New-York tribune., 1904-09-06
nR. RRYAYs FIRsT sPEECA.

William j. Bryan who divides with Thomas
E. Watson Of Georgia, The distinction or oelng
the chief hope os radicalism, made on thurs
day. at Springfield Mo, his first speech OF the
Parker campaign. Though the address was
brief and though Mr.. Bryan will not utter
another word in favor Of Parker for whole
month, the occasion was interesting. 1t was
Mr. Bryan's first opportunity 10 tell his roi-
lowers of the late Popocratic party how the
cause Of radicalism could be better served by
voting for his pet aversion, Judge Parker, than
for his twin soul, Mr.. Watson. Mr.. Bryan did
it, not forgetting for a moment what he has
called the duty he owes to the loyal Demo
Gratis of 1896 and 1900," and not recanting
q word Of the honest opinions he expressed
about Judge Parker before nomination. If his
audience missed from his speech some Of his
accustomed enthusiasm and his moving elo-
quence it was doubtless due 10 his sense Of
what he owed to them and to himself. Mr..
Bryan is doing his duty by his party as well,
but, after all, duty is not thing that evokes
Democratic enthusiasm.
The consistency of Mr. Bryan's position has
never been made clearer than it is now after
his speech n Springfield Tested by the sharp
est things he has said about Judge Parker, it
rings true. To show this it is only necessary
TO present some of the earlier sayings in COM
parison with those of last week:
On April 23 in Chicago he said:
desire to present some reasons why he
Judge ParkerJ cannot be considered an
available candidate for Democratic nomina-
ton and find these reasons not in his person
ality, but in his position on public questions.
At Springfield he practically paralleled this
by way of introductiop
K is u-.nxce~sa.y to say that the Presidential
nominee 9: TIE party was not my choice for
that place; my objection TO him was not TO his
character TO bis personality, but to the fact
that he did not stand with us upon the eco
noruic questions which have been matter Of
controversy in recent ears
Mr. Bryan is going TO be regular. He has
always preached party regularity. AS he said
al Springfield Judge Parker had voted for
him twice, he was going to vote for the Judge
in his turn. If this motive were not controlling,
expediency might keep him within the party
fold Mr. Bryan has his eye on the Lares and
Penates of the Democracy. its Jefferson and
its Jackson. He will need them in his reor-
ganizing business. For that is the land Of
promise TO which he points his devoted fol-
lowers. His principles remain unchanged. how
ever the Democracy turns its coat. The fol-
lowing words. in which he held out this pros
pect, probably met with a warmer response at
Springfield than anything else he said about
the national Democratic situation:
I believe to-day In the principles set forth at
Chicago and at Kansas City. 1 have lost none
OF my faith In the triumph of those principles.
When the election is over I shall continue to
fight for those principles.
Mr.. Bryan made this prediction at Cooper
Union:
In the first place. he lParkerl would be
very weak candidate. In the second place. II
elected, he would be a great disappointment TO
those who believe In Democratic principles
He does not recant this opinion, though he
takes as cheerful view as he can of what
wiil happen to radicasm II Parker IS elected.
saying NJ Springfield.
believe in the triumph of every righteous