St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-08-25
DENOMINATION OF BRYAN.
what 1t Means and why He Has Be-
come the Democracy's Chosen
Leader.

LeAOeT.
The denomination of William j
Bryan is notable honor to a re.
markable man. This will be the judg.
ment of every intelligent American
who examines Mr.. Bryan's career in
the light Of history, and who emanci-
pates himself from all prejudice for
or against the candidate and the great
party which twice in succession has
made him its leader.
Mr.. Bryan entered his partys ma
tional convention of 1896 as a member
of contesting delegation. AS tested
by the standards of his organization
which prevailed along to that time, he
was marked with the taint of parti-
san sheterodox The idea for which
he stooa-the unlimited, coinage of
silver at a ratio which would have
made the intrinsic value of a silver
dollar half that of the gold dollar,
and which. consequently, as a large
majority of the people OF the country
believed, and believe still, would drive
gold out OF circula tfon, precipitate
the country to the silver basis, and
disastrously disturb an values
would, if sanctioned by the conven-
ton, make a break with the tradi-
lions of hundred years of demo-
cratic history.
Moreover, presented to the same
convention were the names of older
and (as judged by the canons of that
day. greater soldiers of the silver
cause. Richard P. Bland, the pioneer
| OF the silver coinage movement in
congress. was urged by a large ele-
ment of his party for the presidential
| nomination. Another faction favored
Horace Boies, also silver champion,
who had carried the republican
stronghold of Iowa. for governor, and
who had made an efficient and popu-
lar official. Senator Joseph S. C.
Blackburn, of Kentucky, veteran
fighter on the silver side in both
branches of congress, had some power
ful friends in the convention, and re-
ceived many votes for the nomination.
Yet this contesting delegate, who
was admitted to a seat by the favor
OF the convention, but whose name
was new to majority of the dele
gates at the time, defeated, through
the magic of speech which put the
feelings of his hearers into burning
phrase, men who had been leaders of
his cause long before his name was
heard of outside the ward in which he
lived, and carried off the conventions
prize.
Other men than Mr.. Bryan, whose
names were not previously coupled
with the candidacy, were nominated
for president. But Mr.. Bryan had no
military glory, nor was his name, at
the time the convention of 1896 met
connected conspicuously with any
great reform or cause, for he had
made no record during his short serv-
ice in congress which could single him
out from the roll of ordinary members
on the silver side. What, then, was the
secret of Mr.. Bryan's power over his
party? 1t was this: In his speech to
the convention he gave the idea which
for years had been struggling for
expression in his party more
striking expression than had any any
other of its orators. His party de-
clared for the free and unlimited
coinage of both silver and gold put
ting silver before gold for emphasis
at the 16 to / ratio, without waiting
for the aid or consent. of any, other
nation This meant that compromise
and equirocation in that party on that
issue was ended.
Mr.. Bryan's procliyities eoincided
with his party's new mood His phys
ica1 traits, moreover, lent power to his
moral attributes.
What are the causes of Mr.. Bryants
hold on the affections of his party in |
1900. aside from those which gave him
the candidacy in 1862 His robust
sincerity, which even his partisan en-
emies have never questioned; hist
strength as a campaigner, as attested |
by the fact that, in the most exciting |
canvass since 1860. and with hundreds |
OF thousands of democrats supporting |
Palmer or Mckinley, he polled nearly |
100000 more votes than Cleveland I
four years earlier; and the belief of |
his party. rank and file, that5he is, on
the whole, the best exponent of his /
party's position on the issues of the |
finances, trusts and ant1-i1nperialism.
Upon what does Mr. Bryan's party
base its hope Of carrying the country
in 1900? Upon analogy. upon chance,
and upon belief that it's cause is in
strong with the people.
In every election for president in
which the same candidates confronted
each other twice in succession the
nominee who was beaten in the first
instance won in the second. Jeffer-
son, who was defeated by John Adj
ans in I796, defeated Adams in. 1900.
Jackson, who was left behind by John
Quincy Adams in the contest which |
went to the house of representatives
in 1924, was far ahead of Adams tn
the electoral college Ia 1928. William
Henry Harrison. who was easily beat
IN by Van Ruren in 1886, just as easily
defeated Van Buren in 1910. CIeye-
land, who was 65 in the minority in
the electoral college Of 1883 in the
contest against Benjamin Harrison,
had a majority of more than double
that figure, or 1872, over Harrison in
1892. New York and Indiana have
been swinging alternately from one
party to the other in successive cam
vases for more than a quarter of a
earIfTlry and both WERE fsarriesI bt-E +1,a i :