New-York tribune., 1904-09-07
.StkLr coLp RLoopEp. sHREwD.,, ;,

"SENSEBLE COLD BLOODED, SHREHD"
In consideration cf the constant complaint
from many impartial sources that the Demo
Gratis are conducting j wofully sluggish cam
paign with pale gray candidate, it is not sur
prisinS that Judge Parker's ardent supporters
should try TO make the most Of the gold tee'
gram 10 the St Louis convention, which con-
stitutes pretty nearly their whole stock lin trade.
Thus The Brooklyn Eagle which printed on
Sunday a long and glowing article containing
what il declared 10 be a complete and irrefu'
table history of the facts relating to that dis
patch, followed up the narrative the next day
with another editorial tribute to the nobility
of the motives by which it was inspired Our
contemporary once more expresses its indigna-
ton that Judge Parker's opponents should ques-
ton the moral majesty of his act, and is par
ticularly severe with Senator Lodge for saying
that his courage is not exactly proved by a
telegram which was eminertly safe. The
author was safe" says The Eagle, until
"he sent the dispatch. lie knew himself to be
the Democratic nominee for the Presidency.
But safety entered into mis- calculations not
''in the least degree. On the contrary he ran
every risk he could possibly assume Nor
would he have been at all surprised had the
convention taken him of the ticket. That
danger he faced in preference 70 safety"
remuneration there IS no parallel"
Well. let us reconsider the matter from that
point of view and for tho purpose of such re
consideration let il be admitted that Judge Par
ker on Saturday morning. July 3, was so I'll
informed and SO inexperienced as to suppose
that the convention might do what was polit-
ically impossible What then? How did he
run every risk be could possibly assume
What was the "self-sacri6ce" which could no
,so ~f.v,rf fs.r
which there is no parallel? Why, obviously.
the only thing be was willing TO take chance
Of losing was a nomination which offered not
the remotest hope of success after a campaign
which would have been an everlasting discredit
to him. There Is doubt about that The
Eagles own authentic" history Of the trans
action makes it perfectly clear that, however
deep Judge Parker's ignorance in other respects
may have been. he had fully acquainted him
self with the views of his trusted advisers in
the New-York press on that subject, for it says
that the newspapers reached him at o'clock
on Saturday morning. and that ito these he dc
voted himself absorbed in them" What did
they tell him? They told him that the 81
Louis platform as it stood he was doomed 10
a disgraceful defeat and one of them, The
Times" expressly declared, what the rest init
mated that they should do their uttermost 10
make the defeat overwhelming. Then he
called for bis horse and set out for solitary
ride" and during that ride he digested his in-
formation and determined on his action
from The Eagles own showing, therefore,
IL appears that the extreme risk he ran, the
danger he faced in preference to safety, the self
sacrifice which could no further CO. the renun-
citation without parallel, consisted in an offer
TO surrender far worse than worthless nomi-
nation. The thing that be was Wiling 10 de-
cline possessed not scrap of value for man
in his position. A Presidential nomination lift
ed Bryan from obscuTity and has incidentally
given him large revenues. The Chief Judge Of
the New-York Court of Appeals, with eight
years of his term before him. had less than
nothing to gain from a hopeless candidacy
which would make him extensively notorious.
He loved his judicial duties, he had said him
self that they were perfectly congenial and he
desired no others. and the men promoting his
nomination had dwelt on the sacrifice which he
was urged 10 make for the good OF the coun-
try As Our independent contemporary, The
Providence Journal" frankly puts it, the send
ing of the gold telegram was the act Of
sensible. cold blooded. shrewd. experienced
politician and the wisdom of it rs plainly ap-
parent The effort to make a here of
''him man above and beyond his fellows. is
nonsense.