The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-17

With Mr.. Bryan vigorously protesting
against giving Gold Democrats promi-
hence in the Democratic party, and the
President reaching out after Gold Demo-
Gratis in the South with the hope appar-
emily of bringing them into the Repub-
lican party, and some Of the leading Re
publican papers expressing the opinion
that there is a probability of the Popu-
list party taking on new life in the South
and becoming strong enough to make an
opening sufficient TO permit the Repub.
licans TO carry some of the Southern
states, there is an amount Of political talk
Of one kind and another that is unusual
at a time when there is no political cam
paign in progress or in sight. 1t is
question whether Mr. Bryans assertion
that the victory of Rolla Wells, recently
elected Mayor of St. Louis, was a disas-
trous victory-Mr. Wells being a Gold
Democrat-or the Presidents appointment
of Mr.. Capers as United States district
attorney of South Caro,ina--Mr. Capers
being a Gold Democrat-is the subject of
the moro comment in political circles.
Mr. Bryans attitude and the Presi-
dents act are both significant. Mr..
Bryan may never again be able to get
himself nominated for President Never
theless he will continue to exert a great
deal of influence in his party. In protest.
ing against the election of Mr.. Wells he
believes he is doing what is for the best
interests Of his party, and there are many
leading Democrats who agree with him.
He foresees that the Democrats whom
Mr.. Wells represents will never consent
to some of the political doctrines which
are pretty certain to be pushed to the
front in the next national convention Of
the Democratic party. 1t looks, therefore,
as if he would be glad to have Democra IS
of the Wells kind eliminated from the
party
And there are reasons for thinking that
the President, acting no doubt after con-
sultation with other Republican leaders,
is anxious to bring into the Republican
party all of the Democrats, particularly
in the South, who do not measure up to
Mr.. Bryan's standard of Democracy.
Whether or not there is anything in the
alleged revival of Populism in the South
it is impossible to say at this time. Be
cause a Popuist here and there, however,
declares against the alliance that has
heretofore existed between the Democrats
and Popu.ists it does not follow that there
is a revival Of Populism. There are men
in the Populist party of sufficient promi-
nence to get themselves quoted in the
newspapers as there are men in other
parties who are ever ready to gain 1T
tie transient notoriety by saying that
their party is going to do this or that
thing They don't speak by authority.
The chances are that the Popuiists who are
in the Democratic party are there to stay.
The Populists who never united with the
Democratic party are the ones who are
talking about the Populists severing all
relations with the Democratic party.
OF course now that the silver question
has practically ceased TO be a live one
there is going to be considerable shift
| ing about in the membership of parties
| but it will not be possible to determine
how great this shifting will be until the
/ issues of the next national campaign are
clearly defined.