The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-03-05
THE EXISTING DIFFICULTY.
Between Cleveland and Bryan the
Democratic Party Is In for
q Hot Time.

While the republican party Is prepar-
Ing for the inevitable conflict, II Is not
only wise, but a pleasant relaxation, 10
take note of the marshaling and pha-
lanxing and the platformizing going on
In the ranks of the enemy. For pur-
poses OF illustration. says the Cincin-
natl Commercial Tribune, 1t may be as
sumed that two gentlemen are so prom
inent in the race for the nomination at
ST. Louis that all others. even G. Fred.
WINS. are distanced and that the con-
vention will find that 1t could be much
happier with either were 'tother dear
charmer but away. But between the
Sage OF the Jarsey Flats and the Bound
ing Orator of the Platte, the convention
must choose-either choosing in person
or blindly accepting whomsoever the
dominant gentleman may determine to
cram down It's gaping throat.
1t is true that Mr.. Bryan has been
twice licked, and that Mr.. Cleveland has
plainly intimated to st. Clair McKelway
LII. d.. that presidential campaigns have
lost their charms for him. Yet since
Mr. Cleveland has SO recently said that
there Is an opportunity for democratic
success in the coming presidential cleo
ton" and since Mr.. Bryan has caustic-
ally supplemented the statement by the
other statement that there is an oppor-
tunity for success with anybody but
Cleveland, 1t may be fairly assumed that
the battle is on and that it will be a
fight to a finish--or flush
Mr.. Cleveland further says that the
campaign OF 1896 was disaster There
in Mr. Bryan comedies, since he was the
gentleman who met the disaster, but In
sists that 1t was because of Cleveland
ism. Mr.. Cleveland insists that free sill
yer was not only ephemeral in its very
essence, but crime in its very nature
Mr.. Bryan insists that sixteen to one Is an
eternal principle, vital and altogether
the one thing on which are to hang the
eternal destinies of the democratic
party. Mr.. Cleveland insists that any
compromising with unsound money
would result again In disaster. Mr.
Bryan retorts that Mr.. Cleveland's com
promise with goldbugism has taker
him to the very farthest rear of democ'
racy, and that there he must sit In
| sackcloth and ashes until his financia
sins have been purged and burned
away.
Mr.. Cleveland looks upon Mr.. Bryan
as an archdemagogue, though not quit
so plainly expressing himself. Mr.
Bryan regards Mr.. Cleveland with thu
scorn which none but virtuous demo
crat can feel for one who has monkeyet
after false financial gods until he ha!
become a veritable octopian child o
Wall street-and so it goes for qualit!
and for quantity.
| If Mr. Cleveland should control thu
convention Mr.. Bryan will bolt. II Mr.
Bryan should dominate the giddy thronl
at st. Louis Mr. Cleveland will wash hi
hands of the consequences and g
a-fishing. Scylla and Charybdis were a
nothing to the democi attic situation
It is either in the belly Of the Clevelan
whale or, the nav of the Bryan sharl
Yet the democratic party somehow ha
faculty of getting together, and tn
wisdom of republicanism will be in tn
selection of leader and the adoption {
a platform which will make 1t matte
of indifference whether the democrat
continue to split or to come together
peace and amity.