The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-08

William j. Bryan.

have predicted q week ago, IL Is hSl iLi-
possible that certain Democrats may
think to relieve their feelings by blaming
the Democratic candidate for sins OF COM
mission or omission in the conduct of the
campaign. We are quite prepared to hear
that Mr.. Bryan might have done better
had he lodged this issue, evaded that. and
pared down the other. There are thou
sands of Democratic constables. surro-
gates, and county clerks who could have
done so much better in their minds that
the pity is they did not have the chance.
To ell such persons and to the world in
general, it will be useful to say word
in explanation of the wonderful canvass
which ended in the defeat of Mr.. Bryan
on Tuesday. Citizens generally are ire
that like his opponent. he stood on
platform, had an alleged party and ma
tional committee behind him, and was
supposed to have his campaign conducted
for him by his supporters, through their
political organization. AS a matter Of
fact, however We are confident that no
thinking Ameri> aa Ill say Mr.. Bryan
received one solitar, penuy's worth of as
sistance from mortal man. From begin
ming to end he was the fight and all OF it,
be lost upon the American people. Mr..
Bryan has suffered a most signal and
policies he stands for have been utterly
repudiated by the country. Nevertheless,
he and they have been shown to be dear
to seven million voters. Who helped him
to this suffrage? The Republican party
boasts, and justly beasts, that 1t has
many able and brilliant leaders. The
Democratic party has faced the greatest
struggle of its history since the Tilden
campaign, with but single leader in the
person of William Jennings Bryan.
His antagonist had the advantage CT
unlimited money. the advice and assis
tance of the ablest political collector and
manipulation living, the support of all the
consolidated influences of capital and So
cial power in the land; of all the cap
tains of industry, and of the vast army OF
Dffceholders. Opposed to this array what
can We remember in the way of backing
for Mr.. Bryan There was his committee,
to be sure, Nobody expected that it could
have money to make a brilliant campaign
There may have been Democrats who be-
lieved it would develop brains If SO, the
outcome must satisfy them that they were
miserably mistaken. The committee OF
1896, which. as most people recognized
four years ago, was neither nice nor wise,
practically was the committee Of 1900. II
It exerted any influence whatever on the
result it was baleful. and its messages and
documents were innocuous when not dam
aging.
Alone. young, poor. and unaided. Will
liam Jennings Bryan pitted himself against
the consolidated forces of government,
wealth, power, and patronage. At the out
set be found nothing in the way of an army
to lead but the scattered and lately war
cation, which, in the course of two admin
istrations, it had been the privilege and
pleasure of Grover Cleveland 10 destroy.
Like paladin of DID, this splendid man of
the people essayed the task of leading the
people TO victory which he believed to be
within their grasp. notwithstanding the
fearful odds against him and them: which
was within their grasp, but which they did |
not desire. That has nothing to do with |
our present argument.
The progress of this leader-this only |
Democratic leader, apparent or existent !
through the country has been one of the |
surprises of American politics. Everywhere |
the people have rushed in thousands to see |
and greet the champion of the Constitution |
and popular rights. II all the voters who |
went wild over Mr.. Bryan had voted for |
him he would have been given a national |
majority of two millions. AS we have said,
his personal eloquence. logic earnestness, |
and the confidence that the whole country /
has in his unselfshness. honesty. and pa |
5riotism. won him seven million American |
-otes. In spite of his defeat he stands be-
fore the country as the grandest figure in |
Its life since the days of Abraham Lincoln.
In saying this we must not be under |
stood as saying, also, that this great Tri-
bune of the People is infaIlible There
are matters concerning which Mr.. Bryan
and The Times are not and never have |
been in agreement. That, however, is
neither here nor there His mistakes or
ours, are not under discussion. What
this journal distinctly desires to declare
is that 1t will not lie in the mouths CT
Democratic politicians. now or hereafter.
10 ind fault with the candidate of 1900
for any incident OF or for the result of
the years Presidential campaign. The
lot OF them left him to wage the battle
|