Washington sentinel., 1901-05-04

duced an upheaval, if not sufficient
to overthrow the party responsible
for the innovation at least pro
nounced enough TO command a
pause for deliberation,
What was the resultP Compared
with 1896, Mr.. Bryan's vote de
creased from 6,499 600 in that year
to 6.3s7,ooo in I9oo--a loss OF Ifa, p
600 votes. McKinleY's plurality
over Bryan in 1896, with silver as
the sole issue, was 6o3. 900; in 1900,
with silver still the issue and aided
by the uncertainty that attached to
our leap into the dark waters of
colonial expansion, McKinleY's
plurality Increased to 85booo--a
gain Of a58.OoO.
II silver had an abiding place in
the hearts Of the Democracy, its
running mate in the last campaign
-anti-sxpansion on the lines pur
sued should have made It promi-
nent. That it Jailed to make as re.
spectacle a showing in 1900 as it
did in 1896 is proof conclusive TO
our minds that it should have no
place in a Democratic platform.
AS to the share which Demo
cratic opposition to colonial ex-
pansicn had in The defeat, there is
no means OF telling, 1t is our be-
liei that it held thousands of voters
in line Tor Bryan who would other
wise have been arrayed agains.
him-men who preferred Bryan's
financial views to the spectre OF
imperialism discernable in McKln-
ley's foreign policy and thus kept
the plurality against him from as
suming outlandish proportions,
This is a question, however, that 4
will be settled before another Pres
idential election rolls around,
Now as to the future. Mr.
Bryan, with commendable prompt.
ness as soon as occasion arose, an
nounced his with drawal from a
third candidacy. We can see
nothing more nor less in it than
what he says:
Il am not planning for another Presi-
dental nominatlon--itI were would
not be editing paper. II ever become.
a candidate again It will be because II
SET ms necessary for the advance ment of
the principles TO which [ adhere, aLd
that does not now seem prom bic. l
shall. however, take an interest IN poll
tics for several years yet, II live, anc
can be relied upon 10 support those
who as candidates advance Democratic
principles and who can be entrusted 10
enforce them il elected.
The one prime pie to which he
adheres, and which has been at the
bottom ol all the plrtY's woes, is
we'll known, has been offered for
trial and rejected, and there is
small likelihood OF ever troub-
ling Us again. There is therefore
no ground for indulginP the hope
"a fervent hope with Republicans
that Mr.. Bryan will be a candi
date for athird time. That ne will
be found supporting ia Sc who ad-
Vocate Democratic principles is
an assurance welcome as it was
looked Tor. The mistakes ne has
made were OF the head, not OF the
heart, and his aid will be felt in
any cause he champions and will
be welcomed.
There are questions that arose
from the war with Spain upon
which there is a wide difference OF
opinion. The points in issue in
volve policies, not principles. The
former change. the latter are un-
changeable--and we live mi NOV
ing world. If the future solves
these problems 10 the advantage
of our people we can we'll s1ord to
sink individual opinions in view
oil the general good.
Secession was long looked upon
as the inherent right OF State.
The acknowledged evils its final
triumph would have brought
about we're ample to have caused
its reputation even though the
aIbitTament oil the sword had not
settled the matter. Slavery was
likewise held to be essential to the
South's welfare. Experience has
shown the contrary to be the case.
We are in the Philippines today
at heavy cost TO ourselves. We
are there, however, and we must
see it out II the experiment is a
success, well and good. Ifitturns
out bad one, we can wash our
hands of it. It may cost us dearly,
but the costlier our experience the
mere chary we will be hereafter in
rushing into ventures oil that kind
Now that Mr. Bryan has clearly
announced his position and the
stand he has taken presludes any
danger ofthe introduction ofsilver
as a disturbing element in the
councils OF the party, the SENTINEL
raises its voice to remark that de-