New-York tribune., 1900-07-06
BRYAN AGAIN TRIUMPHS.
HIS PARTY FORCED To ADOPT HIS
VIEWS on SILVER
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE tribune ]


Kansas CITY JULY 5-WTliar1 ] BRYAN OF
Nebraska, became again to-day the Presidential
candidate Of the Democratic party on a plat
form forced by his own unyieIding purpose on a
reluctant and browbeaten Convention The
nomination was accomplished with a prear-
ranged and picturesque show OF party order
But how much OF the enthusiasm was real and
how much simulated it was easy enough 10
conjecture. Mr.. Bryan's hold on the organiza-
ton he is TO lead in his second attempt to storm
the White House could not be questioned by
any one who had seen his personality stamped
on every idea expressed or move made in the
Convention But the subservient attachment 10
the party's accepted candidate for the Presi-
dency, so noticeable both among the leaders and
the rank and file, sprang more from fear than
from unseIish devotion. and there can be no
question that had a majority OF the delegates
had the courage OF their secret convictions the
party would to-day have run away from al least
one declaration of principle 10 which II was held
committed only by an exercise Mr.. Bryan's
part Of virtually autocratic power Few such
instances Of the absolute domination IN party
councils of one mans Will have been witnessed
in American politics.
This is imperialism Of the worst sort ex-
Senator David 3. Hill exclaimed when ne
learned that threats from Lincoln had not only
ing a new and explicit free coinage declaration,
but had frightened The opposition leaders out OF
all idea OF making even a protest on the floor
OF the Convention
A CONCESSION HAILED WITH JOY
The real feeling OF the delegates was indirectly
shown by the greeting given 10 the sop thrown
them by the platform makers in announcing
that the anti-imperiaIistic issue was 10 be con-
sidered paramount in this years campaign
This formal concession 10 the demand that the
money question be slurred over so far as pos
sbIe was hailed by the Convention with more
genuine enthusiasm than was spent even Cn
the nomination Of Colonel Bryan himself and
in contrast the reading Of the free silver plank
was received with absolute cOldness- Yet the
secret preferences Of both leaders and delegates
yielded before the fixed purpose OF the Presiden-
riaI candidate 10 dictate the platform on which
he should make his canvass and the party
meekly and UncompIainingly entered this years
fight for the Presidency Handicapped by the ex-
pIicit acceptance Of an issue which IN the minds
Of great majority OF the delegates plainly in
vited defeat
For Colonel Bryan and the policy he forced
upon the Convention Il must be said that they
sacrificed expediency TO logtc-a choice neither
very usual nor very paIatable 70 Democratic
politicians Yet there is probably some force in
tion under his undisputed leadership had as
much TO lose as 10 gain By any attempt 10 hood
wink the country about its loyalty 10 the cheap
ened silver dollar. As the joint candidate OF the
populist and Democratic parties the Nebraska
orator properly argued that an obscure or
evasfve deIiverance on silver at Kansas City
would cut the vital cord OF the bipartisan CO
aLtion planned at Sioux Falls The bad faith OF
an attempt 10 desert the silver standard here
~ r-n Vest
ern and Northwestern States than a partial hid
ing OF the wolf in Sleeps clothing could
nossfbIv attract IN the East. This view the
Convention, more intent on strengthening the
nerrv organization from within than IN con-
tracting or maintaining outside political al
Iiances. accepted without conviction and only
under powerful pressure II viii disperse, there
fore. neither tubilant nor satisfied So far. in
deed, as most Of the States Of the Atlantic
Coast and the Middle West are concerned. the
Marty as q result Of its wrangles here over sill
yer enters the Presidential tight only little
less divided and demoralized than in 1896
AITIRRYAN SHOW OF STRENGTH
The anti-Brvan forces were frankly astonished
., ,ba show OF strength they were able TO make
and The prolonged and strong resistance they
,g-era able 10 maintain 10 the adoption OF new
and radical free coinage plank Not one OF the
leaders who proposed the evasion OF the silver
tssue SUSPECTED that any considerable number or
-ba PROMISES Of assistance made 10 them would
hold good after Mr.. Bryan said he would hold
rbA Convention TO the cause OF 10 70 / Doubt
less a good deal Of the opposition encountered BY
the BRYAN leaders in the Platform Committee
was due 10 the fact that many State delegations
had chosen committeeman who did not fairly re-
fleet the susceptibility 10 pressure from Lincoln
on the delegates. Nor were all the delegates
who voted against new and explicit silver
declaration inclined 10 submit 70 the modification
programme Thus New-YorH which was count
Cd among the CommonweaIths favoring an
evasive policy was secretly averse 70 encourag-
ing ANYTHING the success OF which might benefit
ex- Governor Hill
This morning il was demonstrated that de-
cisive majority favored acquiescence IN Colonel
Bryan's platform policy, 10 whatever lengths
OF radicalisn II might lead Texas 100. unani-
nnously rebukad the rather surprising activity
of its committeeman in opposing a new silver
declaration.
There was not an overabundance OF sincerity
ne support given to the conservative wing
OF the party IN the Platform Committee Mayor
Harrison doubtless realized that successful
opposition 10 Colonel Bryans plans would en-