The National tribune., 1906-09-06
BRYAN,s HOMECOMING.

to with the mos Mtense interest by
those outside as wslISs inside his party
The Democrat4 8 desperately hungry
for leader uponswtom the whole par
ty could unite again. looked forward to
his return with q feverish eagerness
The issue upon which he had divided
the party was dead Beyond the hope OF
resurrection. Even he admitted that
the great productionsof gold had taken
away. at least temporarily. all reason
for advocacy of Free Silver He had
only sentimental affection for some
thing dearly loved but lost. 1t was be-
lieved that extended foreign travel had
instructed and broadened him. so that
while retaining his hold upon the mil
lions who have followed him SO enthu-
siastically in the past. he would bring
felt constrained to leave 1t when his
candidacy meant only the free coinage
| Of silver. ......--- -... ...
The situation here was full of issues
of the greatest vitality, upon which the
| Democrats could be united by leader
capable of formulating suitable pol
! icy. From the dissatisfaction which has
| been exprest with the Republican poll
| cies on the tariff. the Rate bill. the Pan
| ana Canal and other leading matters. II
seemed that II would be easy to outline
simple political creed upon which all
| the dissatisfied ones could unite with
reasonable hope of victory. If the Re-
| publican course has been as vicious rs
charged there should be no difficulty
| in proposing something so much bet
| ter that all would be charmed with 1t,
and flock to the standard of the peer
less leader"
Mr.. Bryan had had two years of lei5-
| ure to study and prepare for this. aided
| by personal observation and examina-
| tion Of conditions in all the countries
Of the civilized world While Mr. Roose-
welt was in the hot turmoil of doing
things as best he could under trying
circumstances. Mr.. Bryan had had the
| serene calm of an outside seat, where
he could criticize freely and point ou,
how much better he could and would
have done them. He certainly should
| have incubated something very fetching
In the way OF Democratic platform
and made Organism" appear a fasci-
| mating change from "Roooseveltism."
Ardent hopes Of this animated the
men who got up the magnificent recep-
ton him In New York last week. They
soreiy wanted a leader whom all Demo-
Gratis could follow They wanted a man
| to save the paftyrfrom tho Socialfstic
inroads Of Wiifiaint Randolph Hearst
They wanted a standard-bearer upon
| whom could be rallied all those who
were opposed to Roosevelt, and who
were dissatisfied With the Republican
policy on the tariff. the trusts, the rail-
roads and other National matters.
The reception was certainly a mag
event in American politics. Nothing In
our history ever appeared more cor
dial. more enthusiastic. deeper rooted
in the hearts OF the people. All the
Democrats appeared to have come back
into camp. and be shouting for Bryan
It seemed that IL the election could
have taken place before, Bryan spoke
he would have gone into the White
House by triumphant majority.
Then he spoke.
The situation changed In tho twink
liug of an eye.
1t was the same old impossible Bryan
of 10 years ago.
For the real issues Of the day he had
only the old staleworn platitudes. His
new thot was that tho Government
should own the trunk lines Of railroads.
This fell upon his hearers like June
frost upon blooming verdure. It nipped
his Southern hearers worst. They saw
in 1t criminal desertion from the
basic Democratic principle Of State
Rights. local self-government and JEFF
fersonianism. II was Capitalization,
Federalism. Hamiltonianism in most
fragrant form. Nothing the old "Blue
Light" Federalists. Wings and Repub-
licans ever did or proposed approached
this concentration OF power in the Gov
ernment in Washington. Nothing was
so absolutely destructive of Statehood.
and more certain to reduce the States
to mere provinces
Bryan tried to palliate this by saying
that he only meant that the Govern
ment should own the trunk lines, with
the other lines remaining as at present
II anything this made tho matter WORSE
for the railroads inside the States would
be more hopeless,y subordinated to the
trunk lines than they are at present
The situation simplines into this, that
the Democrats have another guess COM
ing al to who shall lead them In 1908.
Il comes al great surprise that
some misguided men in Michigan are
trying to defeat the Hon. Washington
Gardner for reelection. This would be
q great mistake. II would BE- . miseor-
tune to Michigan. and It would be .
real grief TO the veterans. Comrads
Gardner came to the front IN the Houfo
Of Representatives. with phusual rapidi-
ty. and to-day Is regarded a. ons Of the
ablest men in the House. His position
upon the oomrnittees Indicates this. ana
1t is confirmed BY tho work that he has
done and the. high opinion In which he
is held by the Speaker and hss fellow