The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-25

1t has long been the custom of the irrev-
erent American public to advise the loaua-
cious man to hire hall and do his talking
there. On Saturday night Mr. William
Jennings Bryan hired hall, and in so
doing probably put himself in line for the
first time in his life with the popular idea
of the proprieties suited to his case As
TO the propriety of the talk opinions may
diner. 1t Was an amazing political ha-
rangue in which he INDUCED. He tore the
New York Democratic platform to tatters;
he denounced it as dishonest and hypo-
critical and as not setting forth any of the
issues or principles for which Democrats
must fight Ii they are to fight at all. He
asserted that it was undoubtedly to be &C
cepted as the views of Judge Parker, the
New York presidential candidate, on public
questions. and then proceeded to assa:l
Judge Parker and his claims as a repre-
sentative of Democracy with all the vitri-
Ole vehenence of which he is capable.
Trusts are an issue, he said, imperialism
an issue. labor an issue, the tariff an issue.
the money question an issue, and on these
matters the New York platform is either
silent or ambiguous and evasive. If this
feeble document represented Judge Parkers
iceas, as he believed that it did, then, he in
sisted Parker was not tit to be placed on
the Democratic ticket. He disclaimed
wish to interfere with party success, but
nevertheless put himself in an attitude of
such implacable opposition to that element
OF the party which is supporting Parker
that 1t can mean nothing less than war to
the knife in the St Louis convention. 1t
might be assumed that he meant to sup
port Hearst, though he said nothing di-
rectly to that effect, but, whether Hearst's
name comes before the convention or not
this Chicago speech has made it impossible
Tor Bryan and his following to unite with
the other factions unless the platform
adopted by the national body shall GO 10
Bryanesque extremes and include all the
| declarations made notable by their absence
from the New York party utterance. Even
in that event the Bryanites could not ac-
cept Judge Parker. since. whatever the
ST. Louis convention may do, the express
sion of his state organization will still be
classed as formulation of his personal
views. However discredited Mr.. BRYAN NAV
be with the better element of his party, he
Is still Democratic leader, with a fol-
lowing the opposition cannot afford to ig-
more. The situation precipitated by the
Chicago speech is remarkable one: the
speech itself. >under the peculiar conditions.
without precedent in political annals That
a member of party, TO which he claims to
be loyal. should. on the eve of a presidential
campaign. set himself in violent opposition
TO the policy of that party as enunciated
by a State which is of the utmost impor-
lance to that party, is thing hitherto UNI
heard Of. The performance is sure to carry
CONSERVATION into already demoralized
Democratic ranks. The rest of the country
can only look on with wonder
For years Mr. Bryan has been roarint:
| and ranting up and down the country. pos
ing unselfsh advocate of the rights
of the plain people" but really promoting
his personal interests. On very small
and inadequate foundation he built up for
hiihSeii d cei tam popularity always peril
ously near To notor.ety. but insuring him
a degree of public attention. This popular
notice seems to have intoxicated him. He
magnifies his Importance to his party and
! is apparently determined 10 rule or ruin.
| That he will not rule is reasonably sure.
but that he will not ruin is by no means
/ so certain For the amusing feature of the
matter-amusing to Republicans at least