The Commoner.
Aug. i, iooj
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working them off on the public." Well, the trusts
need not fear much harm from a president who
does not object to private monopolies, does' not
object to their methods or to the destruction of
individual enterprises., but only objects to the
frauds, practiced on stockholders by promoters.
It would seem that the president has either
been scared out or that he never had much in
tention of interfering, with the trusts.
jjj v
Letter to the Tilden Club.
v In a former issue of The Commoner notice
was given of the finding and answering of the in
vitation sent by the Tilden club. It was also stated
that the answer would bo published in The Com
moner if given to the public by the club. As tho
letter has been published in the eastern papers
It is reproduced below. As the invitation did not
disclose the name of the officials, the acknowledge
ment was addressed to "The Secretary of the Til
den Club;"
Lincoln, Neb., July 8, 1902. SecretaryTil
den Club, 2130 Broadway, New York City.
Dear Sir: Through the oversight of a clerk
Jn my office I did not see the invitation sent by
your club, and did not know until last Wed
' nesday that one had been received. On that
day I received a telegram from my secretary
addressed to me at Aberdeen, S. D., saying
that such a' communication had been found.
I regret exceedingly that it did not come to my
attention before the dinner for, while I would
not have thought proper to accept, I would
have acknowledged your courtesy and given
my reasons for declining. When Mr. Cleve
land left the democratic party in 1896 I rec
ognized his right to do so and did not criticise
his decision, although, as the party candidate,
I was compelled to bear the odium which his
administration had brought upon the party.
He has never yet indicated an intention to re
turn to the democratic party and his business
. interests are such as to make his return im
possible. Until he does manifest some re
spect for democratic principles I do not un
derstand why he should be an honored guest
'at -a political dinner ;iven by a democratic
,. .club. Having thrown his influence to the re
publican party in tvyo national campaigns he is
hardly in a position to advise the party which
he abandoned or, as he expressed it, which
banished .him. I am anxious to see the party
grow in numbers and in strength, but it is ab
surd to expect that harmony can result from
an attempt to turn the majority of the party
, over to the tender mercies of those who find
- the society of republicans more congenial
than the society of those who believe in the
platforms adopted in 189G and in 1900. Har
mony Is only possible between those who de
sire the triumph of the same principles and
policies, and it is quite evident from the past
and present attitude of Mr. Cleveland and
his supporters that they are nearer to the re-
publican party than to the democratic party.
Very truly yours, W. J. BRYAN.
JJJ i
, Striking Figures.
The Kansas City Journal, republican, in an
editorial entitled "The Profits of Annexation'
says that "the grand total paid for all of our
added landed dominions, except the sums recent
ly paid to Spain, was $52,200,000, an amount which
Is exceeded by the annual output of Kansas farms
alone."
While the Journal is indulging in comparing
figures, it might point out also that the increase
in the appropriations made for the nary for the
year 1903 over and above that made for the navy,
in 1897, the year immediately preceding the Span-.ish-Amertcan
war, is represented by the sum of
$49,262,718. This increase Is very nearly equal to
the grand total paid for all of our added landed
dominions prior to the Spanish war.
The Journal might also point out that the in
crease in the appropriations for the army for the
year 1903 over and above similar appropriations
made for 1897 Is represented by a sum of $68,
277,528, a sum largely in excoss of the grand to-
. tal paid for all of our added landed dominions
prior to the Spanish-American war.
. In 1897 our total appropriations for the army
and navy amounted to $52,668,853; for the year 1903
these appropriations will reach the enormous sum
of $170,208,821. This is an Increaso of $117,540,246.
This does not take Into consideration the $20,
000,000 which wo paid for the Philippines or other
expenditures which our policy of imperialism will
make necessary.
jjj
The Claim-all Argument.
A reader of The Commoner sends in 'a para
graph which appeared in one of the republican pa
lters to the effect that when the republican party
succeeded to the control of national affairs iu
1897 ''business was stagnant, credit impaired, cur
rency disordered and Industries prostrate." The
editor then goes on to say that the republicans
"put the national house in order, brought tho
country to the highest point of prosperity in the
history of tho world, besides carrying on three
wars in two hemispheres." This is a sample of
the claim-overy thing editorials that are now pass
ing for arguments in republican papers. The re
publican party is carrying on tho same financial
policy that we had under Mr. Cleveland. That
policy has scarcely been changed in any par
ticular, and in no particular has it been improved.
We have had a series of good crops since '96,
whereas we had had a series of bad crops before
'96. These Ziave done much to improvo condi
tions, and yet republican editors give their party
credit for the improvement without mentioning
the source. Tho increased production of gold has
also helped to improvo times. Tho republican
party is not responsible for the increased produc
tion of gold, although republican editors boast
of the conditions produced by the larger circula
tion. A considerable quantity of silver' has been
added to tho circulation, but this was forced upon
the administration by the democrats in .congress.
