The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-29
NONE BUT TRUE BLUE ON GUARD

As the time for holding the national
convention draws near, and as the
prospects for Democratic success
brighten, those who are anxious 10
secure Democratic defeat begin to or
game in the hope of making trouble.
There is not a State in the Union
where BRYAN is not the choice OF the
Democracy. He holds the confidence
and hearts of the Democracy OF the
Empire State as he does of the dis
ciples of Jefferson in North Carolina.
Many who opposed him before are his
warmest supporters today, and unless
all signs fail the conditions OF 1892
will be repeated, and Mckinley will
suffer Harrison's fate.
At this juncture, three months be-
fore the convention, when everybody
knows Bryan will be nominated, we
are told by the Washington Post that
leading Democrats are seriously
questioning the advisability of the
nomination of Mr.. Bryan" This be-
gan with wholesale criticisms of the
Nebraska platform, continued by
sending out through a literary bureau
the doubts of this and that name
less prominent Democrat" and now
it is to be pressed by seriously ques-
tioning the ACCESSIBILITY of the nomina-
ton of Mr. Bryan" Those Democrats,
if there are any, who really desire
party success who doubt 1.-The advisa-
bility of Mr.. Bryan's nomination" are
not talking for the press. They have
bowed to the will OF the overwhelming
majority, and will do all they can 10
elect the candidate of their party.
These publicly expressed doubts
are inspired by those who DO not wish
the Democrats to succeed, and who
are dismayed now that they see the
tidal wave of favor upon which the
Democratic party is to be swept into
power They wish to keep back the
waves.
The Post goes on to tell us that a
conference of Democrats opposed to
Mr.. Brvans nomination will be held,
and that while nothing less than a
miracle in politics will be able to
check" the nomination of the Nebras-
kan. the movement will be con-
fined to an effort to secure the adop-
ton at Kansas City of a platform
that shall be devoid Of Populism, and
shall be framed as far as possible.
along the lines of Democratic plat
forms in the past" which means, if it
means anything. that these men wish
another 1892 straddle. There is no
danger that the Kansas City conven-
ton will have any Populism in its
platform, unless the income tax and
the free coinage of silver-time honor
ed Democratic polices-are Populistic.
1t is to eliminate these two demands
of the people. which are falsely called
Populistic, that these men are getting
ready to move on the Kansas City con
yention. These men do not speak for
liC democracy Vi -NCN VI n. -H"i. y
land, or any State which has such
leaders as Croker and German. They
represent the few who are seeking for
an excuse to vote the Republican tick
ct again. They will make a great noise
urging platform they know is not
Democratic, and when they fail. these
men~will refuse to support the ticket
because, as they will untruthfully de
clare, 1t is Populistic.'' And then.
\ like Bill Bynum, they will be gather
ed straightway into Hanna's bosom
and be rewarded with Offices or dol
lars
The Post interviews a number of
Democrats in regard to the move
ment." The two best answers were
these: asT
Senator Jones:
1T is the veriest nonsense to talk
about either defeating Bryan for the
nomination or to claim that anyone
else would be stronger before the peo-
pie. He will poll more votes next fall
than ne did in 1896. and, in my judy
ment. will be elected
Senator Blackburn:
Il know very we'll that our Repub-