Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-28
DEMOCRATIC "PRINcIPLEs."
Bryan's Mistaken Assertion as to
Basis of ROOseVeIt's Success.
ST InlIla Glnhn- nnnnncrnh

Bryan's Mistaken Assertion as TO
Basis of ROOseVeIt's Success.
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Mr.. Bryan, interviewed in st. Louis, ex-
pressed the opinion that the great success
OF Mr.. Roosevelt in politics is due to the
fact that he has stolen a number of demo-
cratic principles" It would be interesting
to know where he found them. And It
would be interesting for Mr.. Bryan TO tell
the country where they are to be found
The vital principles Of political parties are
not merely the declaration OF party rep
resentatives in national convention. With
party long out Of power, its reiterated
assertion OF certain political tenets may
entitle 1t TO say that these constitute it's
principles OF action, or would in the event
of its elevation to power. During the long
exile OF democracy a generation of voters
grew up in this country who were deluded,
or deluded themselves, into a belief that IL
the organization should ever attain to COM
plete control of the government 1t would
tnaugurate new fiscal policy. Even the
years of division and of legislative OBJ
structiou. growing out of Morrison bills
and Mills bills could not shake the faith
or dampen the ardor Of these young men,
whose courage and devotedness were surely
worthy of better fate. For no sooner was
the party in position to redeem its pledges
than II fell into hopeless uncertainty, con-
shutting a menace which did more than
any other thing to precipitate panic and
| continue depression.
| When these men turned from old to newer
issues and made Mr.. Bryan the party
leader. they found that It was as lmpossl-
bic to unite the party on new lines as on
old. Two campaigns were enough to dem
onstrate the fact that that party is without
! principles" although its mass. like the
mass OF every party, favor methods Of gov
eminent contributing to a general welfare.
But a democratic platform declaration may
not be called a democratic principle" as
a republican platform declaration may, for
the reason that, II intrusted with power,
the democratic party can not or will not
resolve its declared purposes into action,
as the republicans do. Doctrinaires may
not recognize this distinction between the
parties, but we assure Mr.. Bryan IL
is one which the people recognize as vital
to them.
There is a popular belief in the honesty
of Mr.. Bryan, and a conviction In the pub
lie mind that II he and his followers should
ever attain TO the supreme power in this
country they would. II they could, redeem
their pledges and attempt to resolve into
action their platform declarations. Thii
is likely to make the attainment Of COM
plete power forever impossible 10 them
But beyond the fear OF their sincerity lies
the fear which is even greater, OF the
same sort OF prolonged and disastrous un
certainty, hesitation, doubt and falterinl
which came upon the country under Cleve-
land. For under Bryan. as under Cleve
land, the party would inevitably split and
be incapable OF uniting on the policies 4
| had Advocated In the carnDafgu The demo
cratic party stands now. In the public
mind. as one not knowing what Il wants
, If Mr.. Roosevelt Is charged with stealing
: democratic principles" his surest defens
I is 70 put his aceuseTs on the stand to prov
3 property.