Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-23


cuse for its silenced mouthings
against Bryan free siiverism, heard
some one whisper.
Therefore the Tribune, Criven TO the
wall by the Journals exposure of its
free silver hypocrisy of today and its
free silver advocacy of 1878, seized
upon the wonderful mares nest of
Captain Ross and his bryan letter
and published-what? Two columns
of monometal argument by Captain
Ross, which contains nothing new to
anybody who has studied the currency
question, and letter from Mr.. Bryan,
informing the gallant captain that a
letter marked personal" was, among
gentlemen, usually considered as per-
sonal.
This particular bit Of information
seems to have been a perfect revela
ton to Captain Ross, and in the light
of his subsequent action IN the matter
the Journal is gratified that the Tri-
bune stands sponsor for the captains
high place in law, politics and states
manship.
Perhaps, though, he should not be
blamed for yielding. unwillingly, no
doubt, to the soothing suasion of the
Tribune.
Picture him, high minded, noble
anyone else to force from him the
least confession of Mr.. Bryan's awful
letter, and fastening to warn his
friends who had seen it not to reveal
one jot of its contests. lest that revela-
ton reflect upon the honor of the
House of Ross.
Picture the Tribune, gallant Gf
somewhat inconsistency defender of
the republican faith. pleading with the
captain, in the interests of the nation,
in the interests of republicanism. and
above all, in the interests of the Tri-
bune, to violate his own conscience
for the sake of the pubic veal (and
the Tribune's) and confess all.
Picture the captain, at first indig-
| nantly refusing. then hesitating, then
| yielding, finally agreeing to tell ALL
provided only he be permitted to with
hold from publication the :,wful letter
The Ross honor is saved. The Tri-
bune is avenged.
The real purpose of all this appears
in the Tribune editorial of today
which tacitly admits that The Tribune
doesn't really expect anyone TO pay
the least attention to the Ross revela-
ton, but published them merely to
drag red herring across the public
| train of thought, and plead petty
| justification for its attacks on Mr.
Bryan as an advocate of free silver
Listen to its high minded and mag
nanimpus admission:
''The Tribune does not claim thai
Mr.. Bryan would seek to put his bime
tallic theories into effect. There is
even from his point of view, no neces
sity for it, considering our presem
gold supply. Voters might be willing
| furthermore, to assume that condi
tons may be relied upon to remain
during Mr.. Bryan's presidency in tht
present satisfactory state.''
But the real kernel of ali this how
Ide-do is the Tribune's editorial ad
mission in the same editoria
when it gracefully withdraws from
further attack Oh Mr.. Bryan ant
free silver in the following neatl,
turned phrase:
1.-THE letter of Mr.. Bryan to Captain
James B. Ross of Columbus, Ohio
published in yesterdays Tribune, re
leased the Tribune from any furthe
defense of its interests in Mr. Bryan
free silver doctrine
1t would have been more accurat
to have said, The letter, etc, nc
published, in yesterdays Tribune
But our esteemed contemporary i
sometimes careless about details. 1t
real care is that the burden is no'
: lifted, to its own satisfaction if nc
to that of anyone else. and Capital
Ross is to be criticised in tead of tn
Tribune.
1t still refuses to rec ollect its ow
errors on the matter of free silver i
the days of Bryan's youth, and admit
that its own teachings were respons
BILE for his beliefs. Captain Ross, if W
. are to believe him, quotes Mr. Brya
of course not directly, because ths
would be a breach of confidence
willing to advocate free silver agai
under return of the circumstance
which caused him to advocate it b.
: fore.
: Therefore. even If that he so-an
5 We have only Captain Ross to vouc
: for it, and not Mr.. Bryan--the TT
bune is still in same position as NJ
: Bryan. Listen to its attack on Fee
, II, 1878. on the Chicago Daily Journa
} which has, always been in favor {
sound money. We quote:
"The fight is to restore to its Of
: place the wrongfully eJected -silyt
unit. viz; the 37A grain dollar. Tt
(Chicago) Evening Journal pretend
{ that it is in favor of silver demonet
5 zation But how? Why. it wou1
| bite off from silver bar chunks Wort
= a dollar-in what? Why, gold! All
t each chunk it would call 4 dollar unit
5 gold fiuctuated and went higher, ar
. then it would call in all the outstan
4 ing pieces and bite off larger chunl
t lof silver. But this would not be Il
lAmorican dollar OF all and that