The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-11-17
Bryan on Campaign.

MI. bryan Sdlu uc WOutu NV "O
tempt to deny all the reports crcu-
lated as to his future political action,
but would let his statement serve to
exp ain his position.
He said in part: ''The democratic
party has met with an overwhelming
dateat ia the national election. AS
vet tho returns are not Sufficiently
comnl tie to permit analysis. The
questions for consideration at this
TIM are what lesson does the e'ec-
ton teach, and what of the future?
Thy de eat of Judge Parker should
no. b. considered personal one.
He did as we'll as he could under the
circumstanc he was the victim of
unfavorable conditions and OF mis-
taken party policy.
He grew in popularity as the
campaign progressed and expressed
himself more and more strongly up
on the trust question, but he could
not overcome the heavy odds against
him. The so-cailed tariff democrats
charged the defeat of 1896 and 1900
to the party's position on the money
question and insisted that victory
could be won by dropping the coin
aoe cues ton entirely. The conven-
ton 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 sold telegram, as it was called,
while embarrassing to the democrats
OF the west and south, was applaud
ed by the eastern press. He had the
cordial Endorsement of Mr. Cleveland,
who certified that the PAL ty had re-
turned 10 safety and sanity: he
had thu support of the democratic
papers which bolted in 1896 and he
also had the aid of nearly all Of those
who were prominent 10 the cam
paigns of 1896 and 1900 and yet his
defeat IS apparently greater than
the party suffered in either Of those
years.
1T is unquestiopable that Judge
ParKer's defeat was not local but
general, the return from the west
ern states being as Disappointing DIS
the returns of the east. The re-
organizers are in complete control
of the party; they planned the cam
paign and carried it on according
to their own views and the verdict
against their plan is unanimous
one. Surely nobody can be blamed
for this defeat, for the campaign
was run on a good basis.
'Neither can the defeat be charged
to emphatic condemnation of the
trusts, for the trust swere not aSsail
ed as vigorously this year as they
were four years ago. 1t is evident
that the campaign did not turn upon
the question of imperialism, and it is
not fair to consider the result as a
personal victory for the president,
although his admins tratiOr was the
subject of criticism. The result was
due to the fact that the democratic
party ate mpted to be conservative,
in the presence of conditions which
demand radical remedies. 1t sound
ed partial retreat when, it should
have ordered a charge along the
line.
In 1896 the line was drawn for
the first time during the present
generation between pnltocracy and
democracy and the party S stand for
democracy aiienated a large number
of plutocratic democrats, who in the
nature Of things canEOt be expected
to return, and dire " to itself large
number of earnest advocates of re-
form. whose attachment TO these re-
forms is much stronger that attach
ment to any party name.
1.-THE campaign just closed shows
that i5 is as inexnedient from the
standpoint of policy as wei as it is
wrong from the standpoint OF
principle to attempt Cancellation
with the industrial and financial
despots who are gradually getting
all control of the avenues of wealth.
The democratic party, if it hopes to
win success. must take the side Of
the plain. common people.
The panty must also m intain it
position on the tariff question. Nc
oo., 10 boop ,,oolo to I'M 4