Evening star., 1896-11-16
3 O L. D s T E p
NJ. Bryan and Another Presidential
Nomination.
RcspOnscs by the Sound Money
Democrats, the POpulfsts and
the Republican,.
No Political Rest for the Nation.

No Political Rest for the Nation.
By taking the field Immediately for an
other Presidential nomination, Mr.. Bryan
has not only done the unusual thing. but
has given the politicians of all parties a
great deal to talk about. The step is as
bold as unusual. and there are already
three responses to it.
The first response is from the sound
money democrats. They announce the in
tention of keeping up their organization
fer the express purpose Of again opposing
any effort that may be made to force a
policy OF Independent free silver coinage
at 16 to 1 on the country. They will fight
that policy under any leadership and
wherever presented. They refuse to accept
1t as. democratic, Or to affiliate politically
with those who do. These men consider
that they played an important part In the
election of Mr.. Mckinley, and they will
play the same part again. or greater one
in his behalf. or In the behalf of any other
candidate who may carry the banner OF
sound money. So long therefore as Mr.
Bryan keeps the field as silver's champion
so lorg will a reunion of the democratic
party be impossible.
The second response Is from the popu-
lists. They are wanting to know whether
Mr.. Bryan Is expecting to make his next
race as democrat or as populiSt They
will not support him again as a democrat.
If he is to poll their votes in 1900 it must
be as their candidate. The fight for silver.
they assert is their fight and can only be
won under their leadership. This may
simply be a form of warning Mr.. Bryan off.
Populist as he is i'll sympathy. he could not
take the field as one without losing the
support of many free silver democrats. The
warning comes from the newspaper con-
trolled by Senator Butler, who in 1850 will
t,<,N Nf t1n t:rl two
to lead the pepulist host himself that year
The third response is from the republic
cans. They have their eyes on Mr.. Bryan
and his lieutenantS, and are preparing to
follow and appraise all OF their maneuvers'
Their present organization is not only to be
continued. but on lines that will make a
union with the sound money democrats en-
tirely feasible again at any time. They are
not undertaking the opposition. nor mis-
conceivinG II in any way. They realize the
necessity of vigilance and union. fea-
ture of the republican position is the belief
of Mr. McKinley's friends that, aside from
all questions of precedents. or what he may
deserve at the hands of his party for duty,
well performed in office, his renominatio
Will follow as matter of course if Mr.
Bryan runs again. If the financial ques-
ton can be kept alive so long, and Mr.,
Bryan champions free silver then as he
does now. the logical candidate of the other
side will be the man under whose leader
ship one national victory has already been
registered
But some very able men who supported
Mr. Bryan in the race just closed have
their misgivings about the program he now
lays down. They do not care TO be quoted
by name at present, but may after while
come out frankly with their views As
tney see matters. no further agitation of
the silver question is necessary for the
time being. The policy the country has
Just Endorsed at the polls must have trial
II 1t realizes the expectations of its friends
and the country prospers under 1t. it can
not be overthrown in 1890 by the silver
question or any other question. If it fails
and the country is again at that time dis
satisfied. the silver question. or some other
question, Will come to the front of its own
accord. what these men fear is line of
conduct which will class the friends of sill
yer among the number of professional agi-
tators.