The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-01
The aueha gaiy Eagle: TuesaaY oriug 1ember l. 1885,

and can best cement the union Of the
silver forces" and from that point Of
view he is the most available leader oi
the new Democracy-the most available
candidate for the presidency Of the
Democracy for 1900. 1t is long time
ahead-this campaign Of 1900. begun
before the Mckinley administration has
been inaugurated. Many changes may
come in four years. Here is the situa
ton. Not satisfied with defeat, the sill
yer cause must be fought over again.
Somebody must lead. Will 1t be Bryan:
Admitting that Bryan is clever, .
strong and resourceful campaigner, an
available" man to unite the elements
of the silver cause, he yet has a mon1-
mental task before him. Scores of Dem
ocrats are as well or better equipped
than lie, and must put aside their ambi-
ton to lead and become followers If he
lead. Many will do this under protest.
if at ali. Many the question will be put;
Why should Bryan at this early day be
recognized as the leader in a campaign
SO far ahead? Jealousies will be aroused
from unexpected sources. Bryan will
become the target of envy from Demo
cratic public men. He stands today a
proud. defiant, defeated gladiator who
leans Upon his hand but does not con-
sent to death. Can he bear the test for
four years?
Defeated presidential candidates have
USUALLY found this the end Of their pub
lie career. Few have survived defeat.
to survive being an evidence of excep-
tional strength. Jackson overcame the
defeat of 1924 which was not a popular
failure Clay was three times the can
didate Of his party. Blaine was not
crushed by the events of '16. 80 and 81.
Cleveland failed of reelection in 1855,
but was successful in 1892. Van Buren
failed of election in 40, and his magical
leadership left him. Cass in '4S, Scott
in '52, Fremont in '56, Mcclellan in '64.
Seymour in IS. and Hancock in 80
found in their defeat a virtual end Of
their prominence or leadership. 1t is a
Door recommendation for leadership that
it failed, however much it may other
wise be praised. The world turns to
success and from defeat. In this view
Bryan will travel on dangerous ground,
the mark Of criticism, the object OF
envy, the one the more virulent. the
other the more venomous as the chance
for Democratic success gets brighter,
which is not likely.
The leader must always be ready for
the fight. He must always be ready
with advice. Mr.. Bryan must live. 1t
Is said he has handsome offer and will
take the lecture platform. This may
prove his ruin. His lectures are not to
be partisan. Much Will be expected OF
him. and if il this field he should not
prove a drawing card or should disap-
point any large portion OF his auditors,
there would be a collapse OF all his
greatness. The public will expect Its
moneys worth Of Mr.. Bryan on the
platform. A show that is not worth the
price of admission = fake Let the
public say: "A good speech. Mr. Bryan,
a very good political GRAFTON, but 1t was
not worth a dollar" and the pneumatic
bag that holds his greatness VIII be
punctured and the man become a pre-
gumptuous upstnrt. The Democratic
party is not very generous to it's leaders
any way. -Four years ago Cleveland,
though at known variance with a great
part of Lis partisans on the money ques-
ton, was the most prominent and infiu-
entiai Democrat in the land. He was
called the 'Stuffed Prophet in derision
of inaueace. His word was law, lie
and the party knew how to
obey. Four years. and note the change!
The idol has been demolished.
Let Bryan and his euiogists take
warning. This vaunting ambition may
overlap ITSELF The cause may lose its
magic Remember that Bryan has said
nothing that Is able that his force Is an
his manner Of doing things Clay and
Blaine are the two examples who were
superior to popular defeat, but neither
became president. Ia seventy years
only one defeated candidate for the
presidency was afterward elected
Grover Cleveland. There is a dread
about defeat. The question is. will Bry-
an 60 far overcome 1t as a second time
to get his party's presidential nomin-
afion2