The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-11-17

Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 10.-W. ]. Bryan
last night gave out an extended state
ment concerning Tuesdays election,
which is intended t L, serve as his COM .
ment on the result, and as an answer to
reports connecting him with move /
ment looking to a formation of a new },
party.
Mr.. Bryan said he would not attempt !
to deny all the reports circulated as to ,
his future political action, but would let .
his statement serve to explain his posi-
tion. He says:
"The democratic party has met with |
an overwhelming defeat in the ma
tional election. AS yet the returns are .
not sufficiently complete to permit .
analysis, as it is impossible to say
whether the result is due to an actual /
increase in the number of republican
vote, or to falling of in the democratic
vote. This phase of the subject will be !
dealt with next week when the returns
are all in. |
'The questions for consideration at
this time are: What lesson does the /
election teach? And what of the fu-
ture?
.sThis defeat of Judge Parker should
not be considered personal one. He
did as we'll as he could under the cir
cumstances; he was the victim of I'M
favorable conditions, and of mistaken
party policy.
"He grew in popularity as the cam
paign progressed, and expressed him
self more and more strongly upon the
trust question, but could not overcome
the heavy odds against him. The So
called conservative democrats charged
the defeats Of 1896 and 1900 to the partys
position on the money question, and in
sisted that a victory could be won by
dropping the coinage question entirely.
'The convention accepted this theory,
and the platform made no reference to
the money question but Judge Parker
felt that it was his duty to announce
his personal adherence to the gold
standard. His gold telegram, as it was
called, while embarrassing to the demo-
Gratis of the west and south, was ap,.
plauded by the eastern press. He had
the cordial endorsement of Mr.. Cleve-
land, who certified that the party had
returned to safety and sanity; he had
the support of the democratic news
papers which boltedein 1895, and he also
had the aid of nearly all Of those who
were prominent in the campaigns OF
1896 and 1900 and yet his defeat is
apparently greater than the party
suffered in either of those years.
DEFEAT is GENERAL.
sit is unquestionable also that Judge
Parker's defeat was not local but gener-
al, the returns from the eastern states
being as disappointing as the returns
from the west. The reorganizers are in
complete control of the party; they
planned the campaign and carried it on
4 l,1
verdict against their plan is a unani-
blamed for this defeat for the campaign
was run on gold basis.
"Neither can the defeat be charged to
emphatic condemnation Of the trusts
for the trusts were not assaulted as
vigorously this year as they were four
wears ago. 1t is evident that the cam
paign did not turn the question of i'm
perialism, and it is not fair to consider
er the result as personal victory for
the president, although his administra-
tion was the subject of criticism.
.sThe result was due to the fact that
the democratic party attempted to be
conservative in the presence OF condi-
tions which demand radical remedies
Itsounded a partial retreat when it
should have ordered a charge all along
the line. In 1896 the line was drawn
for the first time during the present
generation between plutocracy and
democracy, and the party's stand on the
side of democracy alienated large
number of plutocratic democrats, who
in the nature of things cannot be ex-
pected to return, and it drew to itself a
large number Of earnest advocates OF
reform, whose attachment to these re-
4l,o,, all, -
to any party name.
''The republican party occupies the
conservative position. That is, it de-
tends those who, having secured unfair
advantages through class legislation
insist that they shall not be disturbed
no matter how oppressive their actions
may become.
CANNOT COURT WEALTH.
'sThe democratic party cannot hope tc
compete successfully with the republi-
can party for this support. To win the
support of the plutocratic element OF
the country, the party would have tc
become more plutocratic than the re.
publican party, and it could not do this
without losing several times as many
voters as that course would win. The
democratic party has nothing to gain by
SdOCIIilS5 w OiSooAAASN oAN ~ >
wealth. 1t must not only do withou
such support, but it can strengthen it
self by inviting the open and emphatic
opposition of these elements. The cam
paign just closed shows that it is as in
expedient from the standpoint of polio
as it is wrong from the standpoint Q
principle to attempt any Cancellation Q
the industrial and financi desoots VIII
are gradually getting conUrv. - III
avenues of wealth. The democratl
party, if it hopes to win success, mus
take the side of the plain common pee
pie"
Mr.. Bryan says for two years he ha
poined out the futility of any attemp
to compromise with wrong, or to pate
up peace with the great corporation
which are now exploiting the public
but the southern democrats We're S
alarmed by the race issue that the