New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-11-16
BRYAN YIELDS TO FATE.

Mr.. BRYAN can hardly have surprised. though
he may have panied. hoperS against nope IKE
Colonel Watterson, of The Louisville Courier
Journal" and Colonel Hemphlll' OF Inc
Charleston News and Courier, when he con
fessed that he was willing to accept the Dur
den of a third Presidential nomination. InoSe
guardians of the star-eyed godueSs OF JeneA
soniansm have persuaded themselves ula' nei
fortunes voDld be far better served by vol
unteer less advertised and therefore less WI
nerabIe. But they have failed to persuade MI
Rrvan that they have in view any substitute to
whom he could resign with confidence or secu-
ritv the task Of party leadership. 1t Is clear
from the caution and IiStlessness with when
the Nebraskan announces his candidacy that
be regards the nomination as a cross TO be en-
dure1 rather than as a prize TO be graSped TOT;
since a third defeat would probably put an eX-
tinguSher for all time on his availability as a
Presidential candidate. But fate has made 1t
harder for him to let go his leadership than TO
Hold on TO it, and he is undoubtedly sincere IN
his conviction that he can repay the party bet
ter for the honors it has given him by suffer
ing defeat with it now than by allowing it to
court practical dissolution by repetition OF the
experiment of 1904.
1t cannot be said that Mr.. Bryan has pressed
unduly on the party his claims as It's preferred
creditor He alludes modestly to the remark
able demonstration of loyalty to him and con-
fidence in his leadership which occurred only
a year ago on his return from Europe linen
Democrats Of all shades of opinion assembled
IN this city to hail him as the hope and savior
of the party-the most radical among its con
servatives and the most conservative among us
radicals. Democratic conventions in half the
states of the Union pledged him support as a
Presidential candidate for 1908, and even The
New York Times" and 1.-The Courier-JOurnaP
discovered that he had grown to new stat
ure under the stimulus Of foreign traVeI.
The Democratic party offered him the kinGly
crown without conditions, and he was so I'M
pressed with the genuineness Of the offer that
in his Madison Square Garden speech he acted
on the theory that he was outlining the cam
naign of 1908 and that what he said his follow
ers would have consistency enough TO stand
for When he found that consistency was the
last thing which restrained or influenced the
politicians who had gathered to welcome him
he charged neither ingratitude nor treachery
and left the field clear to them to retract their
pledges and replace him, if they could, with
better leader.
Mr. Bryan gave the opposition every oppOr-
tunity to organize against him; for his Madison
Square Garden speech crippled him for time
in the South, where it was said that he wanted
TO introduce government operation of the rail
roads for the purpose OF dpoIIShihS lie JIM
Crow passenger car. Yet the anh-Bryan lead
ers have made so far only pitiful showing
They have not been able to induce any Southern
leader to come out into the open as a Presi-
dental candidate. and they have uncovered no
Presidential possibilities at the North. The vote
cast in this state and in Massachusetts Tor
Independence League candidates ten days ago
is sufficient warning that any conservative
Presidential nominee will suffer a worse fate
than ex-Judge Parker; and if radical is to
be chosen. who can dispute with Mr.. Bryan
in range or variety of qualifications?
As the impartial observer sees it, the Ne
braskan's candidacy is inevitable. The Demo-
cratic party could not dispense with his services
if it would, and to make the matter biuding his
sense of political obligation would not let him
drop the leadership under existing conditions
even if he could.