The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-31
DEMOCRAT OR POPULIST?
Result Depends on Decision at St. Louis.

would be glad to do that very thing, and some of them are openly urging 1t, igno- rant of and callous to the fact that a wrong cannot be visited on Mississippi without its recoilng on Illinois. Tarquin was as injurious to Tarquin as he was brutal to Lucretia. The South has made many mistakes. She cannot afford to much longer persist in error. Had she in 1893 and since set her face like flint against the absurdity and the heresy of Populism, a Democrat, and in all prob ability a Southern Democrat, would be President this blessed moment. She gain ed nothing by going off with the agra rians. On the contrary, she lost much. Right now she is at the mercy Of the Re- publican party, always her relentless en- emy, and If the next President Is Re- publican there is a mighty good chance that Southern representation in the House of Representatives will be cut down as provided in the Fourteenth amendment to the Federal constitution.
 Is there anybody at the South who would enact It to if he could? Is there anybody at the South who does not real ize that the whole silver business was Q foolish craze? Where is the man who has the hardihoodNto deny that every predic- ton MT. Bryan made was exploded by the event? What did he ever say that was wisdom in the sequel? When was there ever so thoroughly and completely and universally discredited a statesman as he? He said the price of cotton was regulated by the price of silver, and that it would never again pay to raise cotton until there was free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to | And millions believ- ed him. He said that bushel of wheat was worth exactly an ounce of silver al ways and everywhere. and that God had fixed that price. I know of nobody who agrees with MT Bryan about that unless 1t is William E. Chandler. A.r. Bryan has but recently returned from foreign parts hopeless Bourbon. hugging the corpse of Is to 1. which he intends to put in the Democratic National Convention.
 Is Bryan to have a controlling voice in Democratic councils? If so, what is the use of putting a Democratic ticket in the l field? Why plague the country with an other campaign of that sort? We have had two of them. The result would be the same and samer. The man Is not even | to be placated with a platitude in the platform-if Democrats want to win. MT. Bryan must be told as politely as may be and as firmly as can be that this is his year to follow, if he can follow, not lSduf tO II AIG CdIl tilliih, llOl ldih.
 That may be bad manners, but l E good
 wisdom. even if it bring about d bolt. The South tried this ,man twice-the
 South that had the world in a basket in 1893 if she had only known how to secure
 the prize. Both times he led her to de- feat. Shall he lead her to disaster-shall
 he lead her to ruin-in 1904? That is the question for the South to answer. As we'll eat the devil as to drink his broth. If you are going to make a platform to please Bryan, why, just let him make it
 himself. If you are going to nominate ticket to please Bryan, why, just nom- mate Bryan himself.
 Now, does the South want a Democrat in the White House? There is just one way to get him-make a Democratic plat
 form that will repel Populist approval and
 nominate a Democratic ticket that will repel Populist support, and the next Pres ident will be a Democrat.
 And there is no other way to do it.