The evening times., 1898-12-17
BRYAN'S SWERVE FROM
THE AKH OF PROGRESS
BROAD ISSUE WITH LEADERS
Opposition to Expansion Is an Tn
fortunate Mistake-cengressm
Voice Their Opinions.

Democrats with very few exceptions.
both in and out of Congress, feel that
Mr.. Bryan has made an unfortunate mis-
take that affects his own interests as a
man entitled to advise his party by his
hastily formed and vigorously declared
sentiments in opposition to the advance
ment of territorial expansion and conse-
quent increased greatness of the nation.
Personally for Mr. Bryan there are ex-
pressions of the most sincere respect
and, so far as the views announced and
so ably insisted upon by him in the last
Presidential campaign, the sympathy of
the Democratic party for him is as
strong as ever.
His radical position on the question of
expansion, or rather anti-expansion as
Mr.. Bryan would have it upon his stand
ard, brings about direct issue with the
leading members of the party in every
section of the country, and in the opinion
of no few of them places an insurmount-
able obstacle against the denomination of
the eminent Nebraskan as d candidate
for the Presidency on the Democratic
ticket.
Mr.. Bryan assuredly became aware of
this when discussing the issues of the
period with Democratic Senators and
Representatives at the Capitol yesterday.
He was not ayerse to showing his abso-
lutte independence of thought in the dis
cussions he had with friends and former
supporters, but several of his most ar
dent admirers were prompt to make di-
rect issue with him. Notably among these
were Senators Money and Sullivan of
Mississippi, Representatives Berry of
Kentucky Livingston of Georgia and sew
eral others The Nebraskan was not
loath TO argue the situation, going over,
it is said, on this particular issue the
grounds advanced by Senator Vest, as
well as those taken by Senators Hoar and
Hale and others, who cling to the stand
still policy.
Senator Sullivan, who had long C N
ference with Mr. Bryan yesterday. said
concerning ii:
MIR. Bryan tried to convince me that
was wrong. But l firmly believe that
anything 1t has fairly earned by the war
l explained 10 Col. Bryan that when
was in the House | disagreed with him
over the annexation of Hawaii and as a
Representative voted for the acqu sition
of those islands.
''Col. Bryan's attitude is that, while
the annexation of the Philippines may be
popular at present. a change in the pub
lie sentiment is going on. and that the
soundness or his position will be vindi-
Gated in TIME L told Mr.. Bryan that |
agreed with him in everything political
with the exception of this
Senator Sullivan's statement is particu-
larly interesting in view of his relation
ship to Mr. Bailey. While brothers-iu-
law and agreeing on Democratic policies
generally. they differ radically on this
important and new question.
The Democrats think that opposition
to program which involves the freedom
OF the Philippines under the protection
and care of the United States. gives the
Republicans an opportunity of making a
new issue in 1900, and their contention is
that if the Democratic party is patriotic
and loyal to the flag in the matter of for
eign policy Ii can win in 1900 on the Chi
cago platform.