The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-03-07
The Democratic Dilemma.

Speaking of the proceedings of tho
Democratic National Committee in
Washington last week, the correspond
ent of a Boston paper that supported
Cleveland says in winding up report of
the meeting: "Behind the scenes it was
interesting to observe that the majority
of the committeeman do not now expect
that Mr.. Bryan will be elected" On the
face OF the situation Bryan has no reas-
enable hope of success, and the Demo-
Gratis in control of the party machinery
know it perfectly well. Yet all OF them
will declare his nomination is certain,
and probably by unanimous vote.
There is here something of political
paradox, but il has been brought about
by sequence of events, Time alone can
deliver the Democratic party from its
singular position. 1t is inevitably COM
mitted to a candidate who will be beaten,
as the managers behind him forsee. The
causes of this predicament are not hard
to find. In 1896 the Democratic party
abandoned its old creed and went into
fusion with another party. 1t can not
retrace its steps. Its position is hope
lessly bad, but there is none better in
sight, and circumstances compel it to
fight the second battle on the general
align nment of the first.
Since the last presidential trial of
strength there have been three tall elec-
tions in various states and in all of them
an evident loss of ground Tor the Bryan
ties. The states that have left their COL
umns are Kansas, Washington, South
Dakota and Wyoming. Maryland went
Democratic last year, but on platform
written by Mr.. German and making no
mention of free coinage. Some suggest
that the Democrats might try Germans
idea in the national fight his year. 1t
could only be- done with some other can
didate, for Bryan and silver are synony-
nous. 10 drop Bryan would cost the
Democrats all the Transmississippi states
that remain TO them and the gain in the
Eastern or border states would be prob
lematical. An election practically on
the Gormsn plan was held in New York
in 1898 and the Republicans carried the
stale, with plurality for Roosevelt over
Van Wyck of II, ,7S6. The Republicans
won in New York decisively again lasl
year on the vote for Legislature. Though
party lines were much broken in Ohio
last fall, the Republican plurality was
larger than usual and the Democratic az
gregate vote one of the smallest compar
atively in the history of the Slate,
AS far as the facts of the political stu
alton are revealed the Democrats car
make nothing either with Bryan ol
without him. So they are disposed t.
let matters drift, knowing at least tina
another defeat will lessen his superficial
popularity, representing now, as always
a great deal more noise than votes. Th
Republican party holds the vantag
grou d OF having redeemed its pledge
and also of having conducted the na'io
through series OF unexpected and sci
ious emergencies. 1t has momentou
work on hand connected with the cour
try's expansion and it would not be bus
nesslike to turn it over to new hands an
hostile party, bent on destroying wh'
has been done rather than bettering i
Possibly the Democratic National Cor
vention of 1900, like that of 1896, may
seized with sudden impulse and d
something extraordinary but no matte
what ticket or sensation is ground out
Kansas City the electoral table gives II
Democrats no encouragement whateve