The Washington herald., 1907-05-18
BRYAN ON HEARST.
The NebFaskHn Writes Cautiously
About the Independence LeaEue.

The NebTaskRn Writes Cautiously
About the Independence LeaEue.
From Bryau7 C1mma1er.
Attention has already been called to NJ.
Hearsts New York speech on the evening
of April l3. in which he expressed his
dissatisfaction with existing parties and
bis determination 10 organize a new party
through the instrumentality Of the inde-
pendenCe League That Mr.. Hearst means
well will be admitted. but there will be
difference of opinion as 10 the wisdom of
his action. In joining a party a man nat
urally asks two questions. First, what
does the party stand Tor? And second.
what chance has the party Of accomplish
ing its purpose The second question is
scarcely less important than the first. for
unless a party has a prospect of putting
its principles into law it strives in vain.
and because il strives IN vain il does not
appeal 90 the people
OF course, party may Do educational
work without dominating the government.
and all parties. however small do educa-
tion8l work. but the great majority Of the
voters prefer to see results rather than 10
do pioneer work. Mr. Hearst complains
that the Democratic party is not har-
monioUs That is true But unfortunately
there is no chance Of securing absolute
harmony I'm any party Of any size. IF a
party has as many as two members the
conservative and radical elements viii ap-
pear Even where all agree in principles
there Will be differences Of opinion as 70
methods. and such differences cause ale
most as much trouble as differences in
principle. The Republican party seemed
% be a united party when il came into
power in 1851, and yet before Lincoln had
been in office three years the radical ole-
Went OF