Tho increase in the issue of bank notes was only
secured by giving to the bankers a valuable priv
ilege denied to other classes of business, but, the
republicans do not say anything about this.-
Democratic and republican soldiers served Jn
the Cuban war. Democratic and republican repre
sentatives voted for the appropriations to carry on
the Cuban war, and democratic and republican
taxpayers paid the expenses, and yet the republi
can party claims the credit. Tho protection given
to our citizens In China was not a republican pro
tection" but a national protection, and the with
drawal of the flag when tho necessity for pro
tection was over was in line with democratic
rather than republican precedent. Tho republi
can party is responsible for the war in the Phil
ippines, and it is entirely welcome to all the credit
it can get out of it. That is tke only part of re
publican boasting that has any foundation." Pin" a
republican down arid tho tariff bill is the only one
that he will point to as affirmative legislation to
which he attributes prosperity, and every tariff
reformer wilL dispute his claims and point to in
creasing exportations and to the extortion of tho
trusts as arguments against a high tariff. Even
Mr. McKinley in his last speech, the speech at
Buffalo, announced that we could no longer have
a policy of seclusion, that we must enter the
markets of the world, and of course a high tariff
is a hindrance rather than an aid In entering
foreign markets.
An Independent (?) Newspaper. -
The following editorial in Leslie's Weekly
of July 10 is a good illustration of the chaste and
dignified style of, as well as evidence of the im
partiality and independence shown by, Leslie's
Weekly. It is one of the papers that is too virtu
ous to be connected with a party, and yet it is more
vicious and virulent In its denunciation of every
thing democratic and more servile in its support
of aristocracy and plutocracy than the most hide
bound republican paper. Nearly all of the 30
called Independent papers have the same leaning
on political questions and cannot be relied upon to
support tho people In a ainglo necessary reform.
On tho saino page with tho editorial below
quoted, under tho heading "Plain Truth," it in
dulges in effusivo praise of railroad corporation?
and misrepresents- tho action of tho democratic
convention of Kansas. Tho following is tho edi
torial referred to:
Tho Nebraska political disturber, whoso
everlasting assurance is only comparablo wijth
his magnificent protensions, again rushes Into
print, by the help of tho Associated press,
and the bamboozled newspapers, to advertise
himself and his weekly magazine by denounc
ing ex-President Cleveland, both as president
and politician. The Nebraska populist-democrat,
whom wo do not proposo to advertise
further in thqpo columns without charge, sees
in the harmonizing efforts of President Clove
land, Senator Hill, and other distinguished
democrats in tho east and west, tho omens of
his own everlasting oblivion. Tho Nebraska
spouter realizes that his only liopo Is In en
riching himself through his nondescript maga
zine, as, since his double defeat for tho presi
dency, ho is no longer a drawing card on tho
lecture platform and no longer in demand as
a magazino and newspaper writer at any
thing but ordinary space rates. If it be neces
sary to .get down into the mlro to make him
self an object of interest, ho is ready to wal
low. No matter how dirty tho pool, if It
covers him, he will dip into it if he can attract
an applauding crowd. Democratic harmony
is tho last thing In tho world that he wants.
As a breeder of disharmony he has achieved
his only success in life. This creature of cir
cumstances ought to be on the payroll of tho
republican managers. His antics bring moro
comfort to the latter than they can possibly
give to sincere democrats of any name or na
ture. .
JJJ
' Lots of Five.
, For the purpose of placing The Commonsr
within reach of all, and by so doing inculcate
democratic principles and arouse democratic en
thusiasm, the publisher has adopted the unique
"Lots of Five" plan. Thjs plan affords pleasant
and profitable occupation for those who desire
to canvass for subscriptions. It also affords an
opportunity for good work for the party by. those
. ,who are interested enough to devote a few, mo
ments of their time to party work without dher
recompense than the knowledge that they have
materially assisted in the spread of democratic
principles.
The "Lots of Fivo" plan is simple and com
mends Itself to every man interested in the growth
of democracy. Subscription cards are sold in
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card Is good for one year's subscription to Tho
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You need have no fear that you will be un
able to dispose of one or more "Lots of Five." A
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deavor to dispose of one "Lot of Five" fill out the
coupon printed below and mail to this office. A
"Lot of Five" subscription cards will be sent to
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If you are interested in the extension of
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port to this plan?
APPLICATION FOR
"Lots of Fire Subscription fords."
Publisher Commonkr: Please send mo flro subscripUoa
cards. I promise to use tar utmost endearor to sell tfaeeo
cards, and will remit for tnem at the rate of CO cents each wbon
sold.
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