The sun., 1908-11-01

think that his election would justly
destroy confidence. .,.,,.
Any change Of government from the
administration Of party whose princi-
Piles and practical workings are well
known and whose action 1t is practically
easy to forecast to new set OF men who
belong to another party and whose COURSE
in Office is a matter Of conjecture In itself
tends to create daubt and hesitanoy, and
the possibility Of such change always
keeps many business enterprises in sus-
pension before every Presidential cleo
ton.
The possibility OF Me. Bryan's election,
however, involves much more than this
ordinary doubt.
We know that he is politician OF great
skill. who, while really Populist in fact.
as he was formerly by political afiliation.
has secured control Of the machinery Of
the Democratic party. He advocates a
great variety OF measures Which are
grotesquely Inconsistent with the prin-
6iples of Thomas Jetfsrsou, which would
result In the complete abandonment of
the doctrine that 1fhat, goverpment
governs best which governs least" and
which would bring about an all powerful
centralized government in Washington
completely destructive of State sover-
eighty. Yet the disciples OF Jefferson
foiloy. him meekly and appear happy TO
eat out OF his hand. He has taken the
Leadership Of those elements OF the Demo-
cratic party which wrecked the second
administration OF Mr.. Cleveland. and
many OF Mr.. Clevelands friends and
followers made ofs'Iess stern material
than that man Of strong convictions and
high courage. have Adorned tofthe new
leader. 1t appears probable therefore
That II the Democratic party is. put in
power with MIR Bryan as President he
will be able to try In actual administra-
ton and legislation the views which he
has expressed. In tho Democrat tic party
there seems to be no opinion except Mfr.
'Bryan's, and where he leads the party is
sure to follow; what he wishes to have
done the party Is sure to undertake IL
{ comes into power.
rt; REPUBLICAN, SENATE NO IiAR
The suggestion has been made thatIa
' Republican Senate might stand as a bar
to carrying out MIR Bryan's ideas although
he should be elected President. In my
Judgment that Is delusion. Careful OBJ
servation Of the Senate leaves little doubt
that IL the people Of the country were
to give their approval to Mr.. Bryan by
electing him President and by support
ing him with a Democratic House a suf-
6cieut number OF Senators elected as
Republicans would yield to the pressure
Of the Bryan policies, backed by the forge
Of that popular Endorsement. to give effect
to almost any measure which he might
propose. Mr.. Bryan has publicly DEF
'cisted that he hss expects 81 tAissand think
his expectation would be justified. Il,
- The substantial question before uA,
therefore. Is what would be the effect
upon the productive enterprise OF the
country to know that air. Bryan's views
were to be made effective by the entire
force ot the. national, Government? Let
US seek an answer to that question by re-
SallinEthe views which he has expressed.
THE GOLD STANDARD AT STAKE.
Ineei not spend time over Mr., Bryan's
devotion to the free coinage Of silver. he
has. omitted that from his platform this
year because 1t no longer affords a popu-
lar issue in the face Of the logic Of events
which has disprovei every prophecy
upon which he staked his reputation Tor
nelitical wisdom in his campaign Of 1893.
But he has not alb jured it. In his speech
at Albany in 1898 he said:
The Democratic party has begun a
war of determination against the gold
standard we ask no quarter; we give
no quarter. We shall prosecute our war
fare until there Is not an American citizen
Who dares to advocate the gold standard.
At Knoxville on the 9th Of October.
1895, he said:
sIf there is any one who b elieves that
the gold standard is a good thing or that
il must maintained. warn him not to
cast his vote for me, because l promise
him that It willinot be maintained in this
lcngsTs than l an able to get rid
The business men of the country will
not forget that under our laws it would
still be possible, II Mr.. Bryan were Presi-
dent and a time OF stringency were to
come, to completely. destroy the single
gold standard by executive action and
To- bring on 4 trid OF his favorite theory
through the enactment Of n law for the
frees Coinage Of silver.
He has declared himself In favor Of the
initiative and referendum, and he has
never abjurel that. although he has
emitted it from his platform because he
has seen that the American people shrank
from destroying the system OF representa-
tive government under which they have
grown so great and under which larger
measure Of liberty 9pd justice has been
attained than Under any other form OF
government the world has known. &,
oovERSMKNT OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS..
He has rebeate1lyr and formally de
cIarei himself in favor Of the Government
ownership Of railroads and he stands by
that declaration, IN, his speech at the
great reception given in New York upon
his return from Europe in August. 1905.
Mr.. Bryan declared:
Il have reached the conclusion that
there will be no permanent relief on tho
railroad question frorn the discrimination
betwee individuals and between places
and from extortion in rates until the rail-
roads are the PROPERTY Of the Government
and are operated by the Government in
the interest Of the people"
He has repeated that declaration many
times and In many places. He refratns
from pressing II now because Il would
not help to elect him. but ,he holds to 1t.
He does not. believe in the regulation
of railroad rates or in. the laws TO pre-
cent discrimination In rates. He be-