The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-04-30
BRYAN, the AgitatOr.

Hon. William J. Bryan hired a hall in
Chicago and held a meeting last Saturday
night He was the only speaker and he in
troduced himself to the audience. He did
this, he said, because he did not desire to APP
pear under the auspices of any club or asso-
citation. His speech was criticism of the
New York Democratic platform, which he
characterized as I'M Dem ocratic and dishon
est; and as he presumed that Judge Alton B.
Parker, whom the Democrats endorsed for
President, either aided in constructing the
platform or assented to its declarations, he
concluded that Judge Parker is not fit ex-
poaent Of Democratic principles and policies
and would not be proper leader in the Pres.
idential contest
Mr.. Bryan has been writing and speaking
continuously for two years upon Democratic
principles and Presidential candidates. No
State platform so far adopted meets his ap-
proval, and he has opposed the nomination of
every Democrat whose name has been men
ton in connection with the Presidency, ex-
cept William R. Hearst. He has not endorsed
the latter, and says he has not espoused the
cause of anyone.
1t must be apparent to all that Mr.. Bryan
believes he is the only Democrat who can
construct platform along the lines Of genuine
Democratic principles, and therefore is the
logical candidate 1t is also apparent to all
that, as Mr.. Bryan cannot agree with the de-
clarations Of Democratic State platforms, and
with the views of prominent Democrats and
Democratic papers, he is not in line wiih the
Democratic party. And the sooner Mr..
Bryan realizes this the better it will be for
him. So long as he holds on to dead issues.
and harbors enmity toward every leading
Democrat, he cannot hope to have much OF
a following. He cannot conceal from the
people bis consuming vanity, in assuming to
be the sole exponent Of Democracy, nor will
the people believe that his cxertions as to
platform and candidates are disinterested.
Why should he, above all others, be hiring
halls and making speeches on platforms aud
Presidential aspirants? He may plead pairi
otism and love of party and high motives, bu,
it is singular that only he should possess all
these virtues And be viii fail OF convincing
the people of any such belief, They see in
him only consuming vanity, and desire to
secure nomination for President. Hs will
not attain that distinction this year. He IS
not the Bryan of 1896, able, wise and prudent.
The issues are not the same, though Mr.
Bryan does not seem TO realize il. The Bryan
of 1900 was not the Bryan Of 1896. and ever
since 1900 Mr.. Bryan has steadily lost in pop
ular esteem. Ifhe thinks the Democrats favor
the reafimation Of the platform Of 1896, he
does not understand Democratic sentiment.
If be imagines he could lead the Democrats 10
victory in 1904. he is still more woefully mis-
taken. His place in the party is that only Of
an sgitator and stirsr up Of strife, and has
failure in that role is simply because he has
lost nearly all his influence. He has devel
oped into carping, scolding, faulifndiug in
dividual, with iuordinaie vanity and colossal
conceii, whose full measure is we'll understood
BY the Democrats OF the country.