The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-10
Above the Dollar and ali Else,

Of the theatrical nomination of Mr..
Bryan at Chicago in 1896, and his I'M
broken series of public meetings since
that time is the present absolute sub
lection of the Democratic party to the
will and influence of that single indi-
yidual. Parties have had leaders before,
but in recent years no one man has
had so firm clutch upon the throat
of political organization as that which
Mr.. Bryan now maintains upon his
party of Democratic followers Democ-
racy Of the present day Is whatever he
Is pleased to declare it to be. His
wishes are orders to be obeyed without
a murmur. His opinions are to the
rank and file the incontrovertible and
eternal truth. His decisions are law,
and what Mr.. Bryan says the Demo-
cratic party shall do will of necessity
be done. for Mr.. Bryan has become the
Democratic party as far as heart, brain,
volition. thought and independent ac-
ton are concerned.
With modern Democracy there Is no
reason to charge that the dollar, or any,
placed above the man. The man has
been placed, or has placed himself,
above all other persons and things, and
that man Is Mr.. Bryan. He is the lead
err, the hyas tyee, the oracle, the foun-
tain head, the Democratic letat c'est
moi. His name and no other Is men,
toned seriously in connection with the
Democratic nomination. He has usurped
all the prerogatives Of great Democratic
boss and political demi-god, and all of
the faithful follow him because it is
against the Bryan law to follow any
body else. The worshipers hang upon
his words and hasten to do his very
bidding. Policies are of his creation,
and whatever principles receive his ap-
prevail, these become the essential issues
upon which the campaign must be
waged. He determines how and what
his followers shall think, or more prop
erly speaking, does their thinking for
them.
To be q Democrat nowadays requires
but one qualification. That is a pledge
to support Bryan. A willingness to sub
nit to a sort OF Bryan imperialism in
sures a place within the party. which
carries with 1t the privilege of voting
for Bryan and agreeing to all he says
and does. Positive opinions on matters
of public concern are Of secondary i'm
portanee, and in the calls issued for the
purpose of bringing Democrats together
In convention, those allowed the right
TO participate are amy and all legal vot-
ers who viii support the Honorable
William Jennings Bryan for the presi-
dency during the coming campaign and
win vote for HIM at the election in No
vember." Admission to caucuses, pri-
marles and conventions can be gained
only by an agreement TO vote for Bryan
This Is the sine qua non. The people
may be confronted with serious prob
lens, and questions Of grave Importance
may be demanding a settlement, but
the right to be identified with party
movements does not rest upon such mat
tiers as these. II Is determined by the
answer TO the query whether or
not one will support Bryan. Bryan
Is the party; Bryan is the issue: Bryan
is everything. Naturally one cannot be
for Democracy unless he Is for Bryan,
and II he is for Bryan is, Of course, for
all that Is left OF Democracy. namely
Organism.
There have been few II any other In
stances IN American history where any
people have SO completely lost their in
dependence and shackled themselves so
recklessly to the fortunes Of man with
unsubstantlal ideas. Our history does
not record similar case OF great
party's going mad over the sound Of a
mans voice. OF national heroes and
political IDOLS there have been not a few,
but this is the first instance where
nearly half a nation has fallen down
10 worship strength OF lung. and
pledge 70 support in advance a partic-
ular candidate has been made the one
qualification for party membership.
Misconduct like that OF Nicely end
other postofice men In Havana should