Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-07-15
Bryan's Influence and Convention 8
Power.

Bryan's Influence and Convention's
Power.
The decisive test vote on the Illinois
contest etfectually confirms the views OF
the Bryan-Iiearst incapacity which have
been put forward in this correspondence
and in the editorial columns OF the Ore
goHian for two years past. Now, as
heretofore, Mr.. Bryan has the masses OF
his party with him and sways his aud
fence at will through his captivating
presence, his tremendous voice, and his
boldness in fight. But in the realm of
practical politics, he and Hearst are as
boys in the grasp of giants.
1t was the manifest purpose of the
Bryan rooters to offset to day the demon
stration OF yesterday for Cleveland, and
the plan succeeded, for the counter
demonstration OF the Parker men was a
lame and incompetent conclusion. The
spectators warn with BRYAN. but the
delegates were against him. The C!eve-
land demonstration was by delegates,
the Bryan demonstration by the spec.
tatorS.
The above paragraph from the staff
correspondence Of the Oregonian, dated
at st. Louis, during the closing days
OF the convention, confirms the view
hitherto expressed in these columns as
to the pervading influence by which it
was controlled. 1t was the CONNER.
cialism represented in the convention
by influences swayed by corporations,
which almost made the party affirm
the gold standard, and which led to
the nomination of a candidate whose
lips had been sealed when the party
was testing available candidacy, for
fear their expressions might jeopardize
their well-orgsnized attempt to man.
age the convention. Under such con-
ditions, the temerity of the prevailing
leaders did not 60 far enough to ignore
the man, who, with a united party,
would have BEEN elected to the Presi.
dency in 1896, which would have made
another victory assured for the party
four years later. for it must be admit
ted that he sways the masses by the
II )nesty manifested in his statements
of party issues and the logical conclu-
sions he draws therefrom for desirable
results. His official acts would doubt.
less have conformed with his profess
sions.
The Convention was, as stated,
largely dominated by influences which
mako party forms a means for attain.
ment of personal ambition, rather
than the public good; by men who
had axes to grind rather than bepefits
to bestow; and it is more q matter of
surprise than of reprobation they
should have had the assurance to de.
mand that the party which had polled
enough votes to have elected Mr..
Bryan with their aid, eight years ago.
should now make that defeat the lash
whereby the rank and file of the party
might be scourged, and beaten into
line.
The true representatives Of the party
were unswerving in their demand that
the Democratic platform should be as
far as possible, the antithesis OF the Chi
cago Rooseveltian creed. A re-affirm.
alton OF two last national platforms,
even with the clause, {" so far as appli-
CABLE" would have secured every Dem.
ocratic vote for any unobjectionable
candidate. The elimination of the
gold plank in the psesent party declar.
atoms, may, with Bryan's endorse.
ment. satisfy many, but only as con.
cession by way Of compromise, and it re-
manned with Mr.. Parker, the nominee,
by his threatened addendua to the
platform in his letter Of acceptance
to unite and solidify that sentiment,
or cause many to drift to Populism, OF
some other positive protest against the
corruption in national and State ad.
ministration.
The difficulty of securing absolute
harmony in convention Of 1000 del
egates, who were called to pass judg
ment upon measures of such great
importance to the people and the na
ton is by no means lost sight of in
the attempt to gauge their acts By
the standard of right and wisdom
but we do think it safe to claim tina,
the vote on the salient features OIL
both the Chicago and the Kansas City
platforms (barely a minority of the
fourteen million votes cast) was suffi
cient expression of the popular will te
have allowed them to quietly repose
in the oblivion to which both Demo
cratic and Republican goldbuge claim
they have fallen. II they we're dead
issues, q due respect for the opinion,
OF their friends, should have secured
that reverence always manifested, BY
civilized communities, at the obsequie.
of departed worth.
Gov. Peabody, of Colorado, denie.
that be has declared martial law in
any part OF that State; says he onl,
recognized q state of instruction, ant
arrested the ringleaders in rebellion
against law and held them for trial
He notes the difference 10 stating thai
under martial law provost guard il
appointed, and all prisoners are sub
]ect to military trial under the guard.
1T seems that there is quite a senti
ment at Cripple Greek against tn.
return of departed miners when a ma
jority of the Inhabitants wear in tbe;,