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T be Conservative.
MR. BRYAN'S RESPONSE.
It was iuovitablo that Mr. Bryan
should make some response to the action
of the Ohio democratic con volition.-The
vote taken in that body was so direct
a repudiation both of the Kansas City
platform and of himself as a leader of
the party , that to leave it unnoticed
would bo interpreted as acquiescence in
it. Accordingly we are quite prepared
to learn that the Commoner contains a
response of so decided a tone that it
might be classed as the countercheck
quarrelsome to the Ohio democrats , and
to all others who agree with them.
How numerous these are the public may
gather from the extracts wo are publish
ing from the leading organs of the
party and from the interviews with
democratic leaders. The acclaim that has
come up from the South echoing the
Ohio platform is the most significant
demonstration of all , since it comes
from a quarter which is able to lay
down the law to the entire party. The
competency of the southern wing of the
party to control its action in national
conventions , is not disputed , yet its
power has seldom or never been exer
cised. It has been a latent power alto
gether. If the South had carried out
its own purposes and given expression
to its own beliefs at Kansas City last
year , the platform would not have con
tained the silver plank which was
adopted , or any other on that subject.
The southern delegates , however , fol
lowed the lead of the northern oueswho
followed that of Mr. Bryan himself.
They will not make that mistake again.
Nor will there be any occasion to do so ,
since the North is' as completely cured
of the currency madness as any other
section.
Mr. Bryan's response in the Commoner
confirms everything that has been said
by those who are opposed to him in na
tional politics. The great body of
democrats and independents who either
voted against him last year , or refrained
from voting at all , said that he was so
fanatical on the money question that ,
although the Kansas City platform mode
it subordinate to that of imperialism ,
he would , if elected , use the power of
the presidential office to debase the cur
rency , and that such action would
plunge the business of the country into
confusion , the end of which could nol
bo foreseen. This was the opinion oJ
men of calm judgment and independent
thought , such as President Eliot ,
Wheeler H. Peckham , Charles Francis
Adams , John G. Carlisle , Senator Caf-
fery , Professor Laughlin , and many
others , against whom could be imputed
no leaning toward imperialism or Mo-
Kinleyism in any form.
That these men were right is proved
now by Mr. Bryan's insistence that the
Kansas City platform ought to have
been endorsed by the Ohio convention
because of the silver plank in it. "The
money question , " he says , "is not yet
out of politics. Every session of con
gress will have to deal with it. Repub-
icans declare that it is dead , but they
ceep working at it. " Even more ex
plicit was his private declaration to
ongressmanLevy during the campaign
of last year , which the latter introduced
nto a public document , a few months
igo , in the following words :
"Mr. Levy . . . It has never been
before stated , but the distinguished
; entlemau who ran for president of the
United States last winter , when he was
in Washington , told me that , if he was
elected president of the United States ,
ie would find a way to pay in silver un
der the present law. Now , we certainly
ought to give the secretary of the
treasury the power to issue bonds to
protect that reserve.
"Mr. Hill Do I understand that Mr.
Bryan made that statement to you , Mr.
Levy ?
"Mr. Levy Yes , sir.
"Mr. Coohran Why , certainly ; there
is no question as to that. "
This'colloquy took place in the house
committee on coinage , weights , and
measures on the 10th of January last. It
is of some importance still as illustrat
ing Mr. Bryan's fanatical adherence to
the silver question as an issue in na
tional politics , and explaining his loud
protest against the action of the Ohio
convention.
That Mr. Bryan is out of the running
as a candidate for the democratic nomi
nation in 1904 is now quite certain. He
may , however , bo the candidate of the
populists , or of some offshoot of thai
party. He may fall into the tracks oi
Gen. Weaver , who was the candidate ol
the greeubackers on so many different
occasions. Mr. Bryan is essentially a
a populist. The aim and purpose of
that party from the beginning has been
debasement of the currency by fresh is
sues of greenbacks. To this end , silver
was but a stepping stone. Mr. Bryan
made a speech for the greenback delu
sion while he was in congress , and there
is little doubt that it was this , and not
the "cross of gold and crown of thorns'
speech at Chicago , that gave him the
populist nomination in 1896. The popu
lists of the Ocala platform will be more
than ever attached to him if he leaves
the'democratic party. That he should
leave it , seems to be logically necessary
if in 1904 it shall refuse to endorse the
silver plank of the Kansas City plat
form , as it seems now certain that i
will. There will always be odds an <
ends of parties sufficient to run a third
ticket in any presidential campaign
For such distinction Mr. Bryan is now
well fitted. New York Evening Post.
EMBARRASSMENT.
One of THE CONSERVATIVE'S force re
cently wrote to the Newberry library re
questing reference to some work , if
ihero wore any , which would throw
ight on a certain point in one of John
0. Fremont's exploring expeditions ; and
received by return mail a reply from the
obliging librarian , giving the names of
hirty-four books which ho recommend
ed , and ending with reference to "gen-
oral works on the subject. "
There is such a thing as knowing too
much.
TREE GROWTH SPOILS CROP FAIL
URES.
If thirty-three feet of all the county
roads in Nebraska could bo planted to
f
maple , elm and ash trees , it would in 25
years be an endowment for the state ,
beside which the public school fund
would sink into permanent insignifi
cance. Hot winds would no longer ter
rorize the peaceful husbandman and
make the family atmosphere such that
the husband is a terror to the wife.
Rains would come with regularity. I *
Crops would be assured and the golden
cornucopia would be upside down over
the land from South Omaha to Lodge
Pole ( which has not yet sent in its re
turns ) . In the planting of trees over
the treeless areas , and the preservation
of the forests that have been left , are
the only safe-guards for the agricultural
interests of the country. Rainfall in
Nebraska is sufficient every year , if it
could be distributed throughout the * |
season. Violent rainfall is characteristic
of treeless countries. It is character
istic of eastern states that were once
heavily timbered , and where gentle %
rains covered the entire summer season
before the timber was destroyed. York
Republican.
POLITICAL. "
The republican congressmen in Illi
nois from outside of Chicago are said to
bo organising against the candidacy of
Charles G. Dawes for the United States
senate. The reason given is that they
do dot like Mr. Dawes because he has
outweighed all the congressmen and the
senators in his influence at Washington
in connection with Illinois affairs , es
pecially appointments.
Gov. Nash , of Ohio , re-nominated by
the republicans , and his democratic op
ponent , James Kilbourno , both reside in
Columbus , and have been cordial friends
for thirty-six years. No personalities
are expected in their campaign. It is
told of Col. Kilbourue that he never had
a strike in his implement factory and
has never reduced wages. When the
panic of 1898 came , it was feared that
he might have to out down the pay of
his men , and he went before them and
asked if they would accept a reduction
in case of necessity. They agreed , but
1 the necessity did not arise.
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