The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-14
IttEPH0E NUMBERS:
tditoriel Rooms. S23 Counting RocH, -. s22
THE INTELLEGENcER.
WHEELING. MARCH III. 1890.
An Unsuccessful Resurrection.

an ShSHSGeS5IHf ReSHFFectfoH.
The production Of letter written h.
William J. Bryan in November. 1897. on
the issues of the campaign for 1900. and
published in yesterdays papers. is
somewhat un,imely. considering some
things that have occurred within the
sixteen months since the letter was
written, and that it has been published
now savors of an intention to further
complicate the situation In the Demo-
cratic ranks concerning an issue for the
next presidential election.
When the Bryan letter was written.
1t appearing to have been a private
communication to a Chicago editor.
none OF the history which has been re-
Gently made had TRANSFERRED. and the
changed conditions Of the country we're
unforeseen, for they have since devel-
oped. The letter. which was mainly
to correct the impression that Bryan
was in favor OF the government own
ership of Railroads.&c. question which
he said he had not been given suiiici-
eat study 10 enable him TO announce
definitely his position-conta.ned what
was then only significant as showing
that the Nebraskan had not given up
the paramount issue" OF 1886. He
then regarded the issues Of that cam
paign as still in the foreground" and
for the Democrats ito pass over them
would be 4 confession that they were
wrong in 1906 and weaken the force
OF their arguments
AS above remarked, many changes
having occurred since then, 1t does not
appear on the face what the object is
in publishing letter at this time based
on condition within the ranks OF the
Democracy which has passed away.
Free silver Is no longer 4 national is
sue. 1t has been downed by the logic
of events. by the failure of every proph-
ecy then made. and by the increased
credit and foreign trade Of the coun-
try. maintainment Of sound finan-
cial basis, the growing sentiment for
a currency reform on the gold basis and
year Of unparalleled prosperity. Bry-
anlsm has given place to other matters.
according to decision made quite re-
Gently to make the questions growing
out of the late Spanish-America7 war
the main cause for 4 campaign of OPP
practically for the plan decided upon
by the Democratic leaders OF Congress,
and there are even divisions in the
ranks on that point. Even Mr.. Bryan
himself is not harpiDg on the issues OF
'96. and the ancient letter which has
been given out is no more valuable as
a matter OF public interest than the
paper on which It was written.
While Mr.. Bryan has been practically
in political retirement, other aspiring
leaders have been shaping matters for
the control of the organization. while
others. powerful ones, have repudiatcd
entirely the old questions. and are
searching for new ones. The resuscita-
ton now Of letter from Mr.. Bryan
advocating another sc campaign is
about as inappropriate to the occasion
saDy dead issue suggestion antc-dating
n revolution IN political issues could
possibly be.
The fact OF the matter IS. the Bryan
Democracy, or rather the Chicago
Democracy, headed By Jones. Coin"
Harvey. Alteeld and few others. with
the, Nebraskan as the nominal leader.
has no rca! issue on which 1t can unite.
a letter with the accumulation, of six
teen months Of pigeon-hole dust upon It
cannot revive the 1886 paramount qucs-
ton at such time. It is resurrec-
ton which canot restore to life de-
parted theory.