Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-07-26
BRYAN,s DENOMINATION.
come the Deaocr2csss Choscn
Leader.

REO examines Mt. Bryan : career IN
the light OF history. and who manci-
pates himself from all prejudice for
OF against the candidate and the great
party which twice in succession has
made him its leader.
Mr.. Bryan entered his par1y's ma
tional convention of 1896 as a member
of a c~on1esting delegation. As tested
by the standards OF his organization
which prevailed along TO hat time, he
was marked with the faint of pa~ti-
san h~e1erodoxy. The idea for which
he stood-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 circulation, precipitate
the country 10 the silver basis. and
d~isastrously disturb al values
would, if sanctioned by the conven-
ton, make a break with the 1radi-
tons of a hundred years Of demo-
cratic history.
Moreover. presented to the same
convention were the na1es of older
and (as judged bS the canon of that
day) greater soldiers of the silver
cause, Richard +. Bland. the pioneer
OF the silver coinage movement in
congress. was urged by a large ele-
nent OF his party for the presidential
nomination. Another faction favored
Horace Boies, also a 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, a veteran
fighter on the silver side in both
branches of congress. had some power
full friends in the convention. ia re-
ceiyed many votes for the nomination.
Yet this eontesting delegate, who
was admitted to a seat by the favor
Of the convention. but whose name
was new to a majority of the dele
gates al the time. defeated. through
the magic of a speech which put the
feelings of his hearers into burning
phrase. men who had been leaders of
his cause long before his name was
lived. and carried off the conventions
prize.
Other men than Mr.. Bryan, whose
anne were not. previously coupled
with the candidacy. were nominated
for president. But Mr.. Bryan had no
military glory, o was his name. al
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
ont from the roll of ordinary members
on the silver side. What. then, was the
secret of Mr. Bryan's power owe his
party? 1t was this: In his speech 10
the convention he gave the idea which
for years had been struggling for
expression in his party more
striking expression tnan 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 1 ratio. without waiting
fer the aid or consent of any other
nation" This meant that compromise
ard equiyocation in that party on that
issue was ended.
Mr.. Bryan's proclivities conceded
with his party's new mood His phys
ical traits moreover, lent power TO his
moral attributes.
What are the causes Of Mr.. Bryants
hold on the affections of has party in
1890, aside from those which gave him
the candidacy in 1896? His robust
sincerity. which ven his partisan en-
emies have never questioned: his
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
gained in his tidal-wave campaign
four years earlier; and the belief of
his party. rank and file. that he is, on
the whole, the best exponent Of his
party's position on the issues Of the
finances, trusts and antl-imperialism.
Upon what does Mr.. Bryan's party
base its hope of carrying the country
in 1900? Upon analogy. upon chance,
and upon a belief that its cause is in
herently strong with the people.
In every election for president in
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 Ad-
in 1896. defeated Adams in 1s0o.
Jackson. who was left behind By John
Quincy Adams in the contest which
to the house of representatives
in 1924, was far ahead of Adams in
the electoral college in 1925. William
Henry Harrison. who vas easily beat
by Van Buren, in 1886, just as easily
defeated Van Buren, in 1910. Cleve-
land, who was 65 in the minority IN
the electoral college of 1855 in the
against Benjamin Harrison,
had a majority of more than double
figure, or 1872. over Harrison in
1892. New York and Indiana have
been swinging alternately from one
party TO the other in successive can
vases for more than a quarter OF a
and both were carried by the
republicans in 1896. Four a Of
power for each party has been the
rule for several successive presidential
and II is the democraeys
turn to win IN 1900.
These considerations of analogy and
similitude have doubtless impressed
themselves on the minds Of the demo-
.ratic leaders. Now for the hopes
upon chance
The panic of 1887. which began a
weeks after Van Buren, entered
power, was one of the causes Of his
in $40. That OF 1879, in the
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