The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-04-10
WHAT BRYAN WANTS
twice Defeated, He Yet Seeks
to Control Democracy.
Mr.. Bryan Is an Arrogant Self
seeker Who Cares Nothing for
- Democratic Success. ygsYo.3

Before attending harmony" meet
ing Oh democrats OF all shades of oDinfon
held IN Des Moines, Iowa, on Tbnradav
last' Mr.. Bryan attended in the after
noon meeting of the democrats who
SUN cilng to the Kansas CITY platform
ana announced that the democracy ~
america does not want harmony. but
wants the triumph of democratic
Prlncipies; which, according to Mr.
bryan, are the principles enunciated in
the Kansas City platform and no Others
says the Seattle POst-Intellgencer
lhere can be no forecast of the fnture
OF democracy which does not take into
account the attitude of Mr.. BRYAN and
hls steadily lessening number of per-
sonal adherents. But it really looks as
II Mr.. Bryan were riding for a fall with
IN the lines of his own party. Between
now and the time when the Democratic
conventions are to be held next wear il
Is safe to say that Mr.. Bryan's influence
Will steadily wane; and it is seriously to
be doubted whether the conservative
element OF the democracy will not
triumph I'D controlling the next nation
al convention, unless Mr.. Bryan changes
MS attitude. Naturally, republicans.
from the standpoint of partisan politics,
depi0re Mr.. Bryan's waning prestige for
very obvious reasons.
Mr.. Bryan's attitude ia this: He was
candidate for president in two success
slVe national campaigns, on platforms
winch be now insists shall not be altered
or changed by one jOt or little. No
man within the ranks OF the democratic
party who was willing to indorse and
accept ID full the doctrines of those plat
forms could by any possibility have
made better race or have received p
larger vote than did Mr.. Bryan himself. -
This much must be conceded. What
votes he lost in the democratic party
were votes OF men who could not or
would not indOrse the policies for which
Mr.. Bryan stood. Yet Mr.. BRYAN went
down both times to overwhelming de-
feat.
Every one knows that the great ma
Iorlty OF the American people, have not
only repndlated the policies OF the dem
Ocratic party as laid down in it's Mat
iorms OF 1896 and 1900, but it is recog-
nIzed further that if a popular vote were
had those policies today would be even
more emphatically repudiated. 1t is
only at remote intervals that a single
voice ls to be heard raised for free silver.
Many OF the once ardent free silver men
frankly admit issue is dead and buried
Ihe same is true of anti.imperiaIism
which MIR. Bryan forced to the front az
an Issue IN the last campaign.
Yet with these facts staring him i'm the
face, MIR. Bryan announces in substance
that, 40 far as he is concerned. he will
use all OF the influence which he un-
dOubtedly possesses to prevent the NOM
inatlon for the presidency of any man
who did not indOrae the democratic pIat-
forms adopted in the two national cam
paIgns in which Mr.. Bryan was a candi-
date lOr the presidency, who does not
now lndorse and approve those plat
forms and who is not willing to make
campaign before the people on precisely
the same issues as were presented by Mr..
Bryan IN those campaigns, and on which
the votes OF the people were adverse to
him
In short, Mr.. Bryan stands in the atti.
tude OF saying to the democrats OF the
country: Il was defeated twice n issues
OF my own choosing; therefore | insist
that the democrats nominate another
man who will present precisely the same
issues and see whether he can make a
better run than | did"
With the case SO badly presented. it ia
little wonder that the idea is gradually
finding lodgment in the democratic mind
that Mr.. Bryan il an arrogant sell. seeker
who cares nothing whatever for demo-
cratic success unless he himself is the
standard-bearer, and who is a striking
instance OF too much ego in his cosmos"