New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-10
Bryan Says Democracy Must Cut
Loose from "Plutocrats.

night gave out extended statement concern
ing yesterdays election, which is intended to
serve as his comment the result, and
answer to reports connecting him with move
ment looking to the formation of a party.
Mr.. Bryan said he would not attempt to deny
ali the reports circulated as his future po-
litical action, but would let his statement serve
to explain his position. He says:
The Democratic party has met with an over
whelming defeat in the national election. AS
yet the returns are not sufficiently complete to
permit analysis, as 1t is impossible to say
whether the result is due to an actual increase
In the number of Republican voters to fall
ing off in the Democratic vote. This phase of
the subject will be dealt with when the returns
are all in. The questions for consideration at
this time are What lesson does the election
teach? and What of the future? The defeat
of Judge Parker should not be considered
personal one. He did as we'll as he could under
the circumstances; he the victim of
policy
He grew in popularity as the campaign pro-
gressed and expressed himself more and more
strongly the trust question. but could not
overcome the heavy odds against him. The So
called conservative Democrats charged the de-
feats of 1896 and 1900 TO the party's position
the money question and insisted that victory
could be won by dropping the coinage question
entirely. The convention accepted this theory
and the platform made reference to the
money question, but Judge Parker felt that it
was his duty 10 announce his personal adherence
to the gold standard.
His gold telegram as it called. while em-
barrassing to the Democrats of the West and
South, was applauded by the Eastern press.
He had the cordial Endorsement of MIR. Cleve-
land, who certified that the party had returned
to safety ard sanity; he had the support of
the Democratic papers which bolted in 1896
and he also had the aid of nearly all of those
which were prominent in the campaigns of 1896
and 1900 and yet his defeat is apparently
greater than the party suffered in either Of
those years
PARKER's DEFEAT NOT LOCAL.
defeat was not local, but general tia returns
from the Eastern states being disappointing
as the returns from the West The reorganizers
are in complete control of the party; they
planned the campaign and carried it accord
ine 10 their own views, and the verdict against
their plan is unanimous Surely silver
cannot be blamed for this defeat, for the cam
paign was run on gold basis. Neither tho
defeat be charged to emphatic condemnation Of
the trusts, for the trusts were not assailed as
vigorously this year they were four years
ago. 1t is evident that the campaign did not
not falr 10 consider the result as a personal
victory for the President, although his admin
istration was the subject of criticism.
The result was due to the fact that the Demo
cratic party attempted to be conservative in
the presence of conditions " aich demand radi-
cal remedies. II sounded partial retreat when
it should have ordered a charge all along the
line. In 1896 the line Drawn for the first
time during the present generation between
plutocracy and democracy. and the partys
stand on the side of the democracy aenated
large number of plutocratic Democrats, who. in
e.
turn, and it drew to itself large number of
earnest advocates OF. reform whose attachment
to these reforms is much stronger than attach
ment TO any party name. The Republican party
occupies the conservative position. That is. it
defends those who, having secured unfair ad-
vantage through class legislation insist that
they shall not be disturbed no matter how op-
pressive their actions may become.
The Democratic party cannot hope to COM
pete successfully with the Republican partv for
this support. To win the support of the pluto
cratic element of the country the party would
have to become more plutocratic than the Re-
publican party, and it could not do this without
losing several times as many votes rs that
course would win The Democratic party has
nothing to gain by catering to organized and
predatory wealth. It must not only do without
such support, but it can strengthen itself by in
viting the open and emphatic opposition Of these
elements. The campaign just closed shows that
it is inexpedient from the standpoint of policy
as it is wrong from the standpoint of principle
to attempt any coneiliation OF the industrial and
financial despots. who gradually getting con-
troll of all the avenues of wealth. The Demo
! cratic party, If 1t hopes to win success must
/ take the side of the plain, common people.
EXPERIMENT A COSTLY ONE.
Mr.. Bryan says for two years he has pointed
out the futility of any attempt to compromise
with wrong or TO patch up a peace with the
great corporations which are now exploiting the
public, but the Southern Democrats were so
alarmed by the race issue that they listened
rather reluctantly, be it said to their credit. to
the promises of success held out by those who
had contributed to the defeat OF the party in
the two preceding campaigns. He continues:
The experiment has been costly one. and it
is not likely to be repeated during the present
genera ton The Eastern Democrats were also
deceived. They were led to believe that the
magnates and monopolists who coerced the
voters In 1896 and supplied enormous cam
laign fund both in 1896 and 1900 would help
the Democratic party If our party would only
be less radical. The corporation press aided in
this deception, and even the Republican papers
professed unselfish desire 10 help build up
the Democratic party The election has opened
the ewes of the hundreds of thousands of honest
and we'll meaning Democrats who a few months
ago favored the reorganization of the party.
These men now see that they must either go into
the Republican party or join with the Demo
Gratis of the West and South in making the
Democratic party a positive, aggressive and
progressive reform organization. There is no
middle ground. ,..--.
TINE WILL BRING OUT A LEADER.
Mr. Bryan says he did what he could to pre-
vent the reorganization of the Democratic party;
when he failed in this he did what he could to
aid Parker and Davis in order to secure such
reforms-and there were some vital ones-prom-
ised bv their election Now that the campaign
Is over he will, he says assist those who desire
Ia nut the Democratic army once more upon a
/ Continued N fourth page.
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