The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-28
ST. LOUIS
GLOBE
DEMOCRAT
Discusses Bryan'S Declara-
tiOn of War
Compares His Action to the
Charleston Convention

Is the Chall-ston' convention walk
out" of 1860 to be repeated in the
Democratic gathering of 1904? IT be
gins TO look that way. William j.
Bryan. in his newspaper, warns
Democrats who are Democrats from
principle" that this is the time for
them to assert themselves. Reports
from every section of the country, "
he declare. make 1t certain that those
who left the party in 1896 are max
ing a systematic effort to regain con-
troll and to place the party in the
poeition it occupied under Cleveland" "
He tells Democrats, therefore. to or
Eanize clubs in every precinct in the
his address at the Jefferson-Jackson.
Lincoln league banquet in Columbus,
Ohio, on Lincolns birthday annivers-
airy Bryan follows up this attack on
the Cleveland men in a more direct
aud specific way. II still believe in
the platform adopted at Chicago in
1896 and in Kansas City in 1900, he
says, Il have no thought of surrend.
ering my convictions Our principles
we're true then. They are true now.
! would not change them If | could
Neither would | surrender my prin.
cples to win any victory, however
great for my party"
This, Of course, is a declaration Of
war by the recent candidate of the
Democracy upon the section of his
party which is represented by the
Cleveland -OlneyHilEGorman ingredi.
ent for Bryan will fight these men and
all their works, however much some
OF them may be hostile TO the others
who are grouped here with them.
Nobody who knows anything about
Bryan and the conditions which pre-
vail in his party will think his proc
lamation OF war 10 the death against
these magnates is an empty fulmin-
alton. He is the most magnetic man
whom the Democracy has seen since
stephen A. Douglas. No Democrat
since Douglas has had the eloquence
or the power that Bryan possesses.
In 1896 he polled 100000 more votes
than were rolled up by Cleveland
four years earlier. although Cleveland
II was said at the time, had received
the support OF hundreds of thousands
Of Republicans. This devotion TO
Bryan has been constant through evil
and good report. He made an en-.
thusiastic canvass in 1900. polling g.
100000 votes. Probably there are at
least 100000 Democrats who would
follow him in 1904 If he should lead
a revolt against his party, should
it put up a man of the prescribed
school
Manifestly, Bryan's assault on the
element of the Democracy which is
now regaining control in that party
which 1t held previous TO 1896 is a
serious portent for that organization.
The Democracy is a house divided
against itself Nobody believes that
the Democratic party would be top
heavy In the way of votes, even If
II were harmonious IL is far in the
minority in the country, even If all
It's elements were pulling together
When, however, each one OF its two
big divisions would, as now, prefer
victory by the Republicans to that Of
The other section OF the Democracy
Its condition becomes clear. Every
man in the "walkout" of the South
ern delegates from the Charleston
convention of 1860 knew that he was
assisting 10 make Republican success
that year certain, but he preferred 10
DO 80 rather than 10 help elect Doug,
las" The same spirit prevails In both
secuons OF the Democratic party TO
day. Cleveland will vote for Roose.
NeN IN 1904 II any man bearing the
bryan stamp should be nominated by
MS party In the event OF the selec.
uon or Cleveland man in that year
Bryan will either have another con.
Vention held to put up a bolting can
u'oate or he will take the stump for
me Republican ticket. Either one Of
'hese things. 1t is hardly necessary to
say is tolerably certain to take place.
ne chances are that the rupture in
~e democratic convention in 1896
vas mild manifestation compared
WIN the eataclasm in that party
which is booked for 1904.