The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-12-10
unavoidable and Mischievous.

While the democratic party is being
attacked on the one side by set Of
self-appointed reOrganiZers. whose only
claim 20 leadership is that they voted
the republican ticket. it is being APP
pealed 10 from another side 10 abandon
its integrity. 10 go of after new set
of leaders. whose brief support has not
been Of sgch a character as 10 have won
confidence.
with the first party alluded to The
Constitution has dealt i'm a manner
sufficiently plain. With the second par
IS we viii now discuss the reason for
It's being. and the causes which make
It's course fatal.
MIR. George r. WaShhurn. OF Mas
saehusetts. whose support of the demo
cratic ticket during the late election
was merely temporary in character,
now asnircs 10 "a new leadership. i'm
which be- vii bear controlling part.
Ass-ming that tHs democratic oreani-
zation viii fan into the hands OF those
who are lts enemies. he goes on 10 out
line the necessity OF a third party.
which would take Up the work which
would be thus abandoned. To give such
p party backbone and character. he
says.
AdI fr this union ~ reform forces tho
strong personality ami masterful leader
-Hla .r i Bryan. and history would re-
r.Ir itself i'm tho rapid asSe mbling cf
f..trfrfs H. uphold and preserve the ma
s.a#aI honor under the inspiration Of
u.U century Lincoln Such movement
va l'i arouse patriotic enthusiasm nos
..tu.s.ed since the majestic uprising oi
Although unsuccessful az the polls.
Erar is miGhti-r man today than his
-s.e---fui opponent. lie IS the greatest
trlI crG-l drr th- world has ever
eu- III. stands alone lie D enough
uF = political genius 10 become tine
founder of great. new party. even ;tS
Je er-uu WAS fle founder ot the demo
cratic and Lincoln of the republican
This use az the name of Mr. Bryan,
unauthorized as IL is, Of course. would
have mo- weight even il it were author
ize1 Mr. Bryan is one of the greatest
popular lead IS yet furnished in Amer
SCAN public Hfe But il must never be
forgotten that leadership in the United
states consists in voicing the demands
a. the great masses or the people on
the one side or on the other. The peo-
pie who opposed republican encroach-
meuts. who refused 20 condone re-
publican Tact. TO matter under what
PARTY name il masquegaded. throwing
of rh- shackiss ~ official control, met
in Chicaeo in 1896 20 formulate dem
o,ratic platform suitable 10 the emer-
Cancv. They selected Air. Bryan for
tile leadership. and over 100000
strong spoke their voice at the polls.
Those same people. speaking from bot
tom upward. again spoke their wishes
in 1900. ami AGAIN named Mr.. Bryan,
and once more. with increased num-
hers. rallied 10 the ballot box. Mr..
Bryan DID not lead the people. but they
selected him for their standard bearer,
because his public utterances COM
maudcd their support Twice honored
in such a manner. Mr.. Bryan stands
today one OF tho most powerful-if not
the one most powerful of democratic
rhamnions. That Mr. Bryan will con
tfnue his allegiance 20 the party and
the neonle which have 50 hOnored him
needs no declaration. and. therefore.
the use of his name in connection with
thfs movement is unjust 10 him.
Tho mistake made by Mr.. Washburn.
MS bv Mr. Dickinson. is in the assump-
ton that half a dozen ambitious lead
crs constitute party. and that the
voters have nothing TO do in the con-
teution save as ordered by a conven-
ton. We can readily picture Mr.. Dick
inson I'm a Detroit Office and Mr.. Wash
burn in 2 second-story room in Boston,
each one imagining himself To be The
whole Thing. and looking upon the
Z Geo 900 voters rs mere pawns TO be
played hy the first hand that grabs
them This is where a great many
would-be statesmen make a mistake,
only TO find when too late. that the
people have something to say them
selves upon the questions at issue. The
democratic party belongs TO the voters,
and not 10 the leaders. rs many of the
latter gentry have found out.
With these facts understood, why
should there be a third party? The
people Of this country are sharply di-
vided into two schools of thought-the
one seeking 2 constant concentration
OF power i'm central hands. to the de-
structiOn Of local and personal rights;
the other seeking the fullest recognl-
ton OF local and personal rights as the
best means by which central govern
ment may be maintained. The one