The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-06
Has Mr. Bryan Really Backed DOWN.

After telling a SUN reporter that he
had no intention Of dropping the Fed
eral ownership idea, MI. BRYAN seems
at first sight to have experienced some
change Of mind or heart. for in Chicago
on September 4, at a luncheon given by
the Iroquois Club, he repeated in more
explicit terms what he had said at New
Haven, declaring that in suggesting
the Federal ownership Of trunk railways
he had simply taken the liberty Of ex-
pressing his personal opinion, and Of
course expected every other Democrat
to exercise the same freedom. The
inference which he wishes to be drawn
is that he would not make the adoption
Of his proposal by the next Democratic
national convection a condition OF his
acceptance Of its nomination. In other
words, he would like the Southern Dem
Ocrats to agree to differ with him on that
particular question, while indorsing him
as on the whole the most deserving and
acceptable candidate.
Would it be possible to credit even
the most definite assurance on Mr..
BRYAN's part that he has no intention
Of forcing his latest nostrum on the
Democratic party in the event of It's
success in the next Presidential electionP
Has he exhibited in the past a willing
ness to tolerate independent opinions on
the part of his fellow Democrats, when
he had, or thought he had, the power TO
compel subservience to his own views?
At Kansas City in 1900 the Democratic
leaders who were best informed con-
corning the drift Of public sentiment
implored Mr.. BRYAN not to commit the
Democratic party for a second time to
the free silver asininity, but he was deaf
to their entreaties, with the result that
he lost State after State which he had
carried four years before, including Ne
braska, and was beaten by 1877, instead
of 95, electoral votes.
Again in 1904 Mr.. BRYAN insisted that
the st. Louis convention should per-
petrate the same blunder, and so far
committed it that Judge PARKER, its
nominee for the Presidency, felt con-
strained to inform it by telegram Of his
personal adherence to the gold standard. |
Does anybody in his senses imagine that
Judge PARKER would have run better
an avowed silverite than he ran an
gold candidate on a silver PLATFORM
The truth is that Mr.. BRYAN is the VIC
tim Of faith in his own infallibility, of
the conviction that all his scripture Is
the outcome Of inspiration. The effect
Of his digestion is that while expedi-
ency might lead him to suspend tenn
pOrarily the advocacy Of a fixed idea, az
MOSES kept the chosen people for a
while in the wilderness, he is practically
TO reaffirm and apply It when
ever he thinks he sees a favorable occa-
sion. He may or may not recognize
such an occasion in the next Democratic
national convention, but were he once
with the powers Of Federal
Chief Magistrate he would unques-
use them and use them ruth
lessly to propagate his latest heresy.
the Federal ownership Of trunk railways.
With what severity he would in such
an event enforce obedience o Demo-
Senators and Representatives NAV
be guessed from the arrogant tOne
takes in addressing the voters OF
illinois while rs yet he processes TO be
Only a private citizen.
The recent Democratic convention Of