Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-30
the Iasra,itude Of Bryan. !

possibilities. On that account he in
sists that this. is to be the great rally
ing cry of the Democracy in 1900. and
undertakes to read out of the party. the
long and distinguished list of leaders
vino believe that it would be worse
than folly to again tempt political fate
with that dcfunct and discrcdited is
sue. In this ii would seem us II Mr..
Bryan were both selfish and ungrate-
full. If. as he has so often alleged,
with dramatic force and skill. the truc
welfare of the Democratic party is far
dearcr to him than the personal fort
unes of William J. Bryan, he certainly
course more than one year in advance
of the national convention as will still
further break into warning factions the
remnants of that organization. Mr..
Bryan has always pretended to stand
for freedom of thought and intellectual
honesty. why then should he endeavor
to sttle full and fair expression of
opinion among the members of the
Democratic party. and especially SO
among time honored leaders of that or
ganiZation to whom he is personally
under great obligations for services
rendered in times past?
So far has Mr.. Bryan failed to note
the djsintegrating processes of time.
that he arrogates to himself and the
small coterie of political friends who
still adhere to his waning fortunes the
tional Democracy. 1t would seem as if
Bryan should be grateful enough for
the accidental honors that came to him
in 1896 not to undertake at this late
day, to make use of the temporary ad-
vantages thus secured to him to hope
lessly handicap his party for the flu
ture. The best men in the Democratic
party, the truly strong men, recognize
clearly the utter hopelessness of an
other is to l campaign. They appre-
ciated the fact that Bryan can in the
very nature of things stand for moth
ing else and that to attempt to follow
his lead in another national campaign
would be simply to invite inevitable
and overwhelming disaster-and still
Mr.. Bryan demands the sacrifice,
Even were Mr.. Bryan to permit the
decent burial of the Is to / corpse. and
the adoption of modern platform,
more in harmony with the spirit of the
timeS-such one in fact as would per-
nit the various factions of the Demo-
cratic party to come together again
with some scmblance of harmony the
outlook for Democratic success would
even then be dark enough: but by still
further widening the gulf between his
weak personal followers, and the rest
of his party, he places his personal
ambitions as Il rock upon which to
SKATER all hopes of Democratic ascend
ency.
IT is doubtful if Mr.. Bryan could
talk successfully or even interestingly
on any other subject than the free and
unlimited coinage of silver at ratio
of 16 to 1. He has become IA political
mono maniac upon that question--and
has really attained no little skill in
serving up his few ancient and moss
grown ideas in synonyms. AS a politi-
cal prophet he has been sadly dis
credited by the march of events. Not
d single prediction made by him in the
last Presidential campaign has been
fulfilled. The people have had ample
time to ascertain the true character of
his stage thunder and could never
again be persuaded to take him seri-
ously.
Still Bryan. is after all a somewhat
pathetic figure upon the cold blue line
of the political horizon. He looks a
trie frost bitten and. doubtless. feels
that way. From the first a circum-
stantial man. rising into unexpected
prominence upon the crest of a wave
of convention enthusiasm following q
howery speech. he was made to look
upon himself as Democratic Moses,
with a sort. Of heaven appointed mis-
sion to lead his party out of the po-
ltical wilderness. He was a good
actor. and played with considerable
skill to the. popular ptejudices and
passions of the hour. The condi-
tons were peculiarly favorable to such
a role. Four years of Democratic rule,
with a. practical application I of the
Democratic free trade policy had left
the country in a deplorable condition
The mills were closed, labor unemploy-
ed. business Frustrated, and misery
and want on very, hand The people
The foods we eat furnish