The times., 1899-07-07
The pnrtr to Decide.

There is not an intelligent voter in the
United States who seriously doubts the
patriotism. the sincerity. the great ability,
or the absolute truthfuIness of the Hon.
William J. Bryan. No one therefore will
be inclined to discredit Mr.. Bryan's latest
'utterance, made in Atlanta on the Fourth
OF July, which is here subjoined:
''Hhether am nominated or not in 1900 is i'm
material TO me. don't want TO be candidate
for President unless those who think as l do be
leve that I do more for the principles of the
party already adopted than anyone else would
rather help somebody else win than be the cause
.. the uarty's defeat.
III the Democratic party wants somebody to
lead retreat they must hnd some one accus-
toned to walking backward. The Democratic
party viii not weaken on the silver question, and
the question Of imperialism viii bring more men
on; Of The Republican, panty in the next cam
paign thaa in any of the campaigns since the
CANVAS OF Abraham Lincoln"
The Times has confidently assumed from
the first that Mr.. Bryan's denomination as
The Democratic Presidential candidate in
1sCO was result beyond question. That
he win have some opposition is probable:
hat the opposition will amount to any
thing is in the highest degree unlikely.
Yet he is a candidate for denomination
only in the sense that the party may need
him, and will call upon him without sug
gcs;ion Or influence from him. He has
made. is making. and will make, no can
vass whatever.
All this, we think, is thoroughly under
stood What is new in the Atlanta ad
dress is the plain statement that Mr..
Bryan will not run on platform which
does not endorse the Chicago platform of
1856 in its entirety, and which does not
contain positive declaration against
American expansion beyond the confines of
the territory of the United States as it
was at the outbreak of the war with Spain.
Nj Bryan will not seek to write the
Democratic platform Of 1900. but if he is
10 be the candidate the platform must be
constructed in accordance with his views.
He will not bulge from the position he
assumed on the silver question in 1886.
The only retreat he will lead is one from
the Philippines and Porto Rico.
II is for the six million Democratic vot-
ers of the country to decide the matter
in selecting their delegates to the National
Convention of 1900. They know what Mr..
Bryan did three years ago and they know
what he wishes done next summer Mr.
Bryan recognizes the right of every DEM
oeratic elector to express his opinion by
his vote in the primaries, as he has ex-
pressed his own views by word of mouth
If the majority agree with him he will
lead the party; if they do not he will
stand aside.
This is plain, and it is honest. The respon-
sibility for the future rests with the Demo-
cratic party itself-as it should. And if
the party, through its accredited repre-
sentatives in convention assembled, de-
cides that the Chicago platform of 1896
can be improved only by the addition of a
plank taking strong grounds against that
policy of national expansion in which
fve-sixths of the American people now
fervidly believe, who shall say that the
responsibility for Mr.. McKinley's re-eIec-
tion win not rest with the party instead
OF with Mr. Bryan?