The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-03-28
Is IT DEMOCRACY OR BRYAN,

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democratic party, or whether there is
simply Bryan party in opposition to
the republicans. If there is demo-
cratic party with democratic purposes
and democratic integrity, it will assert
itself in the national convention, and
nominate candidate who will unite
rather than disintegrate the demo-
cratic elements. Ii the once omnipo-
tent democratic party of the nation
has degenerated into mere Bryan
party. whose faith is in conflict with
all the achievements and traditions Of
democratic greatness. the coming con-
test win close the career Of democracy
in hopeless disaster.
Who desire the nomination Of Mr..
Bryan as the democratic candidate for
president? True, he has many enthu-
siastio followers. as had Clay, Blaine
and others to vastly greater degree
and yet failed to reach the presidency
because unavailable; hut the ablest
democratic journals q tire land, and
large proportion Of the ablest demo-
cratic leaders with hundreds Of thous-
ands Of the more intelligent democratic
following. do no. believe in Bryan, and
will not support mis- election. OF those
who voted for him in 1896, not cne-
half believed in he Chicago platform
and of those wh9 ill believe in 1t at
that time, a large proportion of them
do not believe IN it today.
The most anxious man for Mr..
Bryan's nomination is Mr.. Bryan him
self, and the next most anxious man
for his nomination is President McKin-
ley. Chairman Hanna, of the republic
can national committee, is today vastly
more solicitious for the nomination Of
Mr.. Bryan by the democrats than is
Chairman Jones, of the democratic
committee, although Jones is in entire
accord with Bryan's faith; and the
only apprehension the republican lead
ers have as 10 the coming contest, is
the possibility that some circumstance
may a rise between this and the noini-
nation to make the convention reject
Bryan, and nominate some candidate
upon whom The democrats can unite.
1t should decide the democrats not
to nominate any candidate who is
specially desired by the republicans, but
there is another factor in the contest
that should be even more persuasive
to the democratic leaders against the
nomination Of Bryan. Aguinaldo. the
leader Of me murderous guerrillas in
the Philippines, is today holding the
broken fragments of his army together
by the assurance that Mr.. Bryan will
be elected president Of the United
States, and that the cause Of the in
surgents will be triumphantIy main
tanned by the next administration Of
our government.
These are stubborn facts which the
democratic leaders should look in the
face. If there Is Il democratic PARTY
they must place 1t above the interest
and ambition of any man Under the
most favorable conditions the chances
would be against democratic SUCCESS
with the present outlook, and If there
is to be hopeful battle fought this
year for the democracy, or a hopeful
democratic party for the future, the
next national convention must decide
that democracy and not Organism, in
spires the democratic people to battle
for their cause and their Gag. 1t is
not merely a question Of choosing be-
tween defeat and possible success, but
it is a far greater question involving
the choice between hopeful demo-
cratic future and present democratic
annihilation