The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-06-21
BRYAN AND 1908.

No State convention for many years
has aroused greater interest or taken
action of larger import for the whole
country than the meeting of the Mis-
souri, Democracy at Jefferson City.
And nothing was more emphatically
indicated in the unanimous and spirited
action of the convention than the con-
viction of Missouri Democracy that
William Jennings Bryan will be the
nominee of the reunited Democratic
hosts and the next President of the
United States.
Missouri has declared itself. The
rest of the country will likely follow.
Nothing except the refusal of Mr..
Bryan himsely to become the standard
bearer of Democracy in 1908 seems to
stand in the way of his nomination.
Bryan stands forward more prominently
than anyone else as the representative
of resolute opposition to government of,
by and for the trusts intrenched behind
an ultra high tariff of their own dicta-
ton. Which is to say that it is upon
constitutional principles and for a
constitutional government that he
stands. AS such Bryan is a conserva-
tive. AS contrasted with other politi-
cal tendencies the principal of which
he is unquestionably the leading
exponent is eminently conservative.
Indeed without exaggeration of lang
uage it can be truthfully said that
Bryan is the most conservative force in
American public life. His conservatism
is the very opposite of "standpatism,'
which is essentially inimical to the
principles of free government. Against
the "standpatism" of privilege on the
one hand and the rapid radicalism of
half-baked reformers on the other hand,
Mr.. Bryan represents constitutionalism
and strict Jeffersonian Democracy.
Time has never wrought more
potently in the assimilation of oppos-
ing views than in the change of the
public mind in respect to Bryan. There
has been change of asbect in the man
to some extent, but still more of a
change of attitude among Democrats
formerly at variance. His change has
brought broader view, extending to
the people generally, irrespective of
faction or party. Leading the life of a
private citizen, Bryan has nevertheless
been constantly in the public mind
during the past ten years, and often con-
spicuously in the public eye. Judged
by his course and his utterances he has
grown greatly in mental and moral
stature, in power and breadth of appre-
hension. Toward his matured states
manship the united Democracy, it's
differences completely outgrown, now
turns for representative of convic.
lions fundamental in the party, which
by reason of their special application
to present day affairs are recognized
and approved by millions of people who
have not heretofore considered them
selves Democrats. Experience has
taught the American people in the last
few years the value of many Jefferson
ian truths. Experience has demon
strated, too, the vital necessity O.
constitutional government, government
; which shall be in the interests of al
the people as opposed to the rule O.
privilege. In this emergency Bryan
answers at once the sane demands anc
the thoughtful purpose of Democracy
just as in this day of revelations, O
exposed inequalities, of injustices and
. corruption in the administration O
national affairs he offers the living hop,
of wise, sound, honest constitutions
government.
Proposed by Democrat of nationa
prominence and influence, leading
representative of the faction once op
posed to Bryan, his Endorsement by tn
Missouri convention expresses tn
view of the united national Democracy
Missouri's Endorsement has been th
signal for harmonious Endorsements else
where, SO that Missouri heads tn
movement to tender for the third tim
Americas highest honor to the man G
brave patience and courageous states