The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-11-21

Democratic newspaper annot
possibly render any service 10 their
party or to the country by attempt
Ing 10 hold Mr.. Bryan responsible
for tbs series Of disasters which have
befAilen that organization since II
made choice or Mr.. Bryan - iis
leader. In his relations to the DEM
ocr.cy since his sppearxncs with the
NehFaska delegation at Chicago In
1896 Mr.. Bryan has been precisely
what that psrty made him. Desir-
able u 1t IL for the Democracy to
cut loose from tbs mistakes Of the
Chicsgo platform and 10 dissolve Its
alliance with Populism; evident as
Il b that no union Of the Democrat-
ic party L. possible till 1t abAndons
the cause for which Mr.. Bryan
stands, unfair treatment Of the twice
chosen leader will not tend to that
c0usummation. The organs Of q
party should have courage and can
dor enough to place blame for de-
feats, If blame there be, where 1t be-
longs. A party is the architect Of
its own fortunes and is plenarily
responsible for its leadership. Re-
sentiment toward Mr.. Bryan, who
has faithfully carried out the in
structions Of his master, the party,
Is too much like pleading the baby
act.
The Post Of the I4th instant con-
tanned an editorial from the Nash
vile American which included an
extract from the Chicago Chronicle.
The Chronicle had said "There are
no unkind feelings toward MIR.
Bryan"
The American dissents from that,
and goes on to declare that there
are many Democrats who find it
difficult to suppress feeling of re-
sentiment when the contemplate the
plight to which the teachings and
the leadership OF Mr.. Bryan have
brought the party"
"The teachings and the lie der
ship" of older men than Mr.. Bryan
have brought the party to its pre-
sent plight. AL overwhelming
majority of the Democratic leaders
were for free coinage in 1896. For
many years before that time q ma
jority Of the Democrats In Congress
had been free coinage men. And it
is worth remembering that in the
spring of 1896 the Republican party
had not got itself completely cured
of the delusion of bimetalism. The
movement away from that heresy
to gold monumetallism was a long
and weary one for the Republicans,
and they did not come out squarely
and unreservedly against silver un-
til 1900.
1t was not the fault of Mr.. Bryan
that he was made the candidate OF
the Democrats in 1895. Then, as in
many previous national conventions
the veteran leaders were turned
down. He made a great campaiyI
and probably polled more votes than
could have been won by any other
nominee. His second nomination
may have afforded cause for regret
and humiliation on the part Of Dem.
ocrats. Their party did not present
an inspiring spectacle in accepting
the nominee of the Pupulists on &
platform shaped by MIR. Bryan tc
hold the PopuIists in line. But
there again it was the party, no,
Bryan, that was responsible. BE
named the conditions upon which
he would accept, but he could not
if he would, have compelled theil
acceptance and forced himself on the
party.
It would b far moro dignifed
and infinitely more polite for Dem
ocratic papers to stop grumblinl
about Mr.. Bryan. While it is prob
able that, In the words of our Nash
Vile contemporary, ''as q Pres
identisl possibility Mr.. Bryan II
over the fence and out" he ha
hosts Of warm friends, and he is no
by any means done with politics.