New-York tribune., 1907-11-27
NOT AN INTRUDER.

Our friend and neighbor ''The New York
World seems to begrudge us the right to mix
in Democratic family quarrels or to venture our
opinion on the availability or non-availability Of
candidates for the Democratic Presidential nOm-
nation 1t says that The Tribune's predlec-
tions mortgaged-that are hopelessly
bassed in our loyalty to one particular candi-
date. Here is the indictment it brings against
us:
AS the leading Republican newspaper OF the
United States, The Tribune is irrevocably com
mitted Mr.. Bryan's nomination by the Dem
ocrats. 1t will listen to nobody else's claims. 1t
recognizes no other logical candidate. Ne
braska'S favorite is The Tribunes favorite
We do not want to accept responsibilities
which do not come to us in the line of duty.
Least of all do wish to act umpire In the
nterminable disputes which rage over the ques
tions what is a Democrat. who are Democrats
and what rational excuse can be given for being
or claiming to be Democrat. We cannot hope
to get any further than '"The World" itself has
got in clearing up such Eleusinian mysteries.
We have no desire to regulate Democratic pol
cies or to decide which Of the many Jefferso-
nian prophets now claiming nerrancy is most
entitled to recognition the true interpreter of
JeffersOns thoughts and fancies. We have no
"favOrte" for the Democratic leadership. and
certainly could not hope TO promote the
fortunes of any Democrat by committing
selves TO his nomination the party's candi-
date for the Presidency.
The sum of our offending seems to have been
IN attempt about ten days ago TO show why Mr..
Bryan dominates the Democratic party and why
newspapers like '"The World" The Times" and
The Brooklyn Eagle" ignore patent facts when
they assert that there are other Democratic
candidates in view possessing more political
strength than he possesses. 1t is sufficient to
ask-if there such candidates-who they
are where they are. and why they not be
stirring themselves TO rescue the party from
the impending peril of Mr.. Bryan'S third NOM
inatiOn. Why have the anti-Bryanites not solid
ifed the opposition which they say exists TO
the Nebraskan's leadership by Offering some
Presidential candidate able to fill the gap which
would necessarily be made by Mr.. Bryan's
tirement? So far no such substitute has APP
peared. Negative opposition bears little fruit.
and Mr.. Bryan can never be defeated by vague
clamOr for Anybody but Bryan" Nor can his
availability candidate be fairly mnimzed
by charging him with the loss of states like
Missouri. Nevada Montana. Idaho and Col
orado. which fell out of the Democratic column
in 1904 when ex-Judge Parker was running for
President and ''The World" was zealOusiy and
ably supporting him.
We are glad to see that our comments on the
Democratic situation are taken as the fair judg
ment of disinterested observer by so repre-
sentative Southern newspaper as The Colum-
ba IS. c. State" which is neither radical nor
yet blindly hostile to Mr. Bryan. Republishing
the greater part of our explanation of Mr..
Bryans present ascendency, "The State" says:
The New York Tribune. unwavering Republi-
can, makes telling count against its neigh
boring Democratic contemporaries The
World THE Times" and 1.-THE Brooklyn
Eagle in their assaults against Mr.. BRYAN be
cause he is the leader OF the party. And as the
views of those papers on this matter are the
observed in our own dear old IL
logical and disconteuted Charleston contempo-
rary, The Tribune's points are appropriate in
South Carolina.
The Tribune is neither for Mr.. Bryan as an
aspirant for the Presidential nomination nor
against him. 1t is only seeking to interpret the
Democratic situation in the light OF logic and
common sense