The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-10-27

he takes upon himself responsibility
for four more years of Rooseveltism
Is it possible that the idol of six and
half million reformers could descend
to such plea? Yet such is the Com
moner's plea. This plea as set forth IN
last weeks issue of the Commoner is
as follows:
Every man is responsible for his
influence, be it small or great. Every
democrat wnO votes for Parker votes
to defeat Roosevelt. Every democrat
who does not vote for Parker contrl-
butes toward the election of Roosevelt.
On every question upon which Judge
Parker's position is open to critism
President Roosevelt's position is worse;
where they differ. as they do on many
important questions Parker is right
and Roosevelt is wrong.
Roosevelt favors high tariff; Parker
favors tariff reform. Roosevelt favors
standing army of $4,000 at the mini
mum; Parker fayors reduction OF the
army.
Roosevelt has brought the race issue
into national politics; Parker would
remove the race issue from politics.
| Roosevelt stands for a colonial
policy; Parker favors independence for
the @F'HipiRas and would make the
promise now. ~sssa ssas~rVs -..x,-~,.....
Roosevelt took into the white house
a splri. OF war; Judge Parker would
substitute for it a spirit of peace.
Four years more of Roosevelt would
make economic and industrial reform
more difficult: Judge Parker's election
would clear the way for economic
issues Let no democrat. by voting
against Parker or by refusing to vote,
take upon himself the responsibility
for four more years of Rooseveltism.
There is scarcely a sentence in the
foregoing editorial that is not assail-
able. Take the first plea. 1t is that
every voter must choose between two
evils, aud therefore Mr.. Bryan recon-
mends the least is such a choice
necessary? Have we not candidates
this year that more fully represent the
democratic sentiment Of the nation
than either of these plutocrats? Mr..
Bryan himself is not ignorant of the
fact that Mr.. Watson is truly Jeffer-
fsonian. He practically admits as
much in his editorial in the same issue
upon Mr.. Watson's letter. Recognizing
this fact, everybody knows that
were there any hope of Mr.. WatsOn's
election, Mr.. Bryan would be support
Ling him with vigor. If he would sup
port Mr.. Watson with hopes of success,
then If principle is first with him, why
lis he not supporting Mr.. Watson now?
Is it any other reason than that
he fears to be in the minority? Yet
LII that be his reason what a sordid
one it is?
+ COna.elar for a moment the baseness
LOT an appeal made ioI ls setkarsreason
than thatsthe right is in the minority.
Mr.. Bryan himself knows that Mr..
Watson is right, for at no time or
place has he ventured to deny it. So
his whole appeal is based upon
the assumption that either Roosevelt
or Parker must be elected. 1t is safe
to say that if every one in the United
States, including Mr. Bryan, who
knows that Mr.. Watson is correct upon
economics, would vote for him, he
could defeat Roosevelt But fearing
to take stand for the right a large
number of these, including Mr.. Bryan,
take cowardly refuge in the cry that
Mr. ,Iatson will not get enough votes
Who has not heard Mr.. Bryan's for
mer eloquent appeals to stand right
even though you stand alone? Who
is there who has not heard him say
time and again that he would rather
remain right and go down to defeat
times without number than to join
with the cohorts of wrong? Yet when
the time comes for Mr.. Bryan to test
the sincerity of that statement, he
proves incapable of it, and joins the
that Parker's campaign was managed
by the worst specimen of peanut
politician in all American history.
Yet he supports Mr.. Hills candidate.
because he fears to stand with a min
GRITTY.
He has charged that Parker's cam
paign was being financed by the Bel
mont brand of political tricksters.
whom he has classed with the great
est debauchers of American political
life. Yet he joins in the campaign for
their preferred choice, takes his or
ders from them, and consoles himself
that by that act he can retain the 10y
atty of the millions who with shouts
and tireleSS devotion stood hv hin,