans who
might otherwise have been favorably
disposed toward tariff revision at the
hands OF the Democratic party. II was
The blind Samson pulling down the
stones Of the temple on the heads or
the Philistines. Bryan could not rule
the convention, but he could ruin the
chance OF the Democracy 20 regain pub
lie confidence.
Barring a few fanatical free traders,
the delegates TO the St Louis conven-
ton know now. and knew when they
voted to adopt Bryan's tariff plank, that
they were voting 10 adopt a lie. They
know perfectly well that protection Is
not robbery and that It is not so re-
garded by nineteen-twentieths Of the
American people. The Eagle well says:
They know what robbery means.
They know that the policy OF protec-
ton is legitimate, even though there
are instances in which II is pushed TO
Extremes. They know that the only
Tree trade country in the world is be
coming FESTIVE under the system and
may invoke a change. And they know
that under the existing tariff this coun-
ny has broken all industrial records.
commerce in this country is not rob
berry 1t is giving an excellent account
o. itself in competition with countries
which would ask nothing better than
an opportunity to undersell the Ameri-
can producer in his own market"
To say that protection is robbery IS
2 say that protection is felony. an in
famous crime against society, and 70
ray this is TO insult the intelligence Of
close on 100000 voters, who, though
eome Of them may object to that policy
ior one reason or another. know perfect
y well that protection is not robbery.
lle Democratic party has simply lost
,ne more opportunity TO be sane, safe
reasonable and decent on the tariff ques-
ton