Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-09
The Tribune and MIR. Bryan.

The Tribune and MIR. Bryan.
Chicago Journal: Many years ago
great journalist and wise statesman,
Joseph MedilI, established the Chicago
Tribune as general guardian of public
morals and chief custodian of repub-
lican principles. Under his able di-
rection it set the seal of approval or
disapprovaI on men and matters with
telling effect.
Horace Greeley's New York Tribune
was long the leading party organ of
the country, but with the centers of
political influence and weight NOV
ing ever westward, the Chicago Tri-
bune is now more nearly the repre-
sentative republican newspaper of the
country.
In pursuance of its convictions, the
Tribune today opposes Mr.. Bryan. No
fault should be found with it by any
body for differing with Mr.. Bryan's
tariff reform plans. his ideas on rail
road regulation, bank deposit insur-
ance, or the rights and privileges of
labor and capital
But when the Tribune digs up dead
issues, and constantly takes the demo-
cratic candidate to task for his views
on free silver, which Mr.. Bryan aban-
doned years ago, it is really unjust.
Especially since the silver issue does
not enter into the present campaign
And for another reason.
The Tribune knows that William
Jennings Bryan was born in Salem,
H.. in 1860, and that he spent his
young manhood in Marion county.
At the age of 20 he began political
campaigning. At q he was orator of
his class on graduation from Illinois
college, and at 23 he was valedictor-
ian of his class in the Union College
of Law in Chicago.
Young Bryan, born politician, gifted
orator, enthusiastic patriot, turned to
the nearest authentic source of in
formation on all matters of state. Re
Sarding the Tribune as a pure well of
wisdom, undefiled, he drank long and
deep at that fountain.
The words of wisdom that he found
there sunk deep into his soul and had
their part in forming the young mind.
Thus on Jan. 3. 1873. Mr. Bryan
found this plain statement in the Tri-
bune:
"The folly of advocating a single
gold standard of money must be OBJ
vious to every one not blind as a bat
in daylight"
Again on Jan. 9, 1873, the Tribune
sail:
"A laboring man would infinitely
prefer to be set at work earning silver
dollars than to starve waiting for en-
ployment on a gold basis
And after he had revolved that
clear-cut opinion in his mind for al.
most week he might have picked
up the Tribune on the morning OF
Jan. IA, 1878. and read this
Hamilton and Jefferson concurred
in the wisdom and necessity of hav
ing double standard, the purpose
being TO confer the option on the
debtor to pay in either metal at his
pleasure. Those great statesmen
clearly foresaw the trouble and dis
aster that single standard would
bring upon the country. The reten
ton of the option by the debtor tC
| pay in either silver or gold is vitality
important to the welfare of the whole
American people, and must never be
surrendered"
The Journal does not disinter these
fervid Tribune arguments for free sill
yer to embarrass an esteemed con
temporary. The Tribune long sine,
made amends for that error of jude
ment by advocating, with great earn
estness and power. the single golt
standard.
But when the Tribune persists il
dragging free silver in by the heel
to provide a man of straw and cor
stantly recurs to Mr.. Bryan's forme
advocacy of it, attention is natural
turned to its own former conviction
on the same subject.
Having taught Mr.. Bryan, the boy
to advocate free silver, the Tribun
should not blame him for doing so 1
years ago. when he was less exper
enced than he is today.
Happily that issue Isl dead an
buried, and Mr.. Bryan is no more a
advocate of free silver today than
his old preceptor, the Tribune.
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