New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-23
STILL LOYAL TO BRYAN,

Whom Mr. BRYAN returned from Europe last
Auq7,st Colonel Henry Watterson was one OF
those enthusiasts who went to the pler-meta-
nhoricalIy at least-tO welcome back the Ieaoer
oP n reunited and reinvigOrated Democracy
Tg,o orr neighbOr 1.-The Times" he had great
faith In the educational value or IOrelSh
travel" He expected to meet radical VINO han
outlived his salad days and was beginning 10
rinen into a sedate and worldly wise cOnserva-
five. Conservatism and radicalism were TO
swear brotherly love, and the Democracy was to
become once more an undivided household. For
.rTbe Times" and many other participants IN
tbe homecoming celebration this beautiful dream
OF harmony did not last overnight Inc Mad
ison SQUARE Garden speech Quenched the Orlght
flame of neO- Organism, and the ferVor OF the day
before was succeeded by the disillusionment Oh
the dav after Colonel WattersOn may have
been among the disillusiOned. But If he was
he did not show it. He has played In the game
too long to be upset by little miscalculatlon OF
probabilities or n little miscarriage OF fortune
He is a seasoned philosopher and a good loser.
Having invested voluntarily in the Bryan Dllnd
pool he would not repudiate his contract. Hav-
ing accepted Mr.. Bryan in advance on Mr..
Bryan's own terms, he stood ready TO follow the
Nebraskan TO a finish, even though the path
should lead through the valley Of the shadow
of death to another open grave on the exit
side OF another political slaughter house"
Colonel Watterson still stands ready. He has
himself Just returned from Europe with a mind
enlarged and clarified by foreign travel" But
he sees no reason to change his view of the duty
Of the hour in Democratic councils. He is still
In favor Of Mr.. Bryans nomination in 1908 on
any platform or on no platform. Colonel Wat
terson intimates that Mr. Bryan talks too
much" But volubility cannot impair his
chances or weaken his hold on the party. The
party needs him even more than he needs the
party II think" said the editor OF THE COur-
r-JOurnal" with true insight into current polit-
ical conditions, that organized Democracy at
"the present time can see no other alternative
except Bryan Nobody IS being seriously con-
"sIdered except him. Nobody except him is seri-
"ously considering running" The Democratic
party, according 10 Colonel WattersOn, is in
safer and saner position than Hamlet. 1t need
not hesitate between bearing the Ills it has and
flying TO others that it knows not Of. There
are no other ills TO fly 10.
Colonel Watterson is for Bryan first. last and
all the time. He even has some slight hope OF
electlng the Democratic candidate OF 1908 Here
IS the horoscope cast by the erstwhile guardian
and companion of the Star-Eyed Goddess:
II we should have cholera in the Philippines.
yellow fever in Cuba; If corn should drop TO 80
cents and wheat to 40 cents, then we should
have good chance. Yes. and We might win,
too. IL the Republican party should split wide
open.
Evidently the next Democratic campaign IS
going TO consist OF an appeal to the unruly forces
Of nature. Mr.. Bryan can win If chaos comes
again. And il chaos is TO come 1t might as we'll
be supplemented by the triumph Of a party In
which chaos has long been recognized as a nor
NAL condition OF existence.