Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-14
is HRYAN's INFLUENcE WANING,
Sentiment strongly Against DoE-In-
the-ManEer Policy.
Philadelphia Ledger dnd.

Philadelphia Ledger Ond.).
Mr.. Bryan's ill-tempered criticism of
ex-President Cleveland and other east.
ern democrats who favor the return OF
the party to the principles that found
acceptance In the days Of Mr.. Tilden
meets with no approval, save possibly from
the scattered remnants of populism. MIR.
Bryan's dog-in-the-manger policy discred-
Its his own intelligence. He contends for
party orthodoxy, but is willing TO abide
by the determination OF the majority only
when the majority comedies with his
views. In his opinion, the disastrous
platform Of 1896 must be adhered to by
the present and future generations OF lem
%ocrats, no matter how emphatically the
people express their dissent. Mr.. Bryan,
however, is fast losing his following. One
OF the most outspoken advocates of Bryan
and the populistic Chicago platform was
John r. Mclean, editor Of the Cincinnati
Enquirer, and himself a candidate before
the convention Of 1895. In addressing a
recent gathering OF democrats at Column
bus, o., Mr.. Mclean said:
THE enduring principles Of Democracy
are those upon which we must rely. No
expedient or irregular inventions are re-
quired. II there ever is a time for apollo
giles for democratic existence, or for
trifing with the cardinal faith, or for
doubtful alliances, the present is certainly
not that time
In the presidential contest of 1900 the
democratic party secured no electoral votes
outside the solid south and four mining
states of the west. In the language OF
the Nashville American:
"As a matter of fact, the south In 1900
was about as little enamored OF 16 to 1 as
the democrats in other states whose sup
port Is necessary to democratic success.
1t was an unfortunate situation at Kansas
City, and the convention weakly yielded
to Mr.. Bryan's imperious demands. The
south was about as much disguised as
the democrats of other sections, but in
spite of this dissatisfaction southern demo-
Gratis stood loyalty by the ticket. The
south will not again yield to Mr.. Bryan's
dictation. That Is a fact which is now
pretty we'll understood"
Further evidence Of the desire Of the
democracy to turn away from Organism
is found in the fact that recent state con-
v~entlons either adopt resolutions on local
issues exclusively, or ignore the free silver
proposition when treating Of national Ques-
tions. 1t is well for the democracy and
for the general public that the party lie
manifesting such a tendency. 1t is to the
interest of good government that there
shall be in this country a strong minority
party to compel the majority to maintain
faith with the people or suffer the conse-
quences. This is true not only as respects
congress, but 1t applies with equal force
to legislatures and local councils. II phil
adelphia, for illustration, had a capable
minority party the republican machine
would not dare to perpetrate the outrages
upon the taxpayers which 1t commits at
every opportunity.
Mr.. Bryan's only advice to the demo-
cratic party is to go deeper into the mire
Of populism, but from all Indicators he
will have small influence in the convention
Of 1904. He has spent his bolt and missed
the mark.