The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-24
Grcnt things are almost done
without our Knowing how we have
done them. ana we IRE quite sur
rriscd that they are dOnc.--Fontc-
nellie.
Mn. pnYAN,s GRANGE or rnoNr.

t"i'' DIV tN->se 1hANGE Ol' 'FRONT.'.
Not quite year ago--to be accurate,
on Wednesday, August 26th-Mr. Bryan
arrived in New York and prepared, like
Moses, to hand the tables of tho law
to the assembled tribes. From all sec
lions OF the country Democrats nockcd
to meet him, the radicals hopinr thai
ne would give back nothing, the con-
sorvatives praying that the opportuni-
ties and experiences of travel might
nave taught him something. Before
Mr.. Bryan made his memorable speech
IN Madison Square Garden 1t was
known that John Sharp Williams Of
mississippi, had gone all the way to
London to urge Mr.. Bryan not to tic
i MS fortunes to government ownership
But with the sef-satisiled certaint,
OF man who feels himself inspired
Mr. Bryan would hear no advice. am
declared that the only solution of tho
railroad problem was government,
ownership.
1t is true that Mr.. Bryan, even in his
Madison Square speech, did not urge
immediate government ownership, and
Tor this reason his oracular deliyerancc
Oh last Saturday, that there is no de-
sire anywhere to make government
ownership an issue in 1905 fails TO
allay the doubts which his former
declaration raised.
Mr.. Bryan. with all the charm of his
nd wit
OF his eloquence, has not been able to
bulge the American people from their
aeep-scate6 antipathy to governmen nj
ownership. In 1905, when he declared
for government ow,9ership as the only
possible ultimate solution of the rail-
road question, Mr., Bryan shook to the
foundations that confidence in his
judgment and that belief in his
Democracy which had comfor,ed and
stayed his followers in SO many vicis-
Fitndes The mere statement of his
belief in q further extension Of Fed
eral powers and nearer approach /,
the dreamy paradise of socialism as {
cure for Denocracys ailments mex
press!bly and irreparably shocked hi
{. Democratic supporters.
In the minds Of his adhcrents aros
doubt as TO Mr.. Bryan's real Democ
racy. and that doubt grew to such pro
portions that Mr.. Bryan APPARENT
felt 1t would be wise to restate Ii!
position The common sense OF tn
American people has never been bette
shown than by the quick but deep dis
4 appreciation with which the propos
ton for government ownership wa
received. Mr., Bryan may have fe
himself inspired in 1906, but, H..
many other seekers for the mystero,
help of prophetic intuition, he trie
the oracles again when he saw tn,
the gods OF the common people we,
H against him, Now this change on ii
part OF Mr. Bryan shows that he rea
the signs of disapproyal which WI
too strong to be ignored Proph
ne may have been; politician he &c
tainly IS, and he had no desire to
relegated 70 the hopeless obscuri
that awaits any political leader Of ii
present day who makes governme
ownership his cardinal doctrine. Y,
ya"Ting gates of that obScurity ha
no destinations for n man as your
and strong and ambitious as Mr.. Bryu
md he viii not willingly take any 81
toward those portals which, when tn
have once closed on the reputation
lt popular leader remain shut forev