The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-07-28
THE OWOSSO TIMES.
OwossO, MICH, FRIDAY, JULY %, 1899
A Scorcher for Bryan Democracy.
EDMUND o. DEWEY. EDITOR

A Scorcher for Bryan Democracy.
1t is not always pleasant for party
man to read the criticisms of the ablest
and most honest of the independent
journals, and yet every thoughtful par
ty man owes it to himself, to his party,
and to his country to do so. If he finds
adverse criticism it may show him how
to improve his party, if he finds fav-
orable comment it should encourage
him in his allegiance to his party if
such criticism is just, and it should be a
matter of no small amount of pride to
him if in addition to being deserved it
comes from high source. At the same
time it is not to be expected that the
dyed.in-the.wool Bryan democrats will
find much comfort in the following arti-
Gle, the leading editorial in Harper's
Weekly of last Saturday. 1t cannot
fail, however, to command the serious
attention of the majority of the men
who made up the brains of the demo-
cratic party, and while they may regret
that it is true they cannot deny that it
is just To republicans, however, the
article affords abundant reason for re-
joicing. and enables them to see more
clearly that their faith in the party and
their hopes for it may be justly based
ism, ana broad public spirit, than on
mere partisanship Republicans never
had better right to be proud of their
party or their party's leaders The
editorial referred to follows:
The democratic national committee
will doubtless convince the majority of the
people of this country that nothing good is
to be hoped for from the party of Bryan
and Altgeld. The committee is Bryan's
machine, and although there are some
symptoms of revolt against it, including
movements In favor of ex-Judge Van Wyck
and ex- Senator German, Mr. Bryan at the
present writing Is likely to be the candi-
date Of the democratic party In the coming
presidential campaign. As TO his plat
form, 1t will probably demand free silver at
16 to l, and will contain all the heresies.
political, social, and economic, which can
be packed into the usual party pronuncia-
mentO. Mr.. Bryan is against imperialism.
but one party is no more to be trusted on
this issue than another. The politicians
dare not NEEDLE with the existing status
The settlement of that question against the
drift of Mr.. McKinley's administration would
require national uprising, of which there
are at present no very significant signs.
Until there is clamor which cannot go un-
needed, no politician, democratic or repub-
lican, Bryanite or McKinleyite, would dare
the mysterious fate involved In ''hauling
down the flag" And IL such an uprising
shall occur. both parties will tumble over
each other In their eager haste to obey the
peoples mandate" Mr.. Bryan will
naturally be opposed to the tyranny of
trusts, but he will be in favor of replacing
it by the tyranny of socialism. There is a
strong feeling against trusts also develop
ing In the republican party, and there is no
doubt that Its movement against them will
be safer and better for the country than the
socialistic designs of the BRYAN partv.
The truth is that the political wisdom
and character of the country. so far as they
are to be found in any party. are republican.
All the character and ability of the demo-
cratic party have been driven out of II nv
Bryanism, aud such leaders as John q.