The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-31
MIR. BRYAN's NEW ENGLAND VISIT.

To
Mr.. Bryan was given an enthusiast
tic reception in New England-a re-
ception that makes him think prob
ably that he is in a position to boss
his party. But, as a matter OF fact.
was the reception an indication of the
approval by the Democrats of that Sec
ton of his position on certain ques-
tons which were issues in the last
presidential election or was 1t simply
the result of curiosity to see the man
who has twice been a Presidential
candidate of his party. and who is an
orator that has few equals and fewer
superiors?
1t looks as II it were the purpose of
Mr.. Bryan to insist upon keeping the
issues that were prominent in the
Democratic national platform in the
last Presidential election before the
people in the next Presidential cleo
ton. That being the case it is prac-
tically certain that it will be impossi-
bic for the two groups of the Demo-
cratic party to get together, and If
they do not get together it is about
certain that the Democratic party will
suffer another defeat.
In 1900 Mr.. Bryan insisted upon re-
tanning the silver plank in the plat
form because, for one reason, it was
necessary to hold the votes of silver
Republicans and Populists, but for
every voter of these classes that cast
his ballot for him on account of that
plank, we're there not two voters of
independent or Democratic leanings
who. because of that plank, cast their
ballots against him? There are very
good politicians who think there were.
Perhaps there might not have been
as many as two to one, but it would
not be surprising if the number that
was lost to the Democratic party, be-
cause of the silver plank, was sufficient
to have elected the Democratic ticket.
AS We look at it the number of DEM
ocrats, Populists and Silver Republi-
cans who would vote against the Dem
ocratic ticket in the next Presidential
election if no mention were made OF
silver in the Democratic platform is so
small that it is hardly worth mention
ing, because the silver issue is regard
ed as dead But, If the silver plank
of the Kansas City platform should be
reafiirmed in 1904, about all of the DEM
ocrats who voted against their ticket
in 1900 and all of the independents
would vote against it again.
Is not Mr.. Bryan making a mistake
therefore in not coming out boldly
and saying that no effort viii be made
by him to have the Is to 1 idea put
into the next Democratic National
Platform? If ne were to do that, while
he would virtually admit that he was
wrong in 1896 and 1900, the chief diff
ference that keeps the two groups
of the Democratic party apart would
be removed, and there would be har-
mony in the party.
OF course Mr.. Bryan has a following,
but it is gradually becoming smaller.
OF the Democratic State Conventions
which were held in 1901 and thus. far
in 1902 six ignored Mr.. Bryan and
the Kansas City platform and four
Endorsed the Kansas City plat
form, and one of the four Endorsed
Mr. Bryan, namely, Nebraska.
The six are Georgia, Ohio. Illinois, In
diana, Pennsylvania and Massachu-
sets. The four are Iowa, Missouri.
Nebraska and Minnesota. The infer
ence to be drawn from this record is
that Mr. Bryan's influence is waning