The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-07-14
sRYAn. THE rRRecoHcLAsls.


majority rule after scoring Cleveland
and the gold Democrats because they
refused to accept his candidacy or plat
form in 1886 and 1890; after declaring
repeatedly that good Democrats must
accept a platform promulgated BY the
majority or else leave the party-after
all this. 8Ir Bryan says he viii vote
for Parker, and then proceeds to de-
nounce Parker the platform and the
majority which framed it. No finer in
stance Of Punic faith has come to light
in national politics for the past half
century.
If half the things Bryan says OF Par
ker are true, the Platte statesman has
no moral right to vote the Democratic
ticket this year. BTyan's reasons for
accepting the ticket are trivial, child
ish He viii vote for Parker, he says,
because on imperialism. the race issue
IN the south and the size of the stand
ing army, he is with Parker. How
ever he thinks the judge is insincere
and that he viii not be much Of an
improvement on Roosevelt in his atti-
tude toward the trusts. Whether he
intends il so or not, the whole procla-
nation is a cowardly stab at the party
and the candidate.
Not one word Of praise for Parker's
personal character. his known integrity,
his unquestioned moral courage in pO-
litical affairs. Not one word of graft
tude in recognition Of Parker's vote for
him in 1896 and 1900. Not a syllable
indicating the commonest virtues of po-
liticaI fairness. loyalty TO party and re-
gard for the opinions of others. IN
terpreted literally, Mr.. Bryans state
ment is a bald assumption that he and
a very few others are the only honest
politicians now living
4 Remembering Bryan's own attitude
s. aE.zrdlT Jnaleontents and boilers, it is
not easy to be patient with him. APP
parently, he is so impressed with his
own iufauibuity that he can conceive
OF 10 virtue. no brains, no patriotism
outside himself He Ignores the fact
that the issue which gave him national
distinction has been swept away by a
flood of gold, and that the food has
left him high and dry in isolation.
Mr. Bryan is magniiceEtly courage
Gus. as those know who saw him lead
forlorn hope to crushing defeat in
the St. Louis convention His honesty
cannot be questioned. but he lacks the
breadth to concede honesty in others
or to believe anybody can be right who
disagrees with him.
He stin faces the setting sun Of Bry-
anism and halls it as the dawn Of q
new day for Democracy.
Tie convention which named
Judge Parker for standard bearer,
was composed in good part OF
men who had been driven out
OF the party ranks or sent INTO
seclusion by the Bryan enthusiasts Of
1896 It recognized the Eebraskan's
ability, welcomed his appearance, gave
him every opportunity 10 be heard.
But II would not rally for a lost cause
and Il hailed the chance TO enlist once
more the leaders who had devoted their
lives to the paTty's service and Who
believed in a Democracy which meant
the rule Of the majority in party as
well as national affairs.
That convention. including Mr.
Bryan's former followers and admir-
ers. named Parker as the representa-
tive Of a sane Democracy. opposed to
rough rider policies. earnestly adVo-
eating peace at home as Wen as abroad
in industrial as well as International al
fairs. It ignored the money question
because the production Of gold had
eliminated the question from the cam
paien and there was no more reason
for attempting to make il an issue th2u
there would have been for DISCUSSING
theology in the platform
Yet, because the convention was
dominated by men who disagreed witt
HIN. because his and Hearst's follow
ing could not secure recognition
other words. because Bryan's day has
passed-he assumed that his downfall
was due. not to his own errors Of Juog'
ment. but to some occult. corrup
power which had seized the reins OF
power within the party
John Bright once characterized
faction in English politics as tie Adult
taneftes The reference to David Z
famous band in the cave Adullam j!
worth recalling just at this juncture-
And every one that was fin distress
and every one that was in~debt. ant
every one that WAS Disseminated
gathered themselves unto him; and h
became a captain over them"
4 noble discomfort is often a gooe
thing; but the discomfort of the Adui
larnites who have made Bryan thei
captain Is neitLer noble nor edifyine
nor profitable. As an admirer Of Mr.
BRYAN. The Herald wishes he hat
either nocled to a party by himself OF
rad had the grace 70 support Judg'
parker in silence. His declaration O
reasons for voting the ticket lays hin
onen 10 suspicion OF deliberate bad
faffh. His attaek-for Il IS al attack
OH Judge Parker's sincerity IS wholly
,aawsrthy Of its author. and vicioush
untrue. Il marks the end Of Mr
Tsrvan's once potent lnHaence. with TIT
national Democracy
fortunately for Judge Pa r. IN