The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-11-24


circumstances; and that his defeat was
the result of "A mistaken party policy.
After noting Judge Parker- growth of
popularity during the progress of the
campaign and discussing the attitude of
the so called conservative democrats and
their action at the democratic national
convention, Mr. Bryan refers to The
effect of the famous telegram in which
Mr. Parker announced his personal
adherence to the gold standard. The
writer Of the article in question then pro-
ceeds to point out the fact that Mr..
Parker had the support Of the demo
cratic papers which bOlted in 1896" and
that he also had the aid of nearly all
Of those who were prominent in the
campaigns of 1896 and 1900 In spite
Of this support and Of the fact that the
democracy of the country was reunited
and harmonious at least ostensibly so
the democratic party has not suffered so
overwhelming IA defeat since 1872. Can
this defeat be rightly considered AS "A
personal one of Mr.. Parker? Certainly
not He simply was, a. Mr.. Bryan
observes, the victim Of unfavorable
conditions and mistaken party policy.
The article mentioned then shows !
that the democratic defeat was general |
and not local that the reOrganiZers !
were in complete control Of the party, |
dictated the platform and planned and |
managed the campaign, To what, then,
was the defeat due Not to silver, for
the campain was run on "A gold basis.
Was it due to the condemnation Of !
trusts Certainly not, for the trusts
were more emphatically condemned in
the campaign Of 1900 The defeat is not |
to be ascribed TO the position of the |
democratic party on the question Of i'm
perialism Was the result Of the election !
a personal victory for the president |
According TO the article under coIsidera-
ton it was not. Mr.. Bryan then pro
ceeds to account for the republican vic |
tory, and finds that it is TO be ascribed !
to the fact that the democratic party |
attempted to be conservative in the
presence of conditions which demanded |
radical remedies 1t sounded partial
retreat when it should have ordered a
charge all along the line
Mr. Bryan shows that the republican
party is essentially the party Of the priv
LEGGED classes and that the democratic
party can not hope to compete success
fully with the party now in power for
the support Of the powerful trusts unless
it becomes more plutocratic than the re
publican patty And if it should do
this il would lose much more than it
could possibly win byadopting principles
hostile to tine very name of democracy. |
MIR Bryan then goes on to show that the
democratic party can afford to invite the |
open hostility Of the gigantic moneyed |
interests. Such opposition Is essential to
the success of the party. The republican |
party Is II conservative party. There is
no place for two conservative parties. |
The democratic party must be the torch
bearer Of progress the party Of the !
masseH and not of the privileged classes
radical party
The result Of the recent election will
bring about a new alignment Pluto |
cratically disposed democrats will in
all probability join the forces Of the
friends Of plutocracy, while many re
pubicans will doubtless unite with the
democrats of the West and South in |
making the democratic party II positive,
aggressive aud progressive reform or
gauization There is no middle ground 80
Mr. Bryan then states that he tried to
prevent the reorganization of the demo
cratic purity and that failing in this, be
supported Parker and Davis in order
that. if possible the country might
secure such reforms rs were promised
bY the election of the democratic nomi
nees. Mr. Bryan expresses his willing
ness to assist in putting the democratic
forces once more upon fighting basis
and he suggests that the work Of plan
nlng the democratic campaign for 1905
be begun at once He then proceeds to
show what principles the democratic
party should stand for what abuses the
party should seek to correct, what strong
holds must be assaulted, and what reforms
advocated He comments favorably
upon Judge Parker's arraignment of
trust contributions TO campaign funds
aud points ont the currupting influences
and tendencies of the practice of sole.
ting and accepting such contributions.
The closing paragraphs Of the edito-
rial under consideration teem with valu-
able suggestions no hasty review of
the articl" can give an adequate idea of |
the importance of the suggestions it
contains
E It was u terrible earthquake, boys, |
lint we must urt ourselves tOpethpr !