Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-04-09
THE DEWEY CANDIDACY.

3E$%nS&S1 I1E DTI Ell SAINDlDAC L 5$F&T2
The New York Tribune thus sum
marizes the democratic situation and
the Importance OF the candidacy of
Admiral Dewey for the presidency:
Admiral Dewey will never hear from
the American people, it is probable,
what they really think of his political
utterances. The natural kindness
of feeling toward one who has served
the country well in the sphere for
which he had training VIII hinder
frank comment on his idea that the
president has not much work to do;
that it isa small matter to- execute
laws, as if the share of lawmaking
power intrusted to the chief magistrate
blythe veto were insignificant, and al
SO the selection of agents by the hum
bred thousand to enforce laws all over
the country; that his personal con-
Eietions make no difference if any
body OF fellow citizens wishes to run
him for president; thatsthe men who
have sought that high Office merit con-
temptuous mention, and that his per-
sonal abilities seem to the country to
outweigh many years of labor in ma
turing of naval power by far-sighted
legislation, and in promoting the hap
piness and prosperity of the country
by wise laws affecting all Industries
and business. Al man who discloses
such a conception of the functions and
duties of the president will be elected
about as soo as the funniest clown
in each state is chosen governor.
But there is a stern and sober side
of this business also. Tt is "a startling
revelation that some of the abIest and
best democrats in the country think
the nomination of such a candidate
more worthy of their party than the
denomination of the candidate who.
vas beaten in 1896 and who appears to
have mortgage on the nomination
this year. Truly, the candidate to
whom even the innocent Dewey can
be preferred must be a strange repre-
sentative of one of the two great
parties. Nothing nor severe has
been or can be sadie Mr.. Bryan than
thls-that able, experienced and en-
Inently influential democratic leaders
think it would be a gain for the ticket
to put Dewey instead of Bryan at its
head. They III probably wrong. 1t
is their misfortune not to know how
low their party has fallen. ButGtheir
treatment of the name of Dewey is
s11ffielent evidence that they have a
clear idea of Mr.. Bryan's fitness and
OF the danger to the country which the
election of any such person would in
Vo1ve. @
Presumably the people who hope
that Mr.. Dewey's name will be of great
Importance conceive that the demo-
cratic voters in all sections will as
readily support the admiral, with his
notions about executive authority, as
Mr.. Bryan with all the zeal Of western
and southern democrats for a financial
and industrial revolution. 1t is little
they know OF their own party. Never
have they offered a more respectable
excuse fortheir support of such a party
than their evident ignorance of the
temper and purposes which its western
and southern elements have shown SO.
plainly, and which have been potent.
enough in eastern states to land high
and dry onEthe banks men who were
formerly leaders Of the highest infu-
ef,ce. Until they know more of their
own party. more Of It's passionate de-.
sire to overthrow all that lis able and
conservative in American self-goyeFn-
Tnant and all that has made Industrial
progress here the wonder Of tile.
world, they can hardly estimate with
any approach8to accuracy the conse-
auences OF the overthrow Of Bryan,
which many of them hope To accom-
nlish.
The straight truth is that Mr.. Bryan
SIS for the best of reasons the fayorite
II that great section of the democracy