The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-10
BRYAN WANTS FUSION.

IioA VI again CLlIcIIuS Iut
contest, still seems to keep his wealth
er eye open and evidently is deter
mined not to overlook the mair
chance, should it come wandering his
way again in the future. In his re
cent speech before the Peter Cooper
club of Omaha he dwelt upon the
beauties and excellencies of fusion
and urged it's continuance. At the
same time he did not overlook the Oh
p%ortunity to deal a body blow to the
middle-of-the-road populists, whom he
accused of being in league with tue re.
publicans, the same as the gold
democrats, although they made a pre-.
tense of nominating separate tickets.
just with what or whom Mr.. Bryan
desires to fuse is not clear to be seen
The democrats want one of his rene
dy and the populists may be said to
be no longer in a position where they
may be reckoned on as being a factor
in the politics of the country. Twice
has he and the principles he advocates
been overwhelmingly repudlated by
the people of the nation. The first
time it may be said that it was a de-
feat, while the second time it was a
clear case of suicide without any mo-
tive whatsoever for it's commission.
Fusion" says the distinguished Ne
braskan, sis an open and honest plan
of cooperation. Middle-of-the-road
policy has twice been secret and is a
dishonest method against cooperation.
| believe in open and honest methods
of cooperation, and shall continue to
advocate them as long as the allies
agree upon paramount issues"
There is just where Mr.. Bryan and
the party he alleges to represent do
not agree. His notions of what con
stitutes a paramount" issue and the
notion on the same subject enter
tanned by the large majority of demo-
Gratis do not jibe, so to speak. Through
men who may be accepted as being
representative Of the great party
which had a tangible and cohesive ex-
istence before he assumed leadership
that party has repeatedly signified it's
conception of paramount" issues and
by comparing Mr.. Bryan's notions and
ideas with those expressions it is to
be see that there is a very marked
divergence between the two and as
time goes on apace that difference
becomes more marked. While he still
insists that silver is a paramount"
issue, the leaders of the democratic
party claim that it has no longer any
place in the political questions of the
country and that respect for the dead
demands its respectable and decent
burial for all time. He, however, in
ground and exhibiting it at every pos
sible opportunity and if the opportuni-
ties are not frequent enough to suit
him he manages to make them occur.
imperialism as an issue possessing
a degree Of paramountcy that entities
it to respectful consideration is an
other item in Mr.. Bryan's stock of
trade that has gone out of fashion and
there is no longer any demand for
it. The south, which he expected to
be of his best customers, utterly
refuses to have anything to do with it
and is developing a very decided and
healthy demand for expansion. More
strong testimony to show that Mr..
Bryan is not striking the note of popu-
larity and that he is also short there
in his efforts to effect what he strongly
desires, namely, fusion. Even protec-
ton is being regarded with favor by
the southerners as they better under
stand it's benefits and begin to real
ize that as a policy it's benefcence
is not restricted to one part of the
country, but is intended to benefit and
help all portions.
Pettigrew having gotten a, taste of
the delights to be found in the pos
session of money, and lots of it., is
beginning to let up on his bowls
against plutocracy, and fusion with
him may be much more difficult of
accomplishing than it was some
months ago. The money devil has a
tight hold on the South Dakotan and
he seems to fairly revel in the new
sensation possession of that sort has
for him. The octopus has lost all ter
rors for the former ally of Bryan and
he delights in the pleasurable feeling
of it's embrace.
Fusion seems to be an impossibility
for MI. Bryan, unless it be the sort
of fusion, if such it may be called,
that he has effected by his coalition
with Allen and some more of the dis
gruntled and disowned has-beens like