The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-15
BRYAN as a, Conservative.

= Discussing the rapid recrudeseenee, Of,
the Bryan boom, the New York Globe
says it jogs republican attentio1y invit-s
ing the consideration Of candidates. It
raises in the opinion Of the Globe ad-
ditional objections to the sidetracking
Of Taft on the supreme bench, 1t. even;
brings to the forefront the interesting
question of whether President .Roose-s
welt, despite his explicit declaration.
will again DE named - - ~
The canvassing Of the Bryan strength
in the country seems naturally to sug-
gest Roosevelt as the proper opponent.
None Of the other candidates mentioned
on the republican side appear to meas
ure up to the Nebraskan in intimate &C.
quaintance with. the country. It must
be taken into consideration that time
has elapsed since Bryan burst. upon
the country as a presidential candidate
in 1896. Mr., Bryan was then SO years
old, had served one term in congress
and was a tyro in government. He; is
ten years older now in years and half a
century in experiences He has been
constantly before the public as a. lectur-
er, writer and editor. - r. y =:
1T would be idle to say that Mr..
Bryan had not developed mentally in
that period He has rubbed up against
the world and has: had his scholastic
ideals reshaped by facts. He is%nnone
the less an idealist,, but he has worn off
some of that pink Of perfect confidence
in his own solutions of world problems.
In other words Mr.. Bryan is less of a
sophomore than he was. ..a .
| Besides, the world. has gone forward
some in ten years and Mr.. Bryan occu-
| pies the rather unique position today Of
being called in his own party a conserv:
alive, whereas he began his political
career as radical and shortly achieved
the distinction Of being dubbed by his
opponents an anarchist. st,* p
It would be somewhat humorous to
see William J. Bryan set up BY the
| constitutionalists to save our institn-
!. lions from the assaults Of some :,dan-
gerous republican, but it is not imnos-
sible. President Roosevelt is about the
most radical republican in tho country
today, and there IS scarcely any sgues-
tion but he would enjoy a campo; ign in
which Mr.. Bryan appeared as the leader
Of the conservative hosts to save the
country from his radicalism.
But there is slim chance Of politics
lining up in this manner. The proba-
bilities are that the president will not
see any reason why he should reverse
his decision not to be candidate again
Nor is there much probability Of Mr.
Bryan being, accepted rs the*candidate
of vested interests. notwithstanding a
softening Of the exterior aspect Of the
man, he remains radical and cannot
Echange.
The selection Of a republican candi
date is not in the least simplifed By
n Mr.. Bryan g. apparent strength as 4
I democratic leader. The next republican
tcandidates must4be a<41nan VIII os ca n hole
all the ground Roosevelt has gained al
4 a tribune Of the people, and retain thu
ground held by the republican party un
der Mckinley as the defender Of zsoune
d money and protection Where the re
publican party is to get such &, man. i:
81 not yet quite apparent, but it is evi
dent that he cannot be a senseless stand
patter nor q calm n,schiDe politician