The independent., 1904-01-28
the NEW YORK HeATHEn RAGE
Populism Makes Them Trembls Even In
Their Strong hOIds-AH the Pluto
cratic Editors in State Of Frenzy

cratic Editors in State Of Frenzy
New York, Jan. %, 1904 Editorial
Correspondence.)- is somewhat
strange that the advent of ONO old
pop in New York should have kicked
up such a row and set the editors OF
all the plutocratic papers shedding
ink like the floods that were poured
out upon Kansas and Nebraska last
spring when Topeka was washed
away and Kansas City, Kas., was
flooded, but such seems to be the case.
The little talk (not for publicatlon)
which the editor of The Independent
had with few leading spirits and
which was carried to the Office OF the
New York Times, in a way now SO
plain, has set all New York mad.
The leading editorials in ali the pa
pers, except the Hearst papers, have
been devoted for four days 10 bolt
by Bryan. The very thought of 1t
makes every one of them wild, furi-
Gus. frenzied. 1t is the leading topic
of talk as well as of editorial writing.
The report of Bryan's speech at the
Lincoln banquet, or the parts Of that
address that have been printed here,
has added fuel to the flames Of their
Indignation and wrath.
All this goes to prove that what
The Independent urged Bryan TO do
more than year ago was the proper
policy. 1t advised then that II Bryan
should announce that he would not
support any candidate about whose
record or purposes there was doubt,
or accept any platform that repu-
dated the principles declared at Chi
eago and Kansas City, that he would
have plutocracy crazy in a week and
following among the masses Of the
people, such as he never had before.
Just what Bryan said at Lincoln we
do not yet know here. But it Is taken
for granted that if the Kansas City
platform is repudiated he will bolt.
very much doubt that he said any
such thing and am inclined to believe
that all this furor in the New York
papers comes from the report of what
certain gentlemen said (not for pub
lication) to the editor of The lnde-
pendent in an uptown hotel.
The New York Times of this date
breaks out as follows
THE democracy will exhibit it
self to the country as party with
out principles, without conscience,
and without courage if it does not
respond to this challenge of pop
ulism with an open defiance"
That is the gist Of the whole mat
ter. That is what makes these heath
ems rage. 1t is not the man Bryan
that they fear. 1t is the principles
that he advocates, in other words, it
Is "populism" that makes them turn
pale and cover with fear even in
their strongholds.
The ignorance of the people here,
high and low concerning the money
question would be unbelievable to the
average citizen of the west. Last
night the editor of The Independent
was entertained by a. man whose
name is household word not only
in this land, but in many others. A
more cultured and scholarly man in
all the fields of literature cannot be
found. He is loved and honoreG by
millions. But when in the course of
the conversation the remark of MIR.
Brisbane was repeated, that 81 900
per capita would be the right amount
of money in circulation, he innocently
and sincerely inquired: What is
wrong with that statement?' What
makes the plutocratic editors rave rs
that they fear if Bryan should belt,
or il there should be a bolt of ary
considerable size from the democratic
national convention without him. chat
1t would be impossible to keep the
people in ignorance as they Lave in
the past. Populist papers would spring
up everywhere and those now printed
would enormously increase their cir
culation. If the mass of the people
should ever come to understand the
money question. they know that the
career of plutocracy would soon come
to an end An editor of one of The
great dailies here was told that the
banks had about 100000 600 OF money
that had been taxed out Of The people
and given to them which the banks
loaned out and got interest ON with
out making any return whatever.
He was asked what No Thought would
happen II the government should loan
that amount Ia farmers ftnp thp heat