New-York tribune., 1900-07-04
THE NEW FOURTH.

Hitherto when Americans have greeted the
sunlight on the Fourth Of each July it has been
TO recognize It as the anniversary Of the Ma
rions birth. Hereafter it is to have a new
meaning It is to be the glorious day on which
William Jennings Bryan was graciously pleased
70 allow a Democratic National Convention TO
indorse his nomination for President made
some months before by the great Populist party
in the city Of Sioux Falls. 1t is not much Of an
incident to Mr.. Bryan, but it means great deal
TO the Democracy and the Nation. Democrats
may well keep forever sacred the day when so
great man consented TO let them kneel before
him and swallow his POpulistc principles. A
majority Of the delegates at Kansas City would
apparently prefer to suppress or hide the ques-
ton of 18 to l. But the mighty master tells
them to take 16 to 1 or go without his leader
ship and alliance with the Populists, whose can
didate he is. and they take it and are ready, If
he insists upon 1t, to take his PopuIist Vice
Presidential trailer also Such personal triumph,
such absolute dictatorship, is rare and wonder
ful, and the July Fourth which witnesses Bryan
standing on the Democratic donkey's head in
the attitude OF the archangel subduing the
dragon viii certainly be remembered by the
poor donkey beyond ali other days.
How much the Fourth Of July is honored by
this gathering is shown by Mr.. Bryans state
ment 10 the Colorado delegates who visited him
in Lincoln on Monday:
The Republicans held their National Conven-
tion at Philadelphia on the anniversary Of the
founding Of their party, thereby exhibiting q
partisan spirit The Democrats hold their Con
vention In Kansas City on July 4. the anniver
sary of the birth Of the Nation, thereby mani
Testing patriotic spirit.
Some people may be inclined to think that it
was the highly proper thing for the Republicans
10 hold party convention on a party anniver-
sary, instead Of trying to cover themselves with
the borrowed glory of day sacred TO the whole
people They may think that the Democrats
instead Of manifesting a patriotic spirit in
meeting on the Fourth, are simply showing
spirit Of cheap demagogy in trying to appro-
pirate and degrade 10 their own partisan uses
the sentiment OF Independence Day. But those
people do not have a proper perspective and a
correct understanding of the relative Importance
Of things Their feeling would be a right and
proper one If the Fourth Of July could be OF
any service to MT. Bryan, if taking the Declara-
Tion Of Independence and pastng his own pict
ure on il and daubng IL over with the symbols
'l6 10 l" and pretending to be the only original
Fourth Of July patriot could help him TO fool
people But 10 those who understand clearly
the situation it is otherwise. Mr. BRYAN is not
using the Fourth Of July for his own purposes: ;:
he is lending himself and his fame for the re-
conservation Of the Fourth Of July He is mani
Testing patriotic spirit, and out Of the large
ness Of his heart and his great love for his
countrymen he condescends to let them asso-
ciate this day with him. thereby hold II sacred
and incidentally remember that there are minor
events connected with it spoken Of in the school
books. Viewed in that light Mr.. Bryan's