The sun., 1900-12-28
Democratic Leadership.

In Mr.. BRYAN's speech at Lincoln on
Wednesday there was u sobrety Of tone
which gave to IL more dignity than has
| belonged usually TO his public utterancee.
He was circumspect also in not ventrring
to forecast the conditions which will de-
termine political division in the future,
though he suggested. and perhaps not un-
reasonably. that the general principles rep
Resented by him would continue to shape
the issues of national campaigns
II cannot be regarded as improbable that
the radical sentiment 10 which he ia ap-
praling more and more unreservedly will
make the dividing limo between the great
parties in the political campaigns Of the
next century. The drift in this country
seems to be toward a sharp political dis
tnction. with conservatism on the one side
and radicalsm-perhaps carried steadily
10 a further and further extreme on the
other Obviously the ambition and Dur
pose Of Mr. BRYAN is 10 continue as the leade
of the radical forces. 4 separation so
broad would make the political variation
which, not less obviously. Mr.. CLEVELAND
is ambitious 10 represent. so slight a differ
entiation comparatively as 10 preclude him
from the possibility of any notable place in
the field Of contest
The distinction between the position OF
the Gold Democracy Of 1896 and 1900 and
the Republican party is relatively incon-
siderable. Ia general purpose and tone the
two are almost indp-tnguishable as meas
ured by the Bryan school Of Democracy,
II there * difference IL concerns Const-
tutional theories touching our new posses
sions which will probably be removed
wholly from political controversy by
supreme judicial decision long before
another national campaign comes MIR.
BRYAN. therefore. with an instructive per-
ccption of popular impulses. the possession
of which cannot be denied him. keeps
himself in training TO continue the leader
ship Of the radical forces on the theory
that they will control the Democratic party
hereafter and make an issue with the Re-
publiCans So sharp that all other dividing
lines in politics will be made 10 seem utterly
insignificant
The speech al Indianapolis on the same
day by MIR. MEMS, the lately defeated
Democratic candidate for Governor of
Indiana. was not without political clap
trap. but 1t was also marked by a degree
OF political aCumen which raised il in
tell'ctually far above the loose generalities
OF Mr.. tIEvELAND's recent studied utter
uuc"s on the same subject. The infer
cnCo of Mr.. kEENs that there will he no such
Democratic reorganization "a was de-
mand"d by the other. but only the exercise
Of wise practical leadership TO bring about
Democratic harmony. was sound unaues-
The Democratic party has never
been recognized during its career of
n century. Even the Civil War brought
about no such result. In 1872 il yielded
to views o, expcdiency and oppor-
tuniSm IN turning its back squarelv on
al its pat record by tho nomination of
HORACE GREELEY; yet in 1919. without
any formal reorganization. II went back
To the strictly Democratic leadcIship of |
llLpEN. II Is true. too, as Mir kERNs
saId. that II ever party represented |
th" dominant sentiment of its rank and |
III" II was IN 1895 IN "A National Convention |
Which, without manipulation but under |
~" pressure Of its own impulse SOLELY.
Put Mr.. BRYAN in nomination. The cleo
nonS of both 1895 and 1900 demonstrated |
likewise that the great volume Of aggres-