The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-11-22

able This charge, like the other, is
without foundation No one can ostl-
mate the chances of the party In the
next campaign with sufficient accuracy
to make his candidacy dependent upon
the outlook. While the democrats
have reason to be encouraged by the
fact that democratic principles have
grown in popularity and that demo
cratic policies are now praised by
many who denounced them few years
ago, and while further encouragement
is to be derived from the fact that
the democratic party is more united
than 1t has been for many years, and
the republican party more divided,
still the action of the democratic party
can not be made dependent upon the
prospect of success. The prospects
now seem excellent, but a democratic
national convention will be held, n
platform adopted and candidates nom
mated whether the prospects are
bright or gloomy, and the party must
make the best fight 1t can whether 1t
enters the campaign with fear or with
confidence. Democrats believe that
democratic principles are sound and
that democratic policies are neces-
sary; they should, therefore endorse
those principles and present those
policies and then select as their can
didates those who, in their judgment,
will give the party the greatest assur-
ance of success in the campaign and
the country the greatest assurance OF
benefit in case of victory.
No man can ask for a nomination as
a compliment If his nomination will
not benefit the party, and no democrat
would be justified in refusing a nomi-
nation If his party demanded his SER
vices, and II the members Of the party
believe that Mr.. Bryans nomination
will help the party, its principles and
its policies, he will accept the nomi-
nation whether the indications point
to defeat or victory. A defeat can
bring no disgrace where the cause is
a just one, but cowardice would be
disgraceful, especially in one who is
as deeply indebted to his party as Mr..
Bryan.
Just word more. The next cam
paign will be an appeal to the public
conscience. The Investigations have
shown not only the corrupt use of
large campaign funds, but the only
source from which they can be drawn,
namely-the corporations that seek
to convert the government into bust
ness asset. The democratic party
stands for the doctrine of equal rights
to all and special privileges to none
and therefore can not promise favors
to favor-seeking corporations. If it
made such promises to the corpora
tons, it would be guilty of duplicity,
for it would have to betray the voters,
as the republican party has done, in
order to reward these corporations as
the republican party has rewarded
them. The democratic campaign must
be carried on by volunteers who will
work because they desire the triumph
of democratic ideas. We can not
hope to appeal to the sordid or to buy
the purchasable, even if such course
would contribute toward democratic
success. No one should favor Mr..
Bryan's nomination unless the party
is willing to open its books and show
where its contributions come from and
for what the money is expended. The
republican party ought to be chal-
lenged to conduct it's campaign in this
open and honest way and If the re-
publican leaders refuse to accept the
challenge, the democrats can we'll af-
ford to leave the issue with the public.
An appeal to conscience Is politically
expedient as well as morally right,
| for the conscience is the most potent
| ------------------------