The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-08-08
The Aristocrat and the Democrat.

The AristOcrat and the Democrat.
From Denver News.
Those who would understand Mr..
Bryan's hold on the masses of his
party, even after two defeats for the
presidency, can find it in a careful
reading of his Boston speech.
1t is no exaggeration to say that this
is one of the cIearest, sOundest and
greatest utterances ever made, even by
the brilliant Nebraskan. 1t is basic.
1t is fundamental Beside it the
speeches of Mr.. Hill and Mr.. CIeve-
land fade into merely special pleas of
opportunists Mr.. Bryan's talk has
the lofty tone of the STUDENT and the
statesman. 1t is founded on principle.
In comparison the announcements at
the TiIden club dinner are but shifty
efforts for success. Mr.. Bryan's pri-
mary proposition is the one made by
Thomas Jefferson, that there can be
but two great parties in any cOun try
the aristocratic and the democratic
the special few and the masses. In
this his own language is clearer than
any comment we might make. Read
it:
"Every well-informed student of his
tory will recognize this distinction. In
every community you can draw line
separating the aristcrat from the dem
Ocrat. It viii not be a perpendicular
line, nor will it be a horizontal one: it
viii not separate those of illustriOus
lineage from those of humble birth; it
viii not separate the rich from the
poor; 1t will not separate the educated
from the uneducated; it will not be
along lines of vocation or occupation;
but it will separate those with the
tastes, spirit, assumption and tradi-
tions of the aristocracy' from those
who believe in a government con-
trolled by the people and favor polite
al and legal equality"
Not less important is his division be-
tween those who incidentally differ as
to opinions and policies and those who
fundamentally differ as to sympaties
and purposes. The former may be
barmOnized; the latter, never. Be
tween them, as he says, there is a
great gulf fixed" Between those
who believe in a rule by a monarch or
a class and those who believe in a rule
by the people no truce is possible. Be
tween those who stand for the dOmi-
nance Of wealth and those who stand
for the dominance of manhood there
can be no common ground. As well
talk Of harmOnizing lion and herd
Of deer, or a wolf and a flock of sheep
Again We would quote the speakers
own language:
ITO attempt to patch up an apparent
harmony between those who are not in
sympathy with democratic purposes
IS not only a waste of time, but would
prove disastrous. The men who de-
serted the party in 1896 may be divid-
ed into two classes-thOse who left be-
cause they understood the issue and
those who left because they did not
understand the real nature of the con-
test. Until the former are completely
changed IN their sympathies they can
not return to the party without injur-
ing il. The latter will be reconcfIed
10 the party when they themselves be
ecme aware Of the real character Of
tie life and death struggle now being
Waged between plutOcracy and demOc-
1ac7. I say plutOcracy because the
ristocracy Of to-day IS one Of wealth
rather than Of birth, and it includes not
anIy those who have been alienated
from the common people By the pos
SESSION Of great wealth, pander to it
and measure al things by a money