New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-05
GREATEST CONSERVATIVE FARCE


There is fine place vacant for any ambitious
young Democrat VINO thinks he can fill its
anluOus requirements-we refer 10 that honor
able party position The Greatest Conservative
Force. The Democracy needs conserving worse
than ever before. Mr. Bryan has thrust aside
this distinguished title which his ancient enc
mics and recent friends forced upon him.
Across tie water he was a uRifying personality;
al home he Is a reyealer OF dichOtOmy He is no
longer The Greatest Conservative Force. Who
is? Where is the man 20 perform this important
function: lie must be a man of greatness suf-
ficent 10 be a national character and carry a
load Of complimentary Endorsements for the
Presidency without looking Overburdened, and
of prudence equal TO keeping q silent tongue
in his head for two long years. Such a man
would make a great cOnservatOr of his partys
face The situation demands him. The dichOto-
nous Democracy needs him. The editors who
have bounced Mr.. Bryan from this honorable
job are looking for his successor.
There is no more comic episode in politics
than the recent emergeuce of the wolf from
sleeps clothing. "a raiment not of his own chooS-
ing. hut deliberately draped about him 10y the
sheep themselves, The wolf no deceiver,
but the sheep liked the security Of self-decep-
ton, The conservative Democratic editors,
even as again now, We're casting about sheep
skin i'm hand. for a predatory creature 10 array
i'm The garb Of innocence. He was 10 be the bell
weiher OF the flock. The Greatest Conservative
Force. They wanted just the man 40 nj the
place. He must he radcal-1904 decided that
hut not too radical-19O0 decided that: not radi-
cal enough 10 hurt but sufficiently So as not to
be- open 10 the accusation Of being another
Parker lie must be happy medium between
q ucnentiiy and Il Tabd reyOlutiOniSt. Bryans
celebrated ma gazine article came just at the
flasar afVnsF
about. sleeps clothing in hand 1t seemed as
moderate an outgiving as might be expected
from one sufficiently radical. The editors were
ready 10 forgive and TO forget-especialy 10 for
get They forgot that Nh. Bryan had repeat
eddy in his speeches and in his "COmmoner'
declared for government ownership of railroads.
Mr. Bryan inadvertently, 100. had neglected 10
mention i'm his magazine article that important
section % his creed. Therefore TO the editors
Mr. Bryan seemed just radical enough, no heed
less revoutiOnst. while still able to prove an
alibi TO the damaging charge OF being another
Parker 50 on him went the suit of sleeps
clothing Every one admired the lit. 1t was
of European make; no such garments for style
and finish could be acquired except 10y travel
lie was The Greatest Conservative Force and
one must be- something Of a radical in these days
10 Ice greatly Conservative. but by no means
such a radical as Bryan declared himself 10 he
at the Madison Square Garden! Horrors no!
Where shall his like be found again. this erst-
while COnservatOr. now no more The Brook
lvn Eagle" with all the confidence which the
qualification Of it's long experience as an ex-
pert political aenist gives il, cries out, Gov
ernOr Folk is sanei' Sane-but is not sanity a
poor recommendation. inauspiciOuSly is il
associated with the unfortunate name OF Par
ker? Better a little insanity-nOt too much, Of
course Just a conserving sOupcon Of il, How
ever. Governor Folk is out with something re-
assuring about the practical workings of govern
ment ownership OF railways. Missouri is tired
OF still paying for railroads. once owned, now
no longer owned. The Governor and his con-
stituents do not like paying instruments on dead
horses. The Richmond Times" says that MIR.
BRYAN was asked if he would cooperate with
Governor Folk in forming a propaganda OF
Democratic doctrines in the next two years, and
the peerless one replied that he would cooperate
with everybody "who held the same view he
did" Says The Times:
II would be very well for Mr.. Bryan 20 re-
member despite the glamour OF his great recep
ton that he is not the Democratic party and
that If lie wishes well TO that party II Will be
wise for him 10 cooperate with Governor Folk
That sounds like a threat VIII Folk dof Is
ne great enough : he radical enough to be The
Greatest Conservative FOrceI There are other
possibilities We have read the prOnuncamento
OF the Independence League. IL Is radical
enough in an conscience to satisfy the most eX-
acting conservative" and yet contains no rev
olutionary suggestions about government own
prsbiD of trunk lines and the like How about
William Randolph Hearst for The Greatest Con
Servativp Force-Or Farce: September % will
tell.