Willmar tribune., 1900-05-09
est campaign ever waged on this con-


est campaign ever waged on this con-
tinent. .~.-s
The patriots Of the land rallied to
our standards, we won in the forum Of
reason, we triumphed in the arena Of
intelligence, and we polled one million
more votes than were ever before cast
for Democratic candidate. Even on
the face of the returns 10000 laore
votes would have elected our candi-
date.
But we were borne down by corrup-
lion, by coercion, by bribery, by fraud
and by crime.
This year we are going to fight the
battle over and the signs of victory
are already printed on the heavens.
It is gratifying to note that the peo-
pie are getting in earnest and are de-
manding that their public men shall
represent something.
The successful trimming politician
commands no respect and the unsuc-
cessful one is simply despjsed.
Office-getting is no longer looked up
on as an honor, in fact it has a ten
dency to lower a man in the estirla-
ton Of the public. AS rule the
ablest men do not hold Office.
This is because we have gone through
a period in which our public men stood
for nothing.
Independence In Politics.
A spirit of independence is growing
and neither Of the great parties can be
delivered as they once could.
You remember that in 1893-94 au!
'95 Independent parties, known by diff
ferent names, well-nigh controlled
North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama aIi
some other southern states. They
polled 100000 votes in Texas, $4,000 in
Illinois, and absolutely dominated
Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, the two
Dakotas, and a number of other states.
In sense these people constituted
the advance guards Of political thought
and were weary of trickery and sham.
In 1886 most Of them came with Us
because we represented something def
mite.
In that great campaign men were
told to be true to their manhood and
act on their convictions and they ac-
quired the strength that comes from
breathing pure air and standing In the
sun. For three years this has gone
on and that politician makes fatal
mistake who imagines that the Demo-
cratic party can again be delivered on
any kind Of platform.
The people are as much in earnest
today as they were in the civil wal
North and South, and they will stand
no trifling.
While they will honor hero they
are not men worshipers.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific you
hear people talk, not about men, but
about policies and principles.
This campaign is going to be cam
paign Of mighty questions and not OF
candidates.
Those men who imagine that If they
could by hook or crook-by trick or
trade-nominate some hero in the Ma
tional Democratic convention, that
then, with the aid of money they could
carry the country-had better be dis
illusioned, for they could not carry six
states in this union.
This is not a year in which politi-
clans can deliver. Even the democ-
racy of the east is Strengthening its
spine. To simply say that we are
democrats may sound laconic, but un-
less we stand for something definite
that earnest men and earnest women
can lay hold on in life, unless we offer
hope to the toiling, suffering, sorrow
ing children Of men, we will be des-
pissed by mankind.
Way Bryan Is Strong.
What is it that gives MIR. Bryan such
hold on the democracy of America
as no man has had since the days OF
Jackson? It is his principles and his
earnestness.
There is no hero worship about It,
They favor the principles he advocates
and have absolute confidence in his
honesty and courage. He Is an idol
not hero. People love him because
they believe he sympathizes with
them.
I hear some good man say, why
could not Bryan consent to modify
some features Of the Chicago platform
so that we could all unite and then we
could win?
My friend, you have simply read the
newspapers and have not studied the
conditions. You have not heard the
earnest heartbeats of our people.
The moment Mr.. Bryan consents tc
modify the Chicago platform in any
particular, that moment he is de-
stroyed.
He would at once sink to the level o1
the ordinary politician, who was trim
ming his sails to catch votes.
He would at once cease to be the
idol of the democratic heart. Now you
respect him for his sincerity-then
you would despise him for his weak
ness.
Look around, you can count hun
dreds Of able, learned and eloquent
men who hold high place in the demo.
cratic councils and are today wayside
wrecks hidden in dust because in the