The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-03
MAKE AN END OF BRYANIsM.

One of the three Populist platforms on
which William ]. Bryan has made his dis
gusting campaign for the presidency, the
one adopted at Chicago, says:
We declare it to be the unwritten law
of this Republic. established by custom and
usage of one hundred years and sanctioned
By the examples of the greatest and wisest
Of those who founded and have maintained
our government, that no man should be
eligible for a third term of the presidential
Office.
This high-sounding and uncalled-for
declaration was intended to create the i'm
preston that the mob of Anarchists and
Populists who made ii had still a surviving
remnant of q sense of public duty. The
first thing the Nebraska demagogue and
agitator did after his nomination was to
write and give to the press the following:
To the American people: In order that
may have no ambition but TO discharge
faithfully the duties of the office. desire
to announce that. if elected President. /
shall under no circumstances, be q, csndi-
date for reelection. w. j. BRYAN.
The revelation of character which Bryan
has made during three months OF the most
disgraceful campaigning ever seen in this
country is such as TO convince every INTEL
ligent person that his pompous pronuncia-
mento declining in advance a second term
was as empty and insincere as the platform
declaration against third term. 1t was
simply a piece of Bryanistic bombast such
as the country has had the free and I'M
limited coinage Of during the last three
months. Within the last two weeks it has
been stated on the authority of those who
are in Bryans confidence that he feels sure
IL he is defeated In this election he will
be nominated again four years hence. A
dispatch from Lincoln in the Journal of
yesterday said:
Mr.. Bryan believes the people are
thoroughly aroused and will sustain him at
the polls. but said that If perchance they
should fail to do so he would by no means
consider the cause of bimetallism lost He
thinks that in the contingency of defeat at
this time immediate preparation should be
begun for the campaign of 1900.
This shows that Bryan still has faith in
Ais star and in his ability to gull the people.
He has so little confidence in their intelli-
gence, patriotism and ability for self-gov-
eminent thai he not only thinks the bad
cause he represents will survive. but that
he will again be it's chosen leader. If any
reason were lacking why he should be
overwhelmingly defeated to-day it is fur
nished by this revelation of his disgusting
ambition and hopes for the future One
candidacy of such man for the high office
of President of the United States should be
enough to satisfy the most malignant
enemies of the Republic. The office filled
by Washington Lincoln and Grant has
been dscredited by the mere connection Of
Bryan's namo with it. and his candidacy
has left behind 1t political stencil which
years of fumigation will scarcely remove.
But the suggestion of a possibility that he
may be nominated a second time should
move every patriotic American to the ut
most effort to avert such contingency.
Let the 'demagogue and all he represents
Organism, Altgeldism, Tillmanism, fiat
moneyism Populism. anarchism and repu-
diation-be buried in a common political
grave under such mountain Of ballots
that neither he nor his cause will ever be
heard Of again.