Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-08-08

The following communication to the Bal.
timore San, by our fellow-townsman, VIM
Velrs Bouic, will be found OF interest TO our
readers:
Messrs Editors democrats should he just
to the leader of their "lost cause" and do
better hereafter-if they know how.
At Chicago, in 1896, when the delegates
sent by the Democracy from the several
States assembled and formed the Democratic
convention, the Hon. VIM. Jennings Bryan
was then and there selected by reclamation
as the party's candidate upon a platfor of
principles formulated by the Democratic con-
vention, not by him. If those principles were
wrong, why should not the party 1.-THE 6, 5OO.-
000) be censured or rather censure themse YES,
and not Mr.. Bryan. He was but the leader,
selected because OF his merit and his willing
ness 10 voice the embodied sentiments of the
$500, 900 voters-and most ably and indie
tatigably did be do so, with strenuosity as
strenuous as the most strenuous American
Those who claimed to be better Democrats
than Democracy itselt-in fact such good
Democrats that they became Republicans
for term AT least-succeeded in defeating
the party and not Mr. Bryan. He simply
failed 10 be President because q minority re-
fused TO acqulesce IN the rule of the majority
The hope OF success may keep large num-
Der of people together even in the furtherance
OF measures they are not sure are right, but
1t is an unbroken law that when the hope of
success is eliminated and he who was the
leader meets disastrous defeat, the followers
will disappear like the dew before the sun
Unless there is q firm and abiding belief in
the rectitude Of the principles and the ability
and fidelity OF the man, then defeat seems 10
intensity devotion. For illustration the
love of the people of the South for Robert h.
Lee, Jefferson Davis and others; and of the
Beers for Botha, DeWet, Delarey and others.
After four years in the shades and shadows
OF defeat, out in the cold and blackness OF
darkness after four years of the kesnest
logic of the ablest journals, dailies and states
men, after four years of ridicule 1.-THE most eff
fective weapOn) after four years OF favors by
those in power, another Democratic conven-
ton was held in Kansas City in 1900 and
not one OF Mr. Bryan's critics, not one OF his
Democratic brothers, some Of whom had
squinted the wistlul eye for years at the
Presidency, had the temerity to permit his
name to go before the convention. All of
them knew that the ground-swel was still
for Bryan-for the leader they loved all the
more because he had been defeated, had been
inveghed against, had been treated to sar-
casm and ridicule, all Tor the sake Of those
whose banner he fearessly, untiringly and
ably carried through the States.
Understand, am not contending tn At the
cause was right or wrong, but simply en-
deavoring to show why it does not lie ia the
mouth Of any true Democrat or any just Re-
publican TO approve Of the attempt Of the
present time to heap cOntumely upon Mr..
Bryan because he voiced the platform OF his
party. fthe 6, 500, O00-if the Democratic
party-adOpled wrong principles or nomin-
Ated Mr.. Bryan instead Of Mr.. Hill or Mr.
German, or some other, whose friends would
naturally prefer him TO Mr. Bryan, or II the
party, In convention assembled, condem ned
and sentenced to exile Mr.. Cleveland, 1t was
not Mr.. Bryan's iault, but the fault Of the
people Therefore. Mr.. Bryan and his friends
aye, even his fair opponenls-have the
right to say. Your quarrel should not be
with Bryan, but with yourselves with your
party-ior when that party speaks Bryan
will follow as faithfully as he led and com
manded it When the South bravely fought,
Jefferson Davis was at its head. When IL
surrendered, jefferson Davis was at the head
of that government. The South did not die
with Davis, but Davis died with the South.
The South lost its cause, but never con
de nned It's President and never will
The abuse OF Bryan does not destroy the
party, but the destruction of the party de-
strUys Bryan. Therefore, let the futile at
templs 10 belitlle Mr. Bryan cease, and, It
the object now is success, let the rarty abjIre
its Chicago and Kansas City platforms an d
formulate some captivating platform, kick
itself for its foolishness (2) and charge again
for victory, spoils aud dominion. But it
should never cease to appreciate the energy
and loyalty Of its servant
W v BoUIC