Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1907-11-20

Z f---i = . =
Lincoln, Neb., special.-William j.
Bryan will accept the Democratic
nomination for President in 1908, but
/ lie will neither ask nor make a fight
lsfor it. He says that for year or
! more he has been pressed to answer
tho question "Will you accept the
nomination and he believes the
public is entitled to an answer and
TO know the position he occupies. The
question that ought to weigh most, he
says, is whether his nomination will
strengthen the Democratic party
more thanthe nomination Of some one
else. Not only will he not seek or
ask for the nomination, but he will
mot assume to decide the question OF.
stability, and if the prize falls to
another he will neither be disappoint-
Cd ez siisgruntled- Atsthe same time,
be denies that he has waited this long
sin q desire TO see MON the Repub-
licans arc likely to nominate, or to
!ascertaia the chances Of victory.
g ar. Bryan says
Now that the election of 1907 is
past and plans are being made for
next years campaign, Mr.. Bryan
feels that a statemtnr is due to the
public. Those who prefer another
candidate are entitled to know his
position and those who favor his NOM,
ipation have right to demand an
answer to the question so often put
VIII you accept q Nomination. his
Srefnsaf- ito answer the Question has
[: led TO the circulation of many false
reports and unfriendly newspapers
have taken advantage of his silence
te misrepresent his attitude.
VIII Not Seek Nomination.
Mr.. Bryan will not ask for or
) seek q nomination and he will not as
sumo to decide the question Of his
availability. He has been SO amply
recompensed. by his. party for what
lie has done and for what he has en-
dearored to do that he cannot claim
! nomination as a reward; neither
should his ambition be considered for
che has had honors enough from his
party to satisfy any reasonable am
bition. The only question that ought
to weigh with the party is whether
the party can be strengthened and
aided more by his nomination than
by the nomination of some one else.
If he can serve the party by being its
candidate, he will accept the commits
ssion and make the best fight he can.
II, however, the choice falls upon
Z another, he will not be disappointed
or disgruntled. His availability is
question to be DECIDED not by him, nor
by few leaders, not even by the
leading newspapers that call them
selves Democratic, but by the voters
sof the party and to them, he entrusts
the decision of the question-they
are the Supreme Court in all matters
concerning candidates, as they are in
all matters concerning the platform.
Party Must Depend Upon It's Merits.
He assumes that they will not
select him unless they desire to make
ail aggressive fight for the applica-
tion of Democratic principles to pre-
sent conditions, and he also takes it
for granted that the organization Of
the party will be In HARMONY with the
platform, and will be composed of
men who see political records and
will invite confidence and give assur-
ance tbat victory, if won. will not
be barren victory.
The Republicans must nominate
either a reformer, stand patter or
one whose position on public ques-
tions is unknown, and the course OF
the Democratic party should be the
same no matter which element con-
trols the Republican convention. The
Democratic party must make the aght
for what it believes. While it may
lake advantage of Republican mis-
takes, it must depend upon its own
merits for success and not upon the
error of its opponents.
The action of the Republican con
Z senions may have its influence in the
determining of the relative available i
s ity Of Democratic candidates, but it
ought not to, have any influence in
! determining the question whether the
one chosen By tbs Democrats sbopld
gecept the nomination, III Tbs saak
sa ', ny ss 4 81 sl!a naaasssssIs ! I s asvsy g.