New-York tribune., 1908-08-19
uR. sHERM4N's ACCEPTANCE.

Mr. Shey1nan,s speech riddles Mr. Bryans
narsmount issue. "Shail the people ruler an
issue which, by the way. 70 judge from its recep-
ton by the press and public, has fallen perfect
ly fat -'The people do rule" says Mr.. sherman.
The peopIe. moreover, are fully conscious of
their power and Mr.. Bryan himself by his
demagogic appeals bears eloquent testimony to
the fact of popular dominance. Why should
a demagogue play upon the popular passions IL
the peOpIe are without power and there is noth-
ingsto gain hy arousing them? Mr.. Bryans ae-
tiyties belle the implication in the issue he mas
raised
President Rooseyelts administration. more
over is striking instance Of the responsiveness
of the government 10 the people. II has been
pre-eminently n popular administration. one OF
the most popular in the history of the country,
and 1t has been so in the sense that it has car
ried out the ideals of the people reflected the
conscience Of the electorate and ssfeguarded
their interests where they confiicted in an eco
nonic way with those of organized business The
overshadowing issue is. as Mr.. Sherman says
"Shall the administration of President Roosevelt
be approved:" It cannot be approved by defeat-
ing leading member of that administration
pledged to clinch its policies and the man pre-
ferred by Mr. Roosevelt himself 10 carry for
ward his work Mr.. Bryan is trying 10 trade
upon the popularity of the present administra-
tion and TO insinuate himself into the Presi-
dency as the embodiment of RooseVeltlsn HIS
tory is full of such false prophets and pretend
ers pseudo -Dariuses and pseudo Mahomets. who
have tried TO mislead nations into the belief
that they were the leaders who had departed
These impersonators only prove the strength Of
those whom they mpersonate. The pSuedo-
Roosevelt of Nebraska is not likely 10 make
much progress with his fantastic appeal for the
annrovaI of RooseveItism through the defeat Of
its candidate.
Mr.. sherman made -ery effective retort 10
Mr. Bryan's attempt TO bury his past by silenc-
ing himself upon everything left out of the
Democratic platform, which is thus a sort OF
indee erpmrgGtorjus of his political convictions.
Said Mr.. Sherman:
Republican declarations once in our platform
and no longer there are omitted because they
have become accomplished facts. On the other
hand Democratic declarations have been abaE-
doned because the voters have pronounced them
to be unwse and unsafe and unSulteG 10 our
times and our country
No doubt these are excellent reasons for leav-
ing such principles out of the Democratic plat
form but are they not equally good reasons fof
leaving out Of office the man who IS in fhe haolt
of advocating things that have TO be thus omit
ted because they are "unWise and unsafe ana
unsl1ited 70 our times and our country: The
tying of Mr.. Bryans tongue does not alter the
nature and quality OF his intellect.
Mr. sherman made particularly clear the diff
ference of the Democratic partyS position, In
its platform. at least. from that of the Repub-
lican party upon the tariff. The Democratic
platform sets forth the partys purpose Ito re
store the tariff to the revenue basis, appar-
emily A timid declaration for a tariff for rev
enue only The Republican party is protection
ist with the purpose of readiusting the tariff TO
fit present conditions There is plenty of evi-
dence that the country wants a revision mainly
in the direction of lower rates. but there is Dot
the slightest indication of a desire 10 depart
from a protectionist policy. Individual sched-
ules are complained of, and some complaints are
heard that in general the rates are too high, bur
no demand has appeared. except in the Demo
cratic platform. for duties upon revenue basis
An impressive circumstance of the gathering at
Utica was that to which Mr.. Root alluded in his
speech-the remarkable evidence of the respect,
confidence and affection with which Mr. Sher-
man is regarded in his home town The people
there have known his life and his work and as
Mr. Root said, Money cannot buy, schemng
cannot produce. artifice cannot stimulate the
esteem of the community in which q man passes
his DAYS.