The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-07-10
Bryan and Cleveland.

Mr.. Bryan said in his criticism of
former President Cleveland and of
what was done at the Tilden Club din
ner. eff we are to have reorganization
Cleveland himself should accept the
nomination. This followed a TRADE
of coarse abuse and almost criminal ae-
cusation against the former president.
1t meant, therefore, that those who
propose any departure from the Kansas
City platform, and who will no longer
submit to Mr.. Bryan's dictation in mat
ters of party policy, are guilty of all he
charged against Mr.. Cleveland.
There is small probability that Mr..
Cleveland will be rendered the demo-
cratic nomination, and smaller likeli-
hood still that he would accept. A man
who has been twice president of the
United States has reached the acme of
political honors, and Mr.. Cleveland
was doubtless sincere when he said he
was content with retirement. He is
growing old and he is comfortably sit.
uated. His position is one OF ease and
dignity. He has no revenge to wreak
time has vindicated his politics aud
no new ambition to fulfill The prece-
dent of the two-term limit established
in the case of Gen. Grant, who sought
denomination after a term of retire
ment, applies to him, and there is no
earnest disposition either on his part of
that Of the democratic party to break it.
1t is useless, therefore, to consider
Mr.. Cleveland as the probable nominee
of the next democratic national conven-
tion, and Mr.. Bryan's assertion that he
is the logical candidate if the reorgan-
izers should triumph, coming after his
abuse OF the ex-president was a gratuit-
ous sneer at all democrats who will re-
fuse to follow Mr.. Bryan's bidding.
Mr.. Bryan's policy is clearly that of
rule or ruin. He must dictate both the
platform and the nominees of the next
national convention of the democratic
party or else he will repudiate its ac-
tion. lie attitudinizes as a stickler for
principle, but really he is contending
for personal supremacy. He is a seeker
after notoriety and will sanction no
| movement in which he is not the cen
tral figure, or which is not largely bas
ed upon his approval. The past two
campaigns, in spite of the crushing de-
feats he suffered, have turned his head.
A large class of voters rendered him
the adulation due demigod. 1t is a
reeorded fact that in western town n
man pressed through the throng about
the democratic candidate Just "to touch
the hem of his garment" Newspapers
and campaign orators called him "our
peerless leader, and he came to regard
himself in light much beyond what
his real Importance or capacities would
warrant.
A prospect of party success doesn't
appeal to him as it does to the mass OF
democrats and to the greater number OF
party leaders. Not that he scars above
the lust for spoils, but there would be
nothing in mere party triumph to fiat
ter his vanity, if it came on platform
that departed from his past theories.
Mr.. Bryan is really political insur,
gent, and if he can not dominate the
democratic party to his own glorificatior
and It's everlasting ruin, why then he
may be expected to do guerrilla warfare
as the leader of some third party move
ment. Nashville Bannear.