The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-19

Lincoln, Nebraska, November IL
William Jennings Bryan viii accept
the democratic nomination for Pres
ident in 1908, but he will neither ask
nor make Il fight for It. He says for
d year or more he has been pressed
to answer the question, win you ac-
cept the nomination." and he believes
the public is entitled to an answer
and to kHOW the position he occupies
The question that ought to weigh
most, he "a is whether his nominal
ton win strengthen the democratic
party more than the nomination of
some n else Not only will he not
seek or ask for the nOminatiCn, but
he will not assume to decide the ques-
ton OF availability, and if the
nomination fails to another, he wiz
neither be disappointed nor disgrunt-
led. At the same time he denies that
he has waited sJhis long in a desire
to see whom the republicans are
likely to nominate or to ascertain the
chances Of victory.
MT bryan says: 9
Now that the election of 1907 is
past and plans are being made for
next years campaign, Mr.. Bryan feels
that q statement is due tC the pub
lie. Those Who prefer another can
didate arc entitled to know his posi-
ton and those who favor his nomi-
nation have n right to demand an
answer to the question so often put,
VIII o accept a nomination. His
refusal TO answer the question has
led to the circulation of many false
reports and u~nfriendly newspapers
have taken advantage of his silence
to misrepre5ent his attitude.
MI Bryan will not ask for or seek
q nomination and he will not assume
to decide the question of his avail
ability. He has been 50 amply re-
cOmDenscd by his party for What he
has done and for what he has en-
deavored to dc that lie cannot claim
a nomination as a reward; neither
should his ambition be considered,
for he has had honors enough from
his party to satisfy any reasonable
ambition. The ,only question that
ought to weigh with the party is
whether the party can be strengthen
Au anu tltIGtt TlOEe by MS nomination
ttan by the nomination OF some one
Nlse. e lie can serve the party by
being its candidate, he will accept
the commission and make the best
fight he can If however. the choice
falls upon another he will not be dis
appointed nor disgruntled. His avail
ability is a question to be decided for
him. not 10y n few leaders, not eve by
the leading newspapers that cali
themselves democratic, but by the
Voters Of 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
PLATFORM.
the platform.
Iect him unless they desire to make
an aggressive fight for the application
of democratic principles to present
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 whose political records will
invite confidence and give assurance
that a victory, if won, VIII not be a
barren victory.
THE republicans must nominate
either a reformer. a stand patter or
one whose position on public ques-
tons is unknown. and those Of the
democratic party should be the same,
no matter which element controls
the republican convention. The
democratic party must make the fight
for what it believes. While 1t may
take 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-
:, vention may have it's influence in the
~@nrY1JrInD 0f the rn10fIvA avail
vability OF democratic candidates, but
it ought not to nave any influence in
determining the question whether the
one chosen by the democrats should
accept he nomination. IF the rank
and file of the democratic party desire
Mr.. Bryan to make the race, he will
make it, no matter who may be the
republican nominee.
No n can estimate the chances Of
the party in the neXt campaign with
sufficient accuracy to make his can
didacy deDendent upon the outlook.
While democrats have reason to be
encouraged nv the fact that demo-
cratic principles rave grown in pop
ularity and that democratic policies
are now praised by many who de-
nounced them a few years ago, and
while further encouragement is to be
derived from the fact that the demo-
cratic party Is more united than it
has been for many years, n the re-
. publican party more divided. still the
action Of the democratic party cannot
be made dependent upon the prospect
of Success. The prospects now seem
excellent, but a democratic national
convention will be held. n nTltfOrul