The Irish standard., 1907-12-07

dental aspirants for the past hum
dred years without finding anybody
who has, on the slender record of per-
formance, had any such hold on the
regard of any party as William j.
Bryan has on the Democracy Of our
time. Clay and Douglas had hyp-
motto influence over their respective
parties for years, but each of them had
long been prominent in national Office
before ever being mentioned in con-
nection with the presidency.
cIay's Career.
Clay entered the Senate in 1906, and
his first race for the presidency was
In 1924. In the interval he had held
many Offices. He had been speaker of
the popular branch of Congress for ten
years, or longer time than anybody
before or since his day had held that
post. While in that Office he often
welded more power than the presi-
dent of the United States. He was the
chief author Of the war of 1912 against
England. President Madison was q
lover Of peace, like his predecessor,
Jefferson; but report at the time had
1t that Speaker Clay coerced him over
to the war side on the threat that un-
less he came to that side the nomina-
tton in 1872 for a second term would
be denied him. That charge was OPEN
ly made in Congress and in the news
papers at the time, and was believed
by a large portion of the people. Ono
Democratic leader said he had posi-
tive knowledge that such was the case
Clay denied the accusation, and SO did
some Of Clay's close friends, but Mad
ison made the. change of base never.
theless, and Immediately afterward
the candidacy was given to him and
he was reelected.
Clay was national figure for eight
cen years before his first canvass for
the presidency. He retained his hold
on his party from that time until his
death, a third of century later and
was twice the standard bearer of his
party in that time, and was on sever
al other occasions prominently men
toned in connection with the nomina-
ton. During all those days however,
he was the most positive force in
constructive legislation on his side,
and for large part of the time he was
the greatest constructive leader in the
country. Mr.. Bryan. of course, has
no such record. Clay was so widely
popular that even many of his ene-
mics grieved at his defeat in 1874,
when he made his closest run for the
election, but at that time Clay had
been at the front for almost forty
years, and for much Of that time he
had been more conspicuous than any
Of the presidents. 1t is altogether
possible that Bryan's prominence may
last for many years yet, regardless of
the chances for his defeat in 1908.
But out Of public Office, as he probably
will be, his continued potency, If 1t
lasts, will be far more remarkable
than was that of Clay or any other
party leader in the country's history.
| Douglas was in Congress for ten
years before he was first mentioned
prominently as a presidential guam
tity In the convention Of 1852. when
he received many votes for the NOM
ination as against such veterans as
Cass, Buchanan and Marcy, he was
long leader in legislation, and was
one Of the best-equipped men Of his
day in dealing with the larger ma
tional and international issues. He
was again an aspirant in 1856, when
Buchanan carried off the candidacy
but he was defeated at that time by
his prominence in the Kansas -Nebras-
ka legislation, which intervened be-
tween those two conventions.
Douglas the Largest.
During Pierce's term in 1s53-57
Douglas. and not Pierce, was the lar