Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-19
BRYAN Is WILLING.
Not Seeking the Nomination But Will
Not Decline.

make a fight for it. He says that for
a year or more he has been pressed to
answer the 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
than the nomination of some one else.
Not only will he not seek or ask for
the nomination, but he will not assume
to decide the question Of availability,
and If the prize falls to another he will
neither be disappointed nor disgrun-
tied. At the same time he denies that
he has waited this long in a desire to
see whom the Republicans are likely
to nominate, or to ascertain the
chances of victory.
Mr.. Bryan Says:
Now that the election of 1907 is
past and plans are being made for next
years campaign Mr.. Bryan feels that
a statement is due to the public. Those
who prefer another candidate are enti-
tied to know his position and those
who favor his nomination have q right
to demand an answer to the question
so often put, VIII you accept a NOM
ination?' His refusal to answer the
question has led to the circulation Of
many false reports and unfriendly
newspapers have taken advantage Of
his silence to misrepresent his attitude.
"Mr. Bryan will not ask for or seek
q nomination and he will not assume
to decide the question of his available
ity. He has been so amply recon-
pensed by his party for what he has
done and for what he has endeavored
to do that he cannot claim a nomina-
ton as a reward; neither should his
ambition be considered, for he has had
honor enough from his party to salts
fy any reasonable ambition. 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 II he can serve the par
ty by being its candidate he will ac-
cept the commission and make the best
fight he can. If, however, the choice
falls upon another he will not be disap-
pointed or disgrunted. His availability
Is a question to be decided not by him,
not by few leaders, not even by the
leading newspapers that call them
selves Democratic, but by the votes Of
the party, and to them he entrusts the
decision of the question-they are the
supreme court in all matters concern
ing candidates, as they are in all mat
ters concerning the platform.
He assumes that they will not Sc
lect him unless they desire to make an
aggressive fight for the application Of
Democratic principles to present con-
ditions, and he also takes 1t for grant
ed that the organization Of the party
will be in harmony with the platform
and will be composed Of men whose
political records will invite confidence
and give assurance that victory, If
won, will not be barren victory.
"The Republicans must nominate
either a reformer, a standpatter or one
whose position on public questions is
unknown, and the course Of the DEM
ocratic party should be the same no
matter which element control the Re-
publican convention. The Democra-
tic party must make the fight for what
1t believes. While 1t may take advan-
tage Of Republican mistakes, 1t must
depend upon its own merits for success
and not upon the error Of its oppo-
nents.
. "The action Of the Republican con-
vention may have its influence in de-
termining the relative availability OF
Democratic candidate, but it ought not
to have any influence in determining
the question whether the one chosen by
the Democrats should accept the nom
ination. II the rank and file Of the
Democratic party desire Mr.. Bryan to
make the race, he will make 1t, no mat
ter who may be the Republican NOM
inee.
mo one can estimate the chances of
the party in the next campaign with
sufficient accuracy to make his can
didacy dependent upon the outlook.
While the Democrats have reason to be
encouraged by the fact that Democrat
ic principles have grown In popular
ity and that Democratic policies are
now praised by many who denounced
them a few years ago, and while fur
ther encouragement is to be derived
from the fact that the Democratic par
ty Is more united than 1t has been for
many years, and the Republican more
divided, still the action Of the DEM
acratic party cannot be made depend
ent upon the prospect Of success. The
prospects now seem excellent, but a
Democratic National convention VIII
be held, a platform adopted and candi-
dates nominated, whether the prospects
are bright or gloomy, and the party
must make the best fight it can wheth-
er it enters the campaign with fear or
with. confidence. Democrats believe
that Democratic principles are sound
and that Democratic policies are nee
essary; they should, therefore, endorse
those principles and present those pol
icies and then select as their candi-
dates those who, in their judgment,
will give the party the greatest assur-
ance of benefit in case of victory.
IF the members of the party believe
that Mr.. Bryan's nomination will help
the party, it's principles and its poll
cies. he will accept the nomination
whether the indications point to defeat
or victory. A defeat can bring no dis
grace where the cause is a just one,
but cowardice would be disgraceful'
especially in one who Is as deeply in
debted to his party as Mr.. Bryan is.
1.-The next campaign will be an ap-
peal to the public conscience. The in
yestigations have shown not only the