The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-31
rArKrMn snnNn sENsE.


 his announced opposition to Judge Park CT of whom 1t speaks in terms of high commendation. closing with these timely words:
 If the time ever was in the history of American politics that the exigencies de- manded a conservative candidate for the Democracy, it is now. Mir. Bryan seems to entirely overlook this fact. President Roosevelt has made radicalism the key to his administration arch, and those been frightened. The people are tired of 1t. and we are of the opinion that, if given an opportunity, they will elect e conservative man. Recognizing these conditions, it should be the purpose of -one who can be safely trusted by the masses of the people-and nominate him. What candidate comes nearer to filling the bill than Judge Parker? He is con- servative. able and available. Mir. Bryan will do his party no good by opposing him.
 The News should not feel any surprise at finding that Bryan opposes Parker. It Is but another sample and example of his ingratitude towards others. coupled with his rule or ruin policy. Judge Parker was as firm a believer in sound money as Mir. Cleveland himself. but he voted for Mir. Bryan both times. as well as for all other Democrats on the ticket. On the score of regularity and loyalty to the Democratic party his record is much bet ter than Bryan's. and the latter should be ashamed to make war on him. One doesn't have to go far to find a reason for Mir. Bryan's hostility to Park CT, and the reason applies in the case of all other sound Democrats who have been spoken of. The nomination of man. of that class means the total and final co., lapse of Bryanism and the end of his in- fiuence in Democratic councils. He knows, as all Democrats know, that conservative Democrat will not be nom- mated on a fy-up-the-crek platform. He knows that if the St. Louis convention is true to Democracy and to the best in- terests of the country it will put out ticket and platform which will be in di- rect opposition to the theories and doc- trines for which he still contends in spite of the fact that the country and the par ty will have no more of them or him. That is why the thought of a man like
 
 the words of the poet Thomson:
 Base Envy withers at another's joy.
 And hates that excellency it cannot reach,
 and one can hardly doubt thAt Bryan is devoured with envy because he sees that different kind of Democrat Is certain to be preferred to him.
 Is it not high time that Mr. Bryan should make some pronouncement of his intentions for the future? We are contin- ually hearing from certain of our con- temporaries that Grover Cleveland re- fuses to declare that he will support any ticket and platform put forth by the party, and those who make this demand seem to think they have the right to re- quire definite promise from him in ad- vance of the action of the convention.
 But MT. Cleveland is not in politics. He declares that he is out of 1t, and that he is not to be considered a candidate in any event. That many of the best Dem ocrats persist in looking to him as the strongest man the party could nominate S uOI HIS AdulL HUT AS LHo SeuIlfnenL founded on or encouraged by his insti- gation. Those who know him best know that he is sincere in his declaration. and that he has no desire. to be brought prom inently before the public. He is not re- sponsible for the strong sentiment all over the country in his faovr.
 With Mir. Bryan it is different. He is in politics-consplcuously and persistent ly so. He is continually going about the country telling Democrats what they i should and should not do, and assuming dictatorial role which i'll becomes man who has been so emphatically set aside. Is it not time that he. too, should be placed on the witness stand? Let some of his friends and advisers demand of him that he state in definite terms what he will do in case a man like Judge Park CT, for example, is nominated on a plat form ignoring what MT. Bryan still clings to. Let him be required to say whether he will or will not support such a ticket and platform. If they can get an une- Quivocal reply from him 1t will give them some right to question others. We pre- dict that they will not get 1t.