The advocate., 1897-11-03

| be a real leader-but not otherwise
They will not be content with him as
the Democratic candidate on the Chi.
CagO platform. That Is, the candidate
must be something more than a Dem
Ocrat, and the platform must be clearer
and stronger than the one adopted al
Chicago. These are the two rocks upon
which Mr. Bryan's Presidential bark Is
in danger Of going to pieces.
"Mr. Bryan's great effort now appears
to be to retain his hold upon the Dem
ocratic party without alternating its anti
reform elements. To this end, he sticks
to the Chicago platform and the silver
question and ignores some vital prob
lens in which multitude of people are
more deeply interested than they are
in the reconciliation of silver. Mil
lions of Democrats are also interested
in these questions, and some of them
think that, If they can keep their party
together and get into power on the Chi
CagO platform, they will then be In shape
to advance 10 higher ground.
'Mr. Bryan apparently takes this view
and is working to that end, but he and
his Democratic friends should remem-
ber that the other reform forces have
reason to fear the result of accepting q
subordinate place in a combination in
which the managers of the leading fac
tor are willing to take an equivocal atti-
tude in order to retain the support OF
enemies of the cause They know that
victories won by such methods generally
prove to be apples of Sodom to refOrmers.
This is because candidates that occupy
equivOcal positions really secure their
election by deCeiving voters as to their
Intentions. 1t goes without saying that
this is not honest, and experience has
proved that the politicians that, from
motives of policy, deceive one set OF
voters before election, are liable to be-
tray others afterward.
Just what changes will have to be
made in the Chicago platform in order
to make it satisfactory to reformers 1t
is not possible now to say-nor is it ad-
Visable to attempt to do so. But, no man
that essays to be the reform leader can
afford to keep silent upon vital issues.
To speak out may create new enemies,
but he will lose more friends by refusing
to do so. The politician that wishes to
play the 'artful dOdger should keep him
self out Of sight. But this Mr. Bryan is
not doing. He goes everywhere, and
compels attention, and, therefore, can
not escape criticism. He gained his
hold on the people by the courage with
which he appeared to put the cause in
which they were most deeply interested
above party, and he can retain it only
by continuing to act in the same way.
1T seems to us that the proper course
for Mr. Bryan to pursue is to carefully
study the great questions that are press
ing for solution, and, entirely ignoring
his candidacy, clearly express his views
thereon, as they are formed. We do not
insist that he shall take radical position
on this, that, or the other question, but
that he shall express his real cOnVic-
tiOns upon them, and then leave the peo-
pie to decide whether he is the man they
wish for President. He should relegate
to his Democratic supporters the task
OF bringing sufficient number of Demo-
Gratis up to the plane upon which a union
OF reform forces will be possible in 1900.
That is, Mr.. Bryan, If he wishes to be
President, must keep himself in touch
with, and be the leader Of the intelli-
gent, practical reform element in all par
ties, and leave the lesser work to men
that occupy less prominent positions be-
fore the whole people.
GAS large man as Mr.. Bryan un-
doubtedly is, he does not Overshadow
the continent If he falls behind-has
to be adjudged too much of a politician
other men will come to the front.
Governor Altgeld has already become a
formidable figure. Charles A. Towne
would make an ideal candidate, under