New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-28
NOT so EASILY LAUGHED OFF.

We note a disposition among the more radical
OF Judge Parker's supporters to sustain him IN
IFS pose OF sphinxlike justification. Ihey
cannot refute the charges OF inslncerlJy' am
bigrity and dishonesty which Mr.. Bryan DIlhsS
against the Albany platform. Their only an
swer to such charges is that the platform winch
Mr. Bryan oppOses-hOwever opaque ana h!po
critical Il may be 81 itself-becomes by virtue OF
his disapprovaI r. safe and sane" political docu-
menf The whole Parker canvass IS based III
fact on mere necations. The Parker managers
say to the great body OF Democratic voters;
you are tired OF Organism. We offer you n
new leader and a new set OF principles. What
.o,7r PRINCIPLES are we do not know. II we did
know we should not dare 10 put them into
plain and Ineligible language. But Mr. Bryan
"dissents from them. Therefore they must be
sensible and right"
We scarcely think a canvass Of this sort can
arouse enthusiasm even in party tradluonally
eager 20 sacrifice theory 10 success. Judge
Parker IS an avowed candidate for the freslden-
tial nomination lie has been officially Endorsed
as q candidate by the Democratic organization
,n his own state, whose seventy weight votes IN
the ST Louis convention are pledged TO him
under the operation Of the unit rule. II Is a
,ravestv on politics TO ask the Democrats Of
other States to accept his candidacy on wills
pered assurance from the Hon. David b. I'M
or the Hon. William T. Sheehan that his opin-
tons.-if be has Gny-will be found TO be SOUND
and conservative" The voters IN other states
hoye p right 10 know what those hermeucaly
sealed opinions are-to judge for themselves
whether or not they are legitimate inheritance
from Jackson and jefferson In the Indiana
Republican convention on Tuesday Representa-
tive James L. Watson. the permanent CHAIRMAN
Dlavfully alluded to Judge Parker as n voice
bo ssted. be seriously invited 10 name for the
Presidency n man whose sole poilucal AsseO Ias
IN being "idealess, viewless and opinionless' Z
The same question. raised by Democratic critics
IN many States. IS bound TO plague and hamper
the nrogress Of the Parker canvass.
= nav he said that the Parker managers have
oxnosed their hand sufficiently in the Albany
platform. But intelligent Democratic OPINION
Is beginning TO condemn that platform as an
erreg1ols blunder. THE Washington Post mas
been q pronounced enemy OF Organism AND Ine
nersistent advocate of a return TO sanity.
pnt r. sssails the celebrated trust clause OF the
Albany declaration as utterly incomprehenslDle
con any theory that presupposes the sanity Oh
'sthe man or men responsible for II Inc osI
is at one with Mr.. Bryan IN demanding an nom
est expression of Judge Parkers views on INC
trnst question. II fouts the Hill-Parker theory
tb.+ .rn,u,ons Of sincere antitrust Democrats
can be handled ike pawns on chessboard (;
ond ,+ assures its readers that Judge Parker
,yIrl never be allowed 10 make the Presidential
roca "on the timidities and absurdities OF the
Albany structure" Judge Parker may continue
% smIls loftily at all attempts to uncover his
noli.icsl beliefs But he viii do so only at the
fisk OF convincing Democratic opinion that MS
candidacy IS really grounded IN trickery and
deceit