The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14
by Sheldon S. Cline

washington, September S.-Now that
d e has passed since Mr.. Brvan-s
homecoming speech, and the count
mas mad time TO think over the things
ne said, it is worth while To attemDt
an esumate Of the impression he made
Al nrst, as was 10 be expected, there
was Wild acclaim and severe censure
and no man could tell from which
course came the loudest noise. r. &c
only now that We are beginning To -et
results from democracy's sober second
thought.
OVershadOwing all the other issues
ne presented, and most provocative of
was the question Of public
ownership OF transportation lines. Rad
lcal emocratS We're jubilant, and re-
puDllcans were not ~diSpleased that Mr..
Bryan made clear his advocacy OF this
doctrine. Democrats of the old school.
especially southern democrats, were
d~lsheartened and dismayed. They pre-
dlcted direful things for the democratic
future, and especially emphatic was the
prediction that Mr.. Bryan had alienated
the south from his standard.
Southern members of congress who
came to Washington did not hesitate
to speak their minds. Among the num-
Der was Representative Livingston, a
veteran and distinguished member of
the house from Georgia. He gave it
as his profound conviction that the
south would never endorse Bryan's
new doctrine. Yet, on Tuesday. The
Georgia state convention went on re-
cord as favOring Bryan for the presi-
dental nomination two Years hence.
What is the meaning of it? Did Mr..
Livingston wrongly appraise sentiment
in Georgia? Certainly he ought to be
informed as to the things which are
in the minds of his constituents. Or
does Georgia propose to accept Bryan
and repudiate the chief issue for which
he stands? Off-hand, it would be easier
to accept the latter solution. We're it
not for the fact that it is impossible
| such a situation should continue from
now until 1908.
Perhaps, today, Georgia is willing 10
evade the issue, but it can't evade it
for the mex twenty months or more.
There isn't n reason to believe that
Bryan will back-track. In all probable
ity, he will go on preaching government
ownership until the nomination is
made; and Georgia, and all the other
states, will have to decide for or against
| that issue, and in so deciding they will
| choose for Or against Bryan. There
can't be any middle ground in a matter
| so revolutionary as that Mr.. Bryan
proposes.
Aside from the antagonism which
government ownership has aroused
| Mr.. Bryan's reception has been all that
even his most ardent friend could nave
| desired. People seem to like the Ne
braskan in the role of the nations
most distinguished citizen II face
| tious newspaper paragrapner remarks
that perhaps they like him so wei in
the role they will decide to keep him
in it.
And of Mr.. Bryan it must be said
that he has borne himself remarkably
| we'll under circumstances that might
have caused the most level headed or
men to do Or say foolish things. From
! every quarter there expressions
/ of good will. Even those who mos
| strongly disagree with his preachments
| EXPRESS admiration for the man n
| consciousness of his growth; they
would like to be for him, n will
| gladly afford him the fullest possible
hearing.
The result is that Mr.. Bryan, if he is
| to attain the presidency, must conduct
a campaign Of education. He has two
| wears, or nearly so, TO convert the
democratic party to his way OF think
ing. 1t will be a big task, a monument
al task, and if ever Mr.. Bryan accom-
Dlishes it. it Will be the most remark
:, able victory ever achieved in the
| field Of reason The campaign OF edu-
cation conducted in 1896 by Mark
| Hanna in the interest of William Nc
| Kinley would nOtssse a marker to II.
All Hanna had to DO was TO combat
a new theory in national
| or what amounted to a new theory TO a
| great majority of voters. He had TO
| convert no one; his business was TO
prevent conversion. Where a man
| could not be convinced, it was sufhclent
| for Hanna's purpose to confuse anu
| frighten him. Bryan must do more
| much more, than this He must reason
| with hundreds of thousands OF MS lei
| low citizens and convince them that
| this radical departure from me poll
| c;es of their fathers II the very
| foundation plans of the government is
right and just and calculated TO work
| the greatest possible good 10 the lars-
est number. He cannot fail n be
| president. -.
No wonder Mr. Bryan abandons his
,roiected Australian trip! Two years
is q pitifully short time for the doing
| of so large a task. II IS the Work OF
a generation. If he accompllsnes IL ne
| world must bow down before nlm'
no worlds chronicles do not show a
NON who has done so great a thing in
| so short a while.
This is a bad year for the political
| hoss Other recent years have been
| bad. but this Is bad with a big 3.
| Never We're 50 many reformers abroad
in the land. Wherever a boss ars