Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-07
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Tally Courier, year. by mail. $500
Semi Weekly Courier, year. 49,. 1.50
DOES NOT WANT HARMONY.

DOES NOT WANT HARMONY.
In the conference of free silver
democrats in Des Moines w. j. Bry-
an, made a notable speech. What he
said will divide the party more than ev-
er, if such a thing is possible. The
great banquet in memory of Thomas
Jefferson and for the purpose of har-
monizing the party in Iowa made the |
breach wider between the factions.
The Bryan wing captured the banquet
Ssom start to finish.
In bis speech before the conference
which preceded the banquet, Mr.. Bry-
an gave the democrats who did not
vote for him in1S96 and in 1900 sever
al pretty hard jolts. He said: '"The
men who stabbed the party in 1896 and
again in 1900 now want to come back
into the fold, and they ask for har--
mony. Let them come back. We will
be glad to have them but they must
come in the right spirit" In other
words they must be penitent and say
they are sorry for what they did. In
the course of his speech he said:
Harmony, like happiness, is not Sc
cured by seeking for it; it comes as
the reward of right doing. The mere
mention of harmony suggests differ
ences that need Cancellation, and the
yociferous talk about harmony among
those who disturbed it, left the party,
s,,a 10 No w
naturally recalls the issues that Great
ed the disturbance and suggests the
inquiry whether the prodigals have re-
pented or are dem anding repentance
of the party.
Harmony among thoes who funda-
mentally differ about the purpose to
be accomplished is impossible, and not
only is it impossible but it is undesir-
able. 1t is ridiculous and cowardly to
say that principle should be dropped
because the party met defeat in advo-
eating it.
This can only be accepted as plain
warning to the democrats who do not
believe in free silver that they must
accept the Bryan idea or keep out OF
the councils of the party. Mr.. Bryan
also gives them to understand that he
is the dictator and accredited owner of
the democratic party and that the men
who voted against him in the two
presidential elections can only be
treated as prodigals, and will be taken
back if their repentance is found to be
sincere. He intimates that the party
/, +<,
repent of. According to his view the
other fellows are the sinners. Mr. Bry-
an wants no harmony except along
lines he dictates.
In last weeks Commoner Mr. Bryan
said that men who went astray in 1896
and 1900 will be welcomed back pro-
vided they are changed in sentiment
and purpose. He goes on to say: But
why welcome men whose only object
in coming back is to make the demo-
cratic party an adjunct and an aid in
the republican party; why have fight
in the convention if it's going to re-
suit in renewed alienation, unless the
party sounds retreat2 Instead of in
viting harmony these so-called 'har.
monizers' are only planning for more
contention" And further on in the
same article he says that "the leaders
among the reorganizers are making a
burglarious attempt to enter the dem
ocratic party for the purpose of carry
ing away whatever it has of value to
those who occupy the house, and it is
time to sound the alarm
There is no Disgusting the fact that
w. j. Bryan has more followers than
any other man in the democratic par
ty. He seems to fear that if he sur
renders point to the men who sulked
in their tents three and seven years ago
he will be deposed as leader. That is
why he objects to harmony along lines
they suggest. He prefers their oppo-
sition to their fellowship when it en-
dangers his leadership. He believes
that divided party at this time, when
there is no prospect of democratic sue.
cess, will answer his purpose better
than a united party, and he is working
to that end in all his writings and
speeches.