New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-26
A QUESTION OF HEREDITY.

The claim that the Democratic party was
never more truly Democratic than II is under
the leadership of Mr.. Bryan is gradually being
admitted by informed students of history
The truth is being recognized that the move
ment called "Bryanism'' is nothing but another
of those tremendous ground swelIs of Demo-
cratic impulse and aspiration which periodically
agitate the politics OF this Republic It is being
admitted that the legitimate successor of Jeffer-
son and Jackson is William J. Bryan.-(The
Springfield Republican.
Who admits that Mr.. Bryan is the legitimate
successor Of Jefferson and Jackson? Does
Grover Cleveland, the only Democratic Presi-
dent in forty years? Does John G. Carlisle or
Charles s. Farchild or Simon B. Buckner or
j. Sterling Morton or George Hoadly or Everett
2. Wheeler or Don NJ. Dickinson, among those
who have been prominent as disciples of Jeffer-
son and supporters of the Democratic party?
We are aware that some Democrats of this
class, like Mr. Schurz and Mr.. Olney, are sup
porting Mr.. Bryan. but they do not do it on
the ground that Organism is true Democracy,
but because of particular issues which make
them prefer him to Mr.. Mckinley, in spite of
his falseness to Democracy. The men who pro-
| claim him the heir to Jefferson most loudly
are Croker and the thieves and blackmailers of
Tammany Hall.
Mr.. Bryan's most prominent principles are
free silver and anti-imperialism. On both he
STANDS opposed TO Jefferson and Jackson. JEFF
ferson and Jackson were both sound money
! men. They would have considered no man their
legitimate successor who advocated ffty-cent
dollars and population of debts. jefferson and
Jackson were both imperialists in the sense
that William Mckinley is They both in their
acts denied that the Constitution followed the
| flag, and they treated Mr.. Bryan's interpreta-
| ton of the principle OF the consent of the gov
erned with contempt. Jefferson, when Presi-
/
ruled Louisiana under a government of royal
| powers" 1t was called by its contemnorarv
| critics. 1t withheld from the people of New-Or-
leans the trial by jury and other rights of the
| Constitution. and gave them no representation
i The present government of Porto Rico Is nucb
| more free and popular than that which Jeffer-
son esta bshed over Louisiana Jackson under
an act Of Congress approved by Monroe ruled
| Florida as Civil Governor with all the mowers
OF Spanish Intendente and CaptaIn-General
Of Cuba" He acknowledged no obedience as
such TO the Constitution. but imprisoned inbabi
tants without regard TO It and defed the writ
of habeas corpus issued by a Federal Judge in
accordance with its provisions. and was Sis
tanned IN HIS action by the Federal Government
And this was not an act Of military rule but
of civil government.
Both of these fathers of the Democracy ruled
territory outside the Constitution. Mr. Bryan
is no more their legitimate successor in the garb
of an anti-imperialist than in the dress of
cheap money advocate. If any of his admirers
wish to assert that, as the advocate of the Chi
cago platform of license and as the preacher
of envy. hatred and malice, Of war between
poor and rich. of the overturning Of estab-
lished order. of the summary curtalment of
the power Of courts to enforce law and keen
the peace, he is the legitimate successor OF