The Conservative.
ialisru , " will bo , he fears , the only rep
resentative , aud all that is loft of the
great Ainoricau Republic , if Mr. Me-
Kinley succeeds. "How the mighty
have fallen what shadows we are aud
what shadows wo pursue. "
Credit aud a sound currency is the
mainstay of trade , and the prosperity
aud happiness of our people rest upon it ,
and to the wage-earner in a greater de
gree than to any other class of our citi
zens. 'Preservation of that credit and
currency , and shunning all the experi
ments of dreamers and poets on our
financial system , : 's the question of
gravest importance to this people in
volved in the coming election. We can
bind up the wounds of the suffering
Filipino at our leisure ; we can repair
any mistake , if the results show we
have made any ; there's plenty of time
for that ; but credit and confidence in a
nation and among peoples , once lost , is
difficult of restoration , aud the crash fol
lowing it reaches the poor and the man
of moderate means infinitely more than
it does the man of substantial wealth.
I am not an advanced optimist , but I
have no fears of the ghost of a destroy
ed republic intruding upon my presence
by reason of any Philippine episode.
Mr. Sohurz and Mr. Oookran forgot
what you do not that in the war of the
rebellion even the good old Horace
Greeley believed the republic was rent
in twain , and petitioned. Mr. Lincoln
"that the erring states might go in
peace" to prevent further and useless
bloodshed. The republic was ruined ,
cried the chicken-hearts , and the consti
tution destroyed. But out of the mists
came no ghosts , but the old republic ,
with new vigor and strength , passing all
conjecture in its progress to the first
place among nations. A people that can
suppress the greatest rebellion the
world ever saw , and live and prosper , is
not likely to be overthrown as the result
of insurrection in the Philippines , nor
in the purchase of territory and estab
lishing a government there that will
protect the person , and property of all
well-disposed persons in the newly-
acquired territory. So long as the heart
of our people in the home government
is true and loyal , we need not fear for
its safety , as consequent upon the
' acquirement of outside territory.
The Itcml Danger to the Republic.
The danger to the peace and prosper
ity of the republic in present conditions
comes from men who constitute them
selves walking delegates , stirring up bad
blood between employer and employed ,
pandering to the groundless complaints
of the shiftless and ne'er do-well class ,
and they are in every community , in
flaming the passion by sympathy with
wrongs that have no real existenqe ,
teaching them the doctrine that to
possess wealth makes its owner their
enemy and oppressor ; and that fyis
wealth is ill-gotten and stained with the
blood and toil aud suffering of the poor.
This state of feeling when it reaches its
climax , means disorder , disregard of
personal rights , disregard of judicial
opinion , and with a bold and daring
leader , means class against class in battle
array , and bloodshed to follow. I do
not charge that all men who preach pop-
ulistic doctrines intend to produce such
results , but they do not take into ac
count the character , education , instincts
and lack of moral control that their
audiences possess , and when the evil
comes , as it has come , and as it will
come , increasing in virulence of temper
and hostility of demonstration , extend
ing to violence aud bloodshed , these
well-meaning persons shift the respon
sibility from themselves , and cry they
never intended such means should be
used , nor thought such results would
follow.
The great head of the agitators is a
candidate for your suffrage. His name
is "William Jennings Bryan ! " As you
desire to suppress this growing ill feel
ing between class and class , and to
maintain harmony between employer
and employed , upon a basis honorable
and just to both , vote to suppress him
and his doctrines and methods.
Bryau u Populist.
In 1896 Mr. Bryan was placed in nom
ination at Chicago before the populist
convention , but in 1900 the populists , in
the pride of their increased strength and
vantage from position , led off and nom
inated Mr. Bryan. That their under
standing of the situation may be made
clear , I make reference to the opening
address of the permanent chairman at
Sioux Falls , wherein he declared that in
the Chicago convention of 1896 ( I quote
his words ) :
"The spirit of populism sat upon
their throne and in their convention ,
and under the name of democracy ,
they commenced a contest for populist
principles , embodying in their platform
nearly everyone of the paramount issues
that has been declared in the people's
party platform for four years before. '
Then glorifying the proud and com
manding position obtained over their
old foe , the democratic party , and
alluding to the habits of the Alexanders
and Oiesars in trailing behind their
chariot their most distinguished captives
in their triumphal march , before a re
joicing multitude , he said , ( I quote his
words ) :
"If the peoples' party were to indulge
in such a parade , they would have the
right to lead in procession before the
assembled people and the government , as
the chief and greatest captives , the dem
ocratic party and the platform they had
adopted. "
My old brethren , you who follow
Bryan to be regular , do you not shudder
when you reflect that your allegiance to
Bryan made you regular populists , but-
made you irregular democrats instead of
regular democrats ?
The bonds that hold your chief in the
populistio creed are so strong that they
do not fear , after your four yeara of
captivity , they boldly taunt you as their
captives taken , as they say , "under the
name of democracy. " Will you longer
wear the badge of populistio servitude
and remain "hewers of wood and draw
ers of water" in the camp of the enemy ,
whose name and doctrine was always a
stench in the nostrils of every Jefferson-
iau democrat ? What would old Sam
Tilden or Horatio Seymour say to you ,
if they could be rehabilitated on earth ?
You may answer nothing , but if that
should be true , it would bo because yon
would be ashamed to meet , but would
avoid them.
THE CONSERVATIVE
TRUSTS. '
TIVE publishes , this
week , an epitome of Mr. Ohas. R.
Flint's speech on industrial conbinations.
It is a thoughtful and logical presenta
tion of the "trust" question. Mr. Flint
is thoroughly at home in 'a discussion
of industrial problems. He has had
much experience with large enterprises ,
involving the investment of capital of
considerable magnitude. It was his
genius that conceived the first industrial
combination and his constructive ability
that made its success possible. Mr. Flint ,
in accord with the best economic
thought of the country , believes that
combinations in themselves are not bad
but are a positive good. They bear a
like relation to production as does im
proved machinery. Both cheapen the
cost of the thing produced and therefore
are a benefit to the community. As Mr.
Flint points out combinations are of two
fold advantage to the wage-earner. The
cheapening of the cost of production
enlarges the wage fund , thereby making
possible the payment of increased wages
and at the same time these wages buy
more by reason of the cheapened price
of the thing produced. Combination
therefore moans higher wages to the
wage earner and cheaper prices for the
things he buys.
Those who wish
TEAR DOWN.
to tear down pre
sent industrial conditions who are not
content to "let well enough alone , "
should vote for Bryan , discontent and
destruction.
Those who wish to build up and in-
oreaso all wage-paying industries who
seek contentment
vote against Bryan.
For a single truth , if ho told one , in
the prophecies made in 1896 , find more
gold circulating in
Truth < the TTnifced States
" '
than ever -before. - . - - - -