New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-07-21
BRYAN'S OVERPOWERING
PERSONALITY.


a convention of politicians, but emphati-
cally not politician convention.
Though the majority of the delegates
cared nothing for political principle, but
were of that peanut variety of politician
which the New York "Tammany hail.
makes notorious and the Chicago "City
halr' initiates in small way, they were
so thoroughly conscious of the demands of
their constituents that they dared not fol-
low their own incinations, but were forced
to obey him whom they reluctantly reco-
gnized as the tribune of the people. Had
| they been unrestrained by home instruc-
tions and felt no fear of popular resent
ment, they would not only have baked at
the platform, but they would have gone so
far as to nominate man of the Hill type
instead of Bryan. But with those instruc-
tions to reckon with they were as obedient
as children.
They did not speak their own thoughts,
they did not vote their own will they
were used as speaking and voting instru-
ments by the democratic masses of the
country. Because their constituents de-
manded the nomination of Bryan they
nominated him. Because their constituents
believed in the ability and integrity of
Bryan they. dared raise no issue with him
regarding the platform or anything else.
What they understood him to require that
they conceded. They conceded nothing
more.
He insisted upon a reiteration of the
bimetallic ratio demand, and although the
committee OH resolutions adopted it by a
bare majority of two Oklahoma and
Hawaii-all the delegations, when the
matter was laid before them for instruc-
tions, positively forbade the presentation
Of minority report. If Bryan had ex-
pressed preference as to the vice presi-
dency, his choice would have been the
nominee. A word from him and the ticket
would have been Bryan and Towne in
stead of Bryan and Stevenson. That word
being withheld, the convention followed
it's own inclination by selecting a strict
party man. The majority would have
preferred Hill, but Hill by declining (and
it is due to him to say that he took high
ground in his manner of doing this) forced
upon them second choice. So it was in
all things else. Bryan's word was law to
them. When Bryan was silent they be-
came "peanut" politicians once more.
1t was altogether an encouraging demon
stration of the truth that the people do
rule. Even though majority Of their
agents be unprincipled politicians, the
history Of this convention amply shows
that those politicians will meekly obey a
popular mandate when it comes to them
with mistakable emphasis.
Naturally, the submission Of the conven-
ton to Bryan's requirements has won him
the title of "boss" Some Hanna papers
are so utterly lacking in sense of humor as
to call him bigger boss than Hanna!
Absurd as the comparison is, it never
theless embodies welcome truth. Bryan
is, indeed, bigger boss than Hanna. He
bosses the politicians of his party, by the
power and with the authority of the masses
of his party. This is boss-ship which the
people want It is one to which Hanna
is boss, not by the authority of the mas
ses of his party, but by the power of money
and with the authority of trust magnates.
Though Bryan be bigger boss than
Hanna, Mckinley is certainly not. Nc
Kinley is no boss at all. He cannot even
boss himself, but is poor weakling in the
hands Of Hanna weakling whose ex-
alted principles of yesterday become, at
the command of the master his football
to-day.
The circumstances that have induced
plutocratic papers to call Bryan boss,
have raised him in the opinion not only of
his own friends, but of all candid men.
He became boss rather than be trim
mer.
'If by any chance" said he, "the COM
mittee on resolutions decides to report
platform in which there is not silver
plank there must be minority report and
a fight on the floor of the convention. will
come to Kansas City on the fastest train
available, make fight for silver on the
floor of the convention, and then decline
to take the nomination if the convention
omits the ratio. This is final"
Whatever any mans opinion of the silver
question may be, there can be after that
but one opinion as to Bryan. We can feel
assured that the man who stands so firmly
by his convictions, with which we do not
agree, will stand firmly by his convictions
with which we do agree. Since Bryan was
ready to throw aside the highest personal
honors rather than evade the subordinate
silver issue, he can be relied upon not to
triae with the paramount issue of i'm
perialism. Public.