Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-09-15

uo IllOIt tudh iChIllIil III ~. AZ Wiz Is
sues with which it deals it gives clear
and certain definitions. There is no
necessity of repeating these definitions
and thereby making cumbrous and
unwieldy the declarations of 1900,
which in the nature of things must
deal with and define issues that have
arisen since the Chicago deliverance.
We shall dwell on these new issues no
further than to say that conditions
give to them an Importance which
cannot be ignored. One of them
that which relates to the covert at
tempt of the Republican politicians to
make the flag of the Union under the
Constitution stand for conquest and
tyrany in foreign parts-is, in fact, ol
overshadowing Importance, and will be
so recognized long before the party as.
sembles in its quadrennial council.
The old issues, which stand in no
need of definition, should be reaffirmed
in a paragraph and the new ones
clearly and vigorously defined, SO that
the Democratic position will be in nc
danger OF doubt or misconstruction
Mr.. Bryan merely recognized existing
conditions when he said in his Iowa
speech that the currency question can,
not be made the most conspicuous
question next year. Democrats may
feel in their bones. as the saying is,
that it is the most important, but cir
cumstances will prevent it from being
the most conspicuous; and this, no
matter what the party may do in the
premises. Public attention, and there
fore public discussion, will be focused
on the newer issues which have grown
out OF the Republican party's manage
ment OF affairs.
There is said to be some opposition
to Mr.. Bryan on the part of the gold
Democrats. This opposition, however,
is mainly geographical, or is the result
Of unreasonable prejudice. The very
conditions which make or overmaster
issues point to Mr.. Bryan as the man
ON whom all Democrats can safely
unite. He is honest and fearless. He
is neither a radical nor trimmer.
He is wise, prudent and conservative.
Circumstances, as we'll as his own
gifts, have made him q leader of men.
His popularity with all classes is
greater than that OF any other political
leader now before the public. He is
the idol of his party in larger sense
than any man has ever been since the
days of jackson. He has practically
destroyed Democratic divisions in the
South and West, and has brought the
Populists back into the organization
Through him the Democratic party in
every part OF the Southern States is
stronger than it has been for many
years. The more his character and
gifts are studied, the more certain does
it appear that in him the people have
had leader raised up for them by the
hand of Providence-a leader capable
of conducting them safely through
any crisis that may arise as the result
OF the greed or the aggressive instincts
of those who have grown fat from
feeding on the substance OF the people.
1t cannot be said OF Mr.. Croker that
he is a statesman, but he has made
himself the master of politics, and if
his experiences have been confined to
one small corner of the Republic, they
have been varied enough to enable
him to see what is before his eyes. He
perceives that conditions are such as
to give united and harmonious DEM
ocratic party no small hope of triumph
next year; and he perceives, also, that
Mr.. Bryan is the natural leader of the
party. So complete change in 20
significant a quarter gives us heart to
hope that the gold Democrats of the
East, perceiving that nothing can be
done with the currency question at
this time. will not permit frettish or
fretful disposition to keep them out
of the party ranks in a campaign in
which issues of paramount Importance
to Democrats and to all who love their
country will have the chief place.