The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-10
Tm Messenger.
THAT BRYAN RESOLUTION.

be the case, the democratic state con-
vent:on at Greensboro on Tuesday de-
clared for Messrs. Bryan and Aycock
as the democratic presidential ticket in
1908. That it would do so was a fore
gone conclusion; that the resolution
is not and cannot be binding On the
district and state conventions to be
held two years hence to appoint dele
gates to the national convention is as
we'll understood.
If the present enthusiastic feeling
for Mr.. Bryan lasts for two years, of
couse, Bryan delegates t the national
convention will be chosen. We look
for nothing more. We expect this
state to cast it's solid vote for the dis
'tinguished Nebraskan as the demo-
cratic nominee for president. There
is no way in the world to prevent It
unless there is a great change in pub
lie sentiment. We believe a maturity
of the democrats of the state-that is,
Of those t,ho run the politics OF ne
party-are at the present time in "a
vOr of his nomination. He is just now
sweeping the country with a wave Of
popularity which brooks no opposition.
The men who make the noise in he
party are going wild over him just Is
they did in 1896 and 1900. But the
{ -. ion is will they be more success
full in 1908 in gathering in the votes
for him than they were on the two
other unfortunate occasions whe0 he
was nominated with such a whoop and
conducted such a rOusing campaign.
On both of thees occasions the pre-
election indications pointed to over
whelming victories, but eliminated III
wOefuI defeats.
The men in charge of the party's af-
fairs seem determined to repeat the
events Of the campaigns Of these W
years. The question of availability of
the candidate does not now cut any
figure with them, just as it did not in
those two years. We are told that it
is Bryan or nothing. We were told
the same thing in 1896 and in 1900
and it turned out to be Bryan and
nothing, just as we are afraid 1t will
be two years hence if the democrats
expect to rush their candidate through
on this present wave Of popularity.
The party seems to nave no time to
think; to consider what may be the
issues and the possibilities two years
hence. That is Il long time in poll
ties. Conditions may be, and likely
will be. very different then from what
they are now. It is absurd to attempt
to pledge the party in this or any
other state to the support of any man
as its presidential candidate two years
hence. Today Mr.. Bryan stands for
certain principles or party tenets. IN
two years the affairs of the country
may nave 50 changed that these prin-
ciples may no longer be the embOdi-
ment of the party's demands; still the
friends of Mr.. Bryan will point 10
the action of this state convention and
demand that the pledge of the party
to his support be carried out, and
should the convention of 1908 prefer
some other man rs its standard bear
er the party will be charged with
fckleness and with reputation of its
previous action.
Let the friends of Mr.. Bryan declare
as much as they please, as some Of
them did on Tuesday, that the resOlu-
ton would be in no way binding OH
the democrats of the convention in
ton meets that this resolution will be
brought to the front and the attempt
made to have it given weight and to
use it for the purpose of influencing
the action of that body. There was nc
sense in adopting such Il resolution at
this time unless it WAS to have inf1u-
ence in determining the action of the
convention two years hence. If it was
simply an expression Of opinion of the
democratic party Of today as II whom
the party would prefer as is candidate
W years hence it was without force
and amounted to nothing. The only
object in its passage could be to pledge
the party before hand to the support
of Mr.. Bryan's c~andidadcy. If this
were not its object and effect hon i
amounted to nothing and was purpose
less INC aimleSs. In the one case il
was folly to adopt it and attempt C
vance 70 the support Of Il candidate; il
the other it was meaningless.
Death From LOckjaW
never follows ali injury dressed witt
H.