Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-15

Lincoln, NcD., NOV. l4.-W imam }.
Bryan will accept the Democratic
nomination for President in 1908, but
he will neither ask nor make :, fight
for it, He says that for Il year or
more. he has been pressed to answt =
the question will you accept nomina-
tom" and II" ,;ciicVcS the public is en-
titled to AN answer and to know tht.
position he occupies. The question
that ought to weigh most. he says. is
whether his nomination will strength
EN- The Democratic PARTY more than
the nomination OF someone else. Not
only will he not seek or ask for the
nominate ion. hut he will not assume to
decide til" question of availability and
ii the prize falls 10 another he VIII
neither BE- disappointed nor dis
gruntlcd. At the same time he denies
that he has waited this long in II de-
sire to see whom the Republicans are
likely to nominate, or to ascertain the
chances of victory. Mr.. Mryan says:
Now that the election of 1907 is
passed and plans are being made for
netX years campaign. Mr. Bryan feels
that a statement is due to the public.
Those who prefer another candidate
those wro favor his nomination have a
right to demand an answer /" the
question So often put: Will you &C
cept Il nomination. His refusal to an
swer the question has led IL the rircu-
lation of many false reports. and un-
friendly newspapers have taken ad-
vantage of his silence to miSrepresel 1T
his attitude.
Mr.. Bryan will not ask for. or seek
nomination and he will not assume
to decide the question of his availab biz
ity. He has been 50 amply recon-
pensed by his party for what he has
done and for what he mas endeavored
to d" that he cannot claim a nominal
ton as a reward: neither should his
ambition he considered. for he has had
honorS enough from his party to sat
isfy any rea SOnable ambition. The only
question that ought to weigh with the
party is whether the party can be
strengthened ana aided more by his
nomination than by the nomination of
someone else. If he can serve the
party by being its candidate, he will
accept the commission and make the
best fight he can. If. however. the
be disappointed or GiSgruntled. His
availability is Il question to be decided
not by him. not by Il few leaders. not
even by the leading newspapers that
call themselves Democratic. but by the
voters of the party and to them he en- :
trusts the decision of the question
Ihey are the supreme court in all mat
ferS concerning candidates as they are
in all matters concerning the plat
form.
He assumes that they will not select
him unless they desire to make an ao-
SrcssiVe fight for the application Of
Democratic principles to preso Mt condi-
tionS and he also takes it for granted
that the organization of the party will
be- in harmony with the platform, ana
will he composed Of men whose polt-
cal records will invite confidence and
give assurance that Il victory. if won
will moi Dc 4 barren victory.
The Republicans must nominate
either Il rcformer. 4 Stand-patter or one
whose position on public questions is
unknown and the course OF the Demo-
cratic party should he ;hr Same no
matter which element controls the Re
publican convention
1.-The Democratic party must make
the fight for whai it believes. While
it may take advantage of Republican
mistakes, it must depend upon its own
merits for success and not upon the
error Of its opponents.
The action of the Republican con-
ventinn may have its influence IN the
determining the relative availability OF
Democratic candidates. but it ought
net To have any influence in determin-
ing the question whether the one choS-
Tn By the Democrats should accept the
nomination. If the rank and file OF
the Democratic party desires Mr. Bry-
an to make the race. lie will make It..
no matter who may be the Republican
nominee.
"No one can estimate the chances OF
the party in the next campaign with
sufficient accuracy to make his candl-
dacy dependent upon the outlook.
While Democrats have reason to be en-
couraged by the fact that Democratic
principles have grown in popularity ana
that Democratic policies are now prals-
cd nv many who denounced them a