Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-10
The Passing Of Parker.


emphas sis had the country repudiated
the fallacies and follies for which he
stood, that il did not seem possible ne
would again become a power in his
party or a real menace to the COuntrys
welfare. Nevertheless. four years
later. he was again the presidential
candidate of the Democracy. To be
sure. he was beaten worse the second
time than he was the first but even the
8. cond defeat failed 20 drive him out
Of the arena He has been prominently
before the country in the campaign
which has lust been closed. and is now
spoken of as leader in the movement
to re-organiZe and rally the democrat
lied forces of the Democracy. All this
is because bryan possesses the real
Qualities Of leadership. To his unques-
TONED power as public speaker he has
added honest convictions. unfaiiing
good hunor and a constant disposition
10 fight fairly and with manly weapons.
How will it be With Alton Il. Parker
vino was buried in defeat. Tuesday.
under an avalanche OF ballots cast by
the American people? Is he likely to
be a canuidate Of his party. four years
hence. or to figure i'm the future as
prominent leader in Democratic coun-
ellis? 1t is hardly conceivable that this
will oe the case. He has been failure.
a disappointment and a frost from the
day of his nomination. He ha, grown
smaller and smaller as the campaign
advanced. until the week preceding
the election found him regarded by the
country as the smallest specimen Of
humanity that ever asked it's suffragaS
in national election. He showed
absolutely no qualities of leadership:
he has no personal magnetism to ORA ~
men. ami. worse than that. he showed
himself absolutely without positive
upon the issues Of the day.
[
u.s.. ti.ur.s regarding the cost Of the
PnilippincS. and regarding government
exp, nditrrrs. which were grossly in
excess Of the true figures but not con-
tent with spreading misinfOrmatiOn-
although the facts were repeatedly
stated by those in position to know-he
proc, .dcd to make Il bad matter worse
by deliberately charging President
Eoose velt with selling himself body and
soul to IN. trusts in return for cam
paiGn contributions.
The speeches with which Bryan
tossed his two campaigns were models
of moderation. as compai ed with those
Of Parker. The latter had been
herald.d as a judicial candidate. but no
a less judicial temperament. Bryan
never assailed the personal honor and
Integrity OF his opponent. nor made any
frantic and foolish charges about the
campaign funds of the opposing party.
And when President Roosevelt had de-
rounced tn. charges of Parker as 'un-
uualificdly and atrociously false" and
challenged him to produce a scrap OF
evidence, he showed himself nothing
more than a slanderer brought to bay
prk. daNf
statement. ne fumbled and stumbled in
pitiful fashion. and in his attempts tC
qualify and evad. the issue. only eX-
posed himself further to- the ridicule
and contempt of the country. Hi.
worst enemy could not have led him
into a more humilia:ing position thar
that which he took and nowhere in Oul
political annals has there been great
cr downfall Of a man with a reputation
standing for sufirages of decent citi.
zens.
Poor Parker. H.. VIII probably spent
the rest IF his life bitterly resreting his
mistakes and his folly. but the past
cannot b. undOne. Nor can he ever
again gain the respect which tn,
| American people. irrespective of party
gave hm before mis- nomination
Probably the trust magnates of New
York. who secured his nomination an.
in whose interests he resigned his plac,
upon the bench to run for President
will care for him and see that he finds
lucrative employment. but a generous
income will never repay him for wha
he has lost. Nor does it seem at al
possible. unless the Democracy fall
even lower than it has already fallen
and gets more completely demOralize.
than it is today, that he will ever agail
figure as its candidate or as a powe
among its leaders. He will be remem
bered as waging hopeless campaig,
Of hypocrisy and sham and as indulg
ing a, it's end in the hysteria of despair
Anyway. H. Gassaway Davis of Yves
Virginia has the cheerful consolatio,