Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-11-22
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
NUMBER Ia


Hon. Joseph G. Sibley has perform(
the unusual though not unprecedente
caper of being elected to congress as
Republican in the same district from
which he was elected two years ago
as Democrat. In the eastern states
men change their political affiliationsS
with great facility and do not appear
to lose caste by it. while in the west
and south new converts have to begin
at the foot of the class and spell up. 1
think that nobody in congress enter
tanned any raneor toward Sibley for
his change of base. for he Is one of the
most amiable of mortals and is persona
grata to most Of his aequaintanees. In
many respects he is an able even q
brilliant, man, but by reason of some
constitutional or mental idlosyncrasy
he seems incapable of entertaining any
one set of political opinions for a great
length of time. He started out Cam
eron Republican. He was one OF the
BOG who went down with Grant at Chi
cago in the dog days of 1880. Then he
became a radical Democrat, even a
first love. That his first change was
undoubtedly a matter Of conscience is
freely admitted on all sides. He GER
tainly had nothing to gain by leaving
the Republicans and joining the Demo
Gratis in the state of Pennsylvania He
asserts that his going back to the Re
publicans is also a matter Of conscience,
and think very few of his fellow con-
gressmen ever attributed his last
change of base TO serdid motives. My
own opinion is that he missed a great
career by going over to the Republic
ans. ! wouldn't be at all surprised to
see him return to the Democrats be-
fore many years. perhaps before the
end of the next congress. But, in what
ever way be may align himself politi-
cally. most of those who have serYede
with him in the house win wish for
him happiness and prosperity.
Mr.. Bryan,s Future.
All Democrats and a great number OF
Republicans are wondering what win
be the future of the Hon. William j.
Bryan That he is man Of vast ca
pacity. perfect honesty and lepnine
courage, an orator OF wondrous powsr,
is admitted by all whose opinions are
worth consideration. His career has
been phenomenal, even astounding.
The history of his country cannot be
written without giving him a high
place and wide space. Twice the
nominee of great party for the most
exalted and powerful Office under the
sun, he is only 40 years old, an age at
which most men are just beginning
their public lives It surely cannot be
that his is ended Such talents as his
cannot DC hidden Ia d napkin. He may
never be president, but the chances are
that he will be. There win be six more
presidential elections before he reaches
65, which. by a sort of common con-
sent, has come to be the age limit on a
president elected for the first time.
Whether he will be candidate In 1904
no man can tell at this time-n not even
he himself hut those who are predict !.
ing that he IS dead have voluntarily -
sumea the role OF prophets nremat
" IF lie does not want to run In
1904. or If the circumstances at that
time do not Justify his running.
he may drop out for four or eight
or twelve years, or even sixteen
or twenty. and still become presi-
dent of the United States. At 45
Andrew Jackson's name was scarcely
known outside of the state of Tennes-
see. yet be lived TO fill the world with
his acclaim and to be twice president
of the United States. Until his great
debate with Douglas. Lincoln was not
even known over the whole of Illinois,
yet lie is one of the immortals. Other
Instances might be cited, but whether
be is ever president or not he viii for
ever rank among the greatest Ameri-
cans.