The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-07-20
Editorial Department
By F. w. Meyers
ExPEDlENCY THEIR KING.

/ EAT IUlENOI IHGln NlNVs
There have been many strange hap
penings id American p3ticies put 10
more uu que a spectacle has been wit,
messed than that afforded oy the demo-
cratlc convention at St. Louis.
For more than eight years democra-
cy bad been torn by contending fac
tions, the radicals had held control ana
twice had met defeat at the hands o.
the republicans, aided by conservative
democrats The radicals had pro-
claimed their al egiance To b.-metal-
is!r, to an inoom tax, aud to radical
antitrust legislation and their opposi-
ion tu injjdnctions. Toe CONSERVATIVES
had proclaimed their adherence to the
gold standard, supported the fedora
courts in III junction methods. and OPP
posed the income tax and any radica
antitrust legislation. Ever since the
campaign OF 1900 there bad been heard
the mutterings of that mighty conflict
of princi pie which was to be waged at
the nationa, Convention. Chesty lead
ers donned their war-paint. danced
about the graves of Jefferson and
jackson and emitted bood-curdling
cries of Slaughter and revenge. pin
ciple above ALL was the cry of the
radicals principle above all echoed
the conservatives.
"Minions OF Wall Street, Gold-Bugs. .
yelled the men of Bryan.
"Cranks, anarchists. populists,
shouted the hosts of Grover.
What a polishing of weapons orator,
ical what girding up Of loins, what +
proud display of cleaning banners.
!! They met.
The awful din was heard from coas,
to coast.
All the panoply of war was there: the
brave leaders: the glittering hosts: the
sounds # martial airs.
Strong men wept and women tainted.
The nation held its breath with awe at
this titanic struggle, this clash of great
principles.
And out of it all there comes, not
bloody victims, not crimson carnage.
but smiling, shouting, cheering host,
holding high aloft the standard of a
united democracy, and behold upon its
glittering folds appears that magic
word, that word for which so many
men have yielded up their souls "ES.
pediency."
Proudly the leaders bare it to the
sun: reyerently the followers knee
while from the lips of great and small
! from he lips of the ever fervid Bryan
in the cold. clear utterance of Hill
with the cruel growl Of Tammany, fron
the tottering tongue of the aged candi
date for president, in the fair
hsper of the sphinx-like Parker
swells out the glad, new chorus, Eek
pediency."
Is it not inspiring:
Would not Washington and Jetfer
son and Jackson and Lincoln rejoice t
know that a great party, million
strong, had adopted the banner of Elk
to the conscience and the honor an
the patriotism of this great republic
Is the charge cot true? Is not expo
] diency the war-cry-the only BATH
hymn of democracy:
Read the proceedings of the CONVEX
ton. Read the record of the nigh
long session of the resolutions COMM
tee.
Read the platform.
Read the speeches of the candidat
if you can find one.
From the opening compromise (:)
of the convention to the nomination {
the octogenarian, Davis, 'Expehiency
: governed every move. Every man
the great convention knew that Brya
= was right when he exposed the trail
9 robbers of the Illinois delegation. b,
. for Expediency, in order TO assure TX
y nomination OF the blank Parke
= two thirds of the convention vote
. against the rlghtful delegates.
. But it was in the committee on res
= buttons that "Expediency. went mad.
Shouting thai they would write
Q gold plank in the platform, the conse
, vatives rallied under Hill
Vowing never to fOrsake the cau
. of silver, Bryan marshalled his force
Q Hot words were bandied personaliti
. took the place of argument: the go
clause was voted DOWNS to 10
q subcommittee was appointed: Brya
Q the invincible: Hill, the unalterabl
= Daniels, the complacent, and the su
committee met and Daniels pronounce
Q the magic word, and Bryan and II
= fell upon each Others necks, glad tea
2 filled their eyes, and they reported
Q For the sake of Expediency, we dee
it best to say nothing on the none
= question. And when they came bat