The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-06-24
Mr.. Bryan a Radical
Not a Conservative.

Not a Conservative.
During it's whole existence The
journal has been a supporter Of both
the man and the policies represented
by VIM. ]. Bryan. II has supported
him because his recognized honesty.
Ills splendid ability, and his intrepid
Americanism have always had our
admiration and respect, and because
Ehe policies which he stands for have
been in nearly every case our own
policies and have represented our
own ideas Of government.
II is extremely gratifying to The
Journal therefore TO note the Bryan
sentiment which now seems to be
permeating all sections Of the coun-
try and to find in the latest aces
sions 70 the Bryan ranks a general
though tardy recognition Of the great
Nebraskan's place in the politics of
the nation.
We cannot resist a feeling of
amusement, however. at the explana-
tory announcements by which these
newcomers introduce themselves to
the Bryan band wagon. They orig,
tnaIly called him a fanatic, a radical,
an anarchist, a socialist, an unknown
quantity, an unsafe leader, ETC., etc.
Now they say he has broadened, ex-
banded, settled down, grown older,
as 1t were; that he has got rid of
his crazy ideas and that safety and
sanity" are written all over him in
letters that cannot be misunderstood.
Neither Mr.. Bryan nor his friends
can have any objection to the opinion
that these late acquisitions to his
ranks hold OF profess to hold, but it
must necessarily AFFORD the former a
great deal of amusement among
themselves.
AS q matter Of fact, Mr.. Bryan has
changed but little, If any, on any o.
the great cardinal principles whose
advocacy has made him famous. He
was a radical ten years ago and he
Is a radical now. He preached equal
rights to all then and he breaches
them now. He was opposed to special
privileges in 1896 and he is opposed
20 special privileges. in 1906.
Il is true that in the matter Of free
silver, Mr.. Bryan VIII probably take
khe ground, and properly so, that
free silver is no longer an issue; :
that the conditions which made II de- |
Eirable ten years ago do not now
exist. The demand for free silver
WAS based OF the fact that there was
not enough money in the country
with which to do business and that
free coinage would help to supply
sufficient circulating medium to carry
on that business, The United States
tailed to open the minis to free coin
bge, but God opened the gold mines
81 the Yucon and Of other regions and
the deficiency in the circulating
medium was for the present at least
supplied. The prosperity which has
resulted from all this but proves the
cumulative theory of money which
Bryan advocated ten years ago, and
the fact that the question is no longer
IN issue is simply the result Of the
conditions to which we have referred.
On the tariff question, Mr.. Bryan Is
the same radical EXTREMIST that be
was when he made his great tariff
upeech IN 1S92-aclnowledged at the
time to be the greatest tariff speech
ever delivered on the floors Of con- {
Fress He still believes in the in
come tax, and he has not yet arrived {
q that point where he will admit :
that the judiciary is infallfble. He
believes in the election Of United
States Senators by direct vote of the ,
people. He believes in RAILROAD regu-' /
1atiOn and he is opposed TO railroad ,
monopoly. If it should come down TO
q decision as to whether the -ail- I
roads should own the government or !
The government own the railroads !
Mr.. Bryan would be found deciding {
that the government should own the, 8
rsilnoads. He does not believe in I
trusts nor in trust contributions to
political campaigns any more than he
cd IN 1895. and he is as much j
IMPOSED to the interference Of the {
special interests In politics now as I
ae was then. e
Il fact eliminate the single issue 3