The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-23
THE DIsoRGANIzED DEMOCRACY.

Mr.. Bryan's recent speech at Lincoln is
generally accepted by the Democratic press
and leaders as a declaration of war on his
part against the reorganizers of the party.
For few months after his last defeat he
maintained a sort Of dignified silence. AL
though he talked very little, he avoided the
appearance Of sulking, and by not making
his sore head too conspicuous he created
the impression that he had had enough of
politics for awhile and was willing to take
a back seat. This assumed air of a retired
statesman and of a disposition not to force
himself any further on the party led the
anti-Bryan men to go right cheerfully
on old lines.
Mr.. Bryan did not show much opposition
10 the reorganization plan nor apparently
take much interest in it. Occasionally he
would give Grover Cleveland "a dig OF
say something to indicate that he still re-
garded the anti-Bryan, Democrats as not
Democrats at all. but he was careful to
avoid open opposition to the plans of the
reorganizers. lie was busy editing the
Commoner. drawing up wills making per-
sonal requests to himself and getting ready
to go to Europe to study social conditions
among the working classes. He continued
to play the role of a chastened and half
repentant politician until after his return
from Europe.
He did not show his hand until he spoke
at Lincoln. His speech in this city was
mainly a pea for adding a conscience
plank to the Democratic platform, though
he said enough to make the reorganizers
wonder what he would say next They
know now. His Lincoln speech was notice
to the reorganizers that he has played the
role of a chastened and half-repentant
statesman as long as he proposes to. 1t
was notice that Richard is himself again
and that from now on there will be some
thing doing. 1t was a declaration of war to
the knife between him and the reorganizers.
He declared fatty that the Kansas City
the first act of the next Democratic con-
vention should be to reaffirm it in its en-
trety"
The New York World characterizes this
declaration hopeless lunacy" and warns
Mr.. Bryan that he cannot repeat the expe-
rience of 1896 and 1900 at the ST. Louis con-
vention. 1t says:
Mr.. Bryan will find no such complaisant
or cowardly gathering at St. Louis this
year. The Democratic party has had enough
OF bombastic magniloquence and last-ditch
heroics 1t knows dead issues when it
scents them-and dead ducks" as well. 1t
does not banker after the final suicide
three times and out" And it thinks that
Mr.. Bryan has had his chance and his day
"a freer hand than was ever accorded TO
any presidential candidate before with in
fnitely more disastrous results. But as he
lacks the mOdesty TO subside and is plainly
bent upon mischief. the Democratic party
Will have to put him down with a firm hand
if il wishes to retain the ghost of a chance
to carry the election. Every bit of encour-
agement given to Mr.. Bryan since the
avOwal of his irreconcileble quarrel with
the verdict of the American people nine
times recorded against him on the money
issue since his apostacy from sound Demo
cratic doctrine i'm 1894, is a nail forged for
the party's coffin.
1t remains to be seen whether the re-
organizers will put Mr.. Bryan down he
viii put them down. The plain duty of The
Republican party is to put them both down