The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-11-30
CONSERVATISM RULES.


George f. washburn of Boston is the
author of an appeal for the formation
of q new party to be led by VIM. j.
Bryan, which the Associated Press has
sent to all it's subscribers in manu-
script form. The crux of the appeal is
in the following paragraph:
We must have a complete union of the
o reform forces. They belong together.
This can be accomplished by uniting the
Bryan Democrats, Bryan Republicans
Populists and other smaller bodies. Such
a movement would draw to itself the best
elements in the two old parties. This
would leave out the machine politicians
and force them together as the party OF
the opposition, where they rightly be-
long
Add to this union of reform forces, the
strong personality and masterful leader
ship Of Bryan and history would repeat
itself In the rapid assembling of patriots
TO uphold and preserve the national hon.
or under the inspiration of the Lincoln
of the new century. Such a movement
would arouse a patriotic enthusiasm not
eoualed since the majestic uprising of
1s6os
The argument Is far from convinc-
ing. Bryan Democrats, Bryan Repub-
licans and Populists were united in the
late canvass and were beaten by the
largest majorities ever cast against the
Democracy in the United States.
"Other smaller bodies can only refer
to the Social Labor Party. which is led
by Eugene Debs and the Prohibition
lists, but II both these organizations
had gone for Bryan on November 9Th.
the election of Mckinley by a tri-
umphant majority would still have
taken place. The truth. as the election
returns teach 1t, is that no party OF
radical ideas and principles can over
come the power of American con-
servatism. Iniationists, Greenbackers,
Silver men, Prohibitionists have tried
IL In vain. The Abolitionists. of whom
John Brown, Wendell Phillips and VIM.
Lloyd Garrison were types, never. on
their own account won a single politi-
cal victory. Slavery was indeed
crushed. but by other hands, and as
war measure only, the great human
instrument, Abraham Lincoln. being a
man whom the Abolitionists had never
voted for. had persistently opposed and
whom they had denounced. in the
phrase Of Wendell Phillips, as the
''slave-hound of Illinois"
The history of the United States dur
ing the past twenty years-without GO
ing farther back-is that of govern
ment for the protection of business and
the enhancement of prosperity. Some
times the attempts to secure and per-
feet such government have been futile
or disastrous. as witness the Cleveland
tariff reform experiment of 1893. 1t is
xrsnp hNy ~ Nnta hTxn hot
land was elected by business men for
business purposes and that his failure
In economic foresight was to some ex-
tent theirs. We have not had, since
Andrew sJackson's time. radical
President, elected at the polls. Lincoln
was not one. for no one worked harder
than he, at the outset of his Presiden-
tial career, for peace and compromise
Grant had some radical ideas but was
amenable to reason, as witness his veto
of the Imitation bill. Hayes was the
conservative middle man between
Conkling and Blaine. Garfield was his
logical successor. In the canvass Of
1884 Blaine was defeated by the bust
ness. classes which regarded him
wrongfully as we believe. as too radica
for safety; they preferred the homes
II heavy-footed candidate of the De
mocracy. Harrison. icy. deliberate
cautious 10 a degree. was a bushes.
mans candidate and could not bav,
been beaten n second time by ANYBODY
but Cleveland. As for Mckinley he |,
a man who stands for trade and com.
Terce and material EXPANSION as mr.
other President has stood in American
affairs before him. In that capacity be
mas been twice elected. 1t was not hi,
war record. his Governorship of Ohio
his tactical leadership in the House
his forensic ability or his high per
. sonal character which made him Presi.
dent but the conviction among IN.
business classes that he was safe
When the people who control the ma.
terial welfare Of the country reache,
that conclusion Bryan was defeated
All that remained was to register tn,
conservative American judgment a.
the polls In favor of his appointment
On these accounts Mr.. Washburr
sadly mis-reads the political annals Of
1896 and 1900 when he assumes that any
radical assemblage of voters could
elect a President. least of all a man
like Bryan. All that would be needed to
assure a conservative triumph would be
an alignment Of the Adullamites in one
field and under such a General. Show
them and the majority would rush to
arms. There Is but one hope for the
Democracy and that Is to obtain a
leader Of cautious temper. broad pa
triotism. one with a keen aversion to
fantastic or radical experiments in the
realm OF economic activity; and at the
same time to lure the Republicans into
the rapids of adventure. How such
change can be wrought Is today occu-
pying and perp'exing the minds of
discerning Democrats everywhere