The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-07-14
GOOD EYE.

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called a pOpulist, and seldom demo-
crat. There were good reasons for
this designation. The populists OF this
state made Bryan. When ne ran LOT
congress the first time 1T was the pop
ulist vote that elected him. The ALI
ance was strong in all the counties
of his district and the pOpulists re-
fused to antagonize him by putting up
a campaign against him. When Allen
Root started out, very late in the cam
paign, it was with the understanding
that it was for the purpose OF polllng
those populist votes that would other
wise go to the republicans.
In his second campaign. two weeks
before the election, it was generally
conceded that Bryan would be de-
feated. The editor of The Independent,
when informed of the desperate sftua-
ton, sat down and wrote 1877 letters
to populists in the district, (Mrs.
Peatie. who was also an editorial
writer on the World-Herald at that
time, did most of them on her type
writer, urging populists to vote Tor
Bryan. About ITO replies were re-
ceived stating that the writer's would,
because of the request, vote for Bryan.
His majority was only l47.
Twice the peoples party nominated
him for president and Loyalty sup
ported him, even when such action
was a threat against the very exist
ence of the populist party. For twelve
years the populists of Nebraska have
sacrificed and worked for Mr.. Bryan.
1t was the fact that the popullsts had
polled more than million votes for
their own candidate for president that
made Bryan's nomination at Chicago
possible. They did this because all
these years Mr.. Bryan was advocating
populist principles. Mr.. Bryan now
says:
II shall vote for Parker and
Davis, the nominees Of the demo-
cratic national convention"
He does that when he says that he
has no hope Of economic reform under
Parker if elected and after he has de-
nounced Parker in his Chicago speech
as dishonest candidate running on
dishonest platform.
AS the populist party was organized
the baltlas Chat it has fought have
been to secure them, Mr.. Bryan parts
company with Ills enthusiastic follow
ers ana GpeDs ali impossible gulf be-
tween himself and them.
Mr.. BIya,; is an honest man of great
ability and unsurpassed eloquence.
But Mr.. Bryan, after twelve years of
the mot brilliant work ever accom-
plished by any American statesman,
has failed to make the democratic
party reform party. He has been
crushingly defeated. His party is as
plutocratic, as completely under the
control of Wall street as is the re-
publican party. He believes that he
can yet reform it and make it a dem
Ocratic party in fact as we'll as in
name, SO he proposes to remain reg
ular,' and begin another effort to re-
form it after the presidential cleo
ton. Populists believe that when Bry-
an, in the full vigor of his young man
hood, aided by his matchless elo-
quence, failed-not only failed, but
was utterly crushed-it is hopeless to
try again. So after twelve years of
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loyalty to Mr.. Bryan, we have come
to the parting of the ways. Populists
assure Mr. Bryan of their high esteem,
their belief in his integrity, their pride
in his great ability but they cannot
agree with him that it is possible to
make reform party out of the demo-
cratic party. Each and all of us send
to him our greetings and wish him
every happiness that earth can give,
but we must bid him political good
bye. Each of us who have had per-
sonal association with him hope that
the kindness of the past may always
continue. We simply disagree on
political question. No populist can
cooperate politically with those who
support Parker and Davis. An at
tempt to do II would end in a worse
defeat than Bryan met at st. Louis.
SSS$$><%
And the Nebraska democrats said
they would fuse with the pops on the
state ticket, but support Parker for
president. IL was the evening of the
seventh day OF the gold bug creation
and Wall street said that II was good.
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