New-York tribune., 1906-07-16
THE TAIL AND THE DOG.

Colonel Bryan's notice to his new admirers Of
! The safe and sane school that he, not they,
will draw the Democratic platform of 1908 has
had a rather disheartenins effect. They were
beginning to think that the Nebraska eX-radcal
had become safely Parkerized, and that he would
be willing to make the next campaign on a plat
form Of truly JeffersOnian elasticity and vague
ness. To belabOr the trusts with rhetoric and
! yet oppose as dangerous and unconstitutional
/ that fuller exercise OF federal power through
which alone the individual can be protected from
corporate aggressiOn-here was a facing both
ways programme eminentIy calculated to stir the
enthusiasm and draw the support Of the embat-
tied conservatives. If Mr.. Bryan would only
look solemn talk Oracularly and stick to writing
neat essays the conflict between individual
ism and socialism he might in two years almost
qualify himself for fellowship politically with
the Sage of ESopus and the Sage of Princeton.
But Mr.. Bryan didn't relish sitting on stool
and training for hOnOrs as an oracle. His radical
blood still runs hot and he does not want to be
supported false pretences. His declaration
that he is more radical to-day than he was in
1896, and that there is nothing in his record to
be taken back or apolOgized for, moves THE New
York Times" TO remark sadly that the colonel,
like the Bourbons, "has forgotten nothing" 1t
had cherished the idea that 1.-The old, empty for
'mulas had been forgotten, the sterile doctrines
abandoned, and that the dead issues would be
permitted to lie. undisturbed in the becoming
"drapery of their cerements." But here is the
risen hope Of the reborn conservatives clinging
fast to error and refusing enlightenment After
having eXultantly told its readers that the coun-
try's opinion of Colonel Bryan had been marvel
lousy changed and limiting that the change was
justified, THE Times" now pathetically concludes
that the Nebraska statesman is the same old
juggler with sterile doctrines" the same old
preacher of futile radicalism' 1t is rather
disconcerting when one has arranged things a
particular way to see somebody else step in and
arrange them another. The conservatives who
have been heading at top speed for the Bryan
band wagon were prepared to serenade the great
party chief with music already selected. Now
they are told that Colonel Bryan is his own
music director. and that no airs must be blown
without due rehearsal The new recruits will
be allowed to join the union, but they will have
no hand in writing out the band programmes.
1t is only fair to say that after their last vent
ure in 1904 most Of the conservative programme
makers quit in disgust and are now willing to
take the safety and sanity Of the principles
they profess on credit. They took Colonel Bryan
on credit when they labelled him "conserva-
tive" and now, however much they may protest,
they will have to reconcile themselves to his
kind of conservatism" THE World" consoles
itself by suggesting that "as between radicalism
and conservatism names count for little" This
is true philosophy. Having bought their pig in
poke, our conservative frienus will do well not
TO look too critically under the cover.