New-York tribune., 1906-08-30
MR.. BRYAN's HOMECOMING.

AS good American, with an American sense
Of humor and q veteran politician, with some
experience in ascensions and declensionS Mr..
Bryan will naturally be inclined TO put philo-
sophie valuation what might be called the
red fire phase of the iubilation IN honor Of his
Homecoming. He is too old an actor TO be
imposed on by the stage pageantry of politics.
He has had crowns handed to him beforehand
also lemons. He has sat on the front seat Of
the band wagon and heard the tumult and
shouting of the captains struggling TO Chamber
up over the sides and the tailboard. He has
also seen these same captains cIambering down
TO take passage with a bandmaster blowing
other tunes and headed in another direction.
He will not be swept of his balance, then,
he finds himself hailed on his return as the
greatest, wisest and most travelled of Demo
Gratis, the heir of Jefferson and Jackson and
the sole possible unifier and savior of the his
toric party which they founded and vitalized.
He will not be overcome when ne learns that
lined up the wharf TO greet him are fifty
seven representatives OF the fifty-seven former
varieties of Democrats waiting to tell him that
they have reverted and are now, one and all,
Bryan Democrats. He will be touched. per-
haps, but hardly unnerved, by the news that
Henry Watterson. Tom Taggart, Roger Sulli-
van, the seven little Mayors from Nebraska
and q band OF other patriots collected from
every Democratic centre in the country save
Princeton, n. j.. have come TO town TO sig
nalize his return to duty and opportunity and
TO offer him on his own terms the recelyership
OF the Democratic party.
So tickle and variable is popularity, and so
soon is the past forgot. as he floats about on
the Illini, screened from intrusion and await
ing the psychological moment for the latest
crown handing ceremony. 4lr Bryan will prob
oRAI with NJ
turn two years ago. That was a return from
RUSSIA return from Moscow, indeed. Spring
was here, but there was a frost in the air, and
no chartered private yacht hung about Quar-
antine waiting TO receive the SeawOrh tray-
eller. No fifty-seven Democratic brOtherhOOds
were On hand to swear allegiance, and Madi-
son Square Garden was not warmed and lighted
TO receive the hosts gathered to hear the Ne
braska sLatesman's homecoming message. AS
we recOllect II, Mr.. Bryan rented hall OF mod
crate size and issued invitations for lecture
at his own cost, and not little Indignation was
expressed by the very Democrats now falling
over themselves TO catch his earliest utterance
that he should have had the hardihOOd to eX-
press here uninvited some candid views on the
meaning and probable consequences OF Judge
| Parker's Presidential canvass.
/ But a prophet once unhOnored may get some
honor on the second trial. It is only justice TO
! AAF. Bryan 70 say that he now holds the same
views and delivers the same message as in
1904. He has not wavered nor stultifed him
self. The change is in his audience, not in
! him, and the Democrats now hanging so greed
! lily on his words are most Of them thus doing
| pOetical penance for dislOyalty which paid no
dividends and which they, therefore. sincerely
regret. The Tribune has had no illusions about
Mr.. Bryan, and never sympathized with the
misvaluatiOn Of his character and abilities which
led to the Parker fiascO Of 1904. He is pOlit-
! ical leader Of marked capacity and unusual
courage and in his own party has now virtually
eliminated all rivals. He will probably be an
important factor in public affairs for many
years. and his influence. we believe will be
helpful one in discOuraging machine corruption
and lifting politics to a cleaner and more sat
isfactory level. His homecoming and his ele-
yatiOn unOpposed 10 the Democratic leadership
are therefore. occurrences Of national interest.
AS a Republican newspaper. we. too. can cord
iaIly welcome Mr.. Bryan home though we may
be as much disposed he is TO take a little
philosOphically some OF the exhibitions OF new
born solictude and enthusiasm evoked by his
return.