Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-09-23


Mr.. Bryan's familiarity with the Scrip
lures is well established. His search OF
the Good Book for political wisdom or
admonition never fails. Monday, at Chi
cago, be chose for the text Of his political
preachment Solomon's warning: "As .
man thinketh in his heart, so is he" The
pertinency OF the text to the present cam
paign is readily apparent. The issue Is Of
men rather than Of platform promises.
The voters will decide between Mr.. Taft
and Mr.. Bryan as President for the next
four years.
In the comparison Of deeds, Mr.. Bryan
is admittedly at disadvantage with his
opponent. Mr.. Taft has seen much of
public life and has been in intimate touch
with great questions of nstionsl policy.
He has thus proved his fitness for the
office.
Mr. Bryan has had less opportunity for
performance, his official career having
been confined to two terms in Congress.
Mr.. Bryan now appeals from the judg-
ment of parties and OF platforms to the
judgment of men, and seeks to take the
standard of the wise man for the COM
parative measurement.
Mr.. Bryan is quite sure that Solomon
spoke with wisdom when he declared that
s'as man thinketh in his heart, so is he''.
A little while ago he was not so sure about
that. Only . few weeks ago he told the
people that he was not the old original
Bryan, with thoughts Of free silver, govern
ment ownership, etc. He assured the voters
now unpopular ideas Of the past by the
convention 1t Denver, and that he was to
be judged by the platform which the
democratic party had adopted for his
guidance, whatever his personal opinions
might be.
According to his belief at that time the
platform was binding upon the candidate
as to its declarations and as to its omis-
sions. Concerning 4 political candidate
he would have revised Solomon's maxim
to read: "As the expediency OF political
convention demandeth, SO is be-"
What are Mr.. Bryan's heart thoughts?
Does he think, in his heart, in harmony
with the platform adopted at the Denver
convention. forgetting and abandoning
those things ~ bich expediency demanded
should be forgotten? Or is he still loyal
to his convictions which he has forcibly
and determinedly expressed in the past?
By which standard is he to be judged, the
platform OF his party convention or the
rule OF Solomon: "As man thinketh in
his heart, SO is he?"
Does MIR. Bryan still think, deep in his
heart, that the sixteen-to-one programme
was sound financial economy? Would he
apply the same principle to questions OF
currency that might arise during his
administration. Does he still think, rs
he did in 1904, that the solution OF the
currency problem consists in government
issue OF paper money without interference
by the banks, and is he still opposed to
the introduction Of asset currency!
Does he think, deep in his heart Il s We
assume be did on July n, 1904, when he
expressed the sentiments-th govern
ment ownership Of the railroads Is the
only ultimate solution OF the business
problem, and that because Of the neces-
sity OF maintaining state rights a. we'll a.
on account OF the gigantic character of the
task, that ownership should be ON the
part Of the Individual states where posi-
BILE? Does he still think, % he did upon
his return from his foreign trip, that
government ownership 10 the dominant
need!
Or does he think a. he did little later,
that the people need to be educated up to
the acceptance Of this ideaf Is Mr.. Bryan
to be judged by these thoughts! Will he
be loyal to these thoughts II elected to the
presidency?
Does Mr.. Bryan think in his heart, o.
apparently he did at Urbana, O., in 1895,
that ''the democrats in 1892 played Q con-
fidence game on the people and put
bunco-steerer at the head of party, the
nominee Of that year being Grover Cleve-
land? Does he think in his heart, as he
thought in 1904, that "a democratic VIC
tory will mean very little il any progress
on economic questions, SO long as the
party is under the control Of the Wall
street element, and that "Mr. Parker is
as thoroughly committed to the side OF
the financiers as is Mr.. ROOSEVELT? Or
has Mr.. Bryan silenced his own thoughts
that he might accept for his party the SER
vices of Judge Parkerf
Does Mr.. Bryan still think that the
courts are corrupt and have been packed
With railroad attorneys? Does he still
think that it would be proper to go to any
length under the constitution, by execu-
tive or congressional authority-even to
filling the supreme bench with justices
committed to his cause--in order to secure
the approval Of his plan for an income
tax?
Mr.. Bryan has entertained so. many
varying thoughts at different times that
the voters are at q loss to know what he
does think. He has now recognized the
authority Of the democratic convention,
and no longer talks about certa in ma tfers