The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-23
COL. BRYAN's POSITION.
An Old Friend and Supporter Con-
 demns His Present Attitude.

Cincinnati Enquirer.
 We are unable to recall in political his-
 tory an instance of d man oi recognized
 leadership III a party who has assumed
 and maintained 1t such an attitude as
 that now held oy Coionei bIyan. lie mas
 lwIce received the ngnest marx oI con
 tidence the Democracy could DestoW' It's
 nomination ana enthusiastic Support TOT
 the t,resldency, anu he owes 10 IL more
 consideration, more readiness to exercise sell sacrlnce ana selt-abnegatlon, Il nee essary, than dny man in II.
 Hundreds oI thousands of Democrats
 who were not m entire accord with many Of ms views, multltudes Wno wholly dls- scented from hlm on important queStlolls of policy, nevertheless followed nm loy-
 ally, and were twice led to defeat Does
 he not now owe something to them! lie has not heSltated to chet lsh and eXprD sS
 a hot grievance against any memDelS or the party who could not accept wholly the pIaIorm he dlctated, ana who de cnneu to follow him; they differed With nm, and consequently no longer belonged to the party without any qualification, as the designated leader he was II, and his interpretation of party principles must De
 accepted, and his directions oDeyed. And these demands were made Tn the same or party loyalty and allegiance.
 Now the time approaches for another contest, and the SKY IS full or signs of victory for us. with moderate counsels, Wlse leadership, and united ranks. Men are saying everywhere, there must be no such mistakes as in the last campaign. We must profit by experience; let us drop dead issues and stand on our old prtn- clpies, which are as vital today ds ever Emphasize home rule, reform the tariff in d careful, conservative way, give us d safe and adequate currency, enforce economy all aIong the Hne-be content with the suppression of illegal restraints of trade, and don't attempt to destroy it because 1t may try to do what 1t hash t yet done. Discourage assaults on prop erty, and all Socianstc tendencies, and leave the silver question and the results of the war alone.
 With such a conservative and at the same time up-to-date policy, and the | right leader, we can certainly win. We
 believe if Colonel Bryan were willing
 and wise enough to come out frankly and say: Men and brethren, We have
 made our fight and been beaten on the | old issues; still believe as l did, but | 1 am not infallible and may be mistaken,
 and will stand with you and the party, whoever the leader may be- and what
 ever the war cry" he would give the final | answer to any question as to his great | ness, assure success in the campaign, | and completely settle his title, now dls- | puted, to stand in history among the | first of our broad minded, far-seeing | statesmen.
 | But he is apparently incapable or un- willing to take such position. He 1 seems to assert a sort of divine right of
 
 | effect: If my views are not to be adopt | ed, if 1 am not to have my way, if am l not still to dominate the Democratic party it becomes ipso facto no longer ] the Democratic party; no matter how l small minority may adhere to me, I and | they are the real thing. If victory be 1 hopeless for us. we will make it also i'm | possible for you." When he had the
 majority with him he demanded alle- l glance to the platform and loyalty to the I leader chosen. as necessary party tests
 and essential to success. Will the situa- I ton he reversed if he find himself in the | minority? Will not the majority then | be entitled to make the same demands | on him as he has made?
 1 Looking over the whole field, he sug- | gests no candidate, repudiates every one mentioned outright, or damns him by | innuendo and faint praise. leaving the impression that, in spite of all disavowals, | in his own estimation, he is the Attest and | the only man to lead. Who besides he | can 1t be? No one else will do. This is what he seems to be saying every day. | Perhaps Colonel Bryan has not deter | mined finally what his attitude will be, I but we have stated accurately that which l he seems now to have taken in the minds l of candid, conservative. lifelong Demo- 1 crats all over the country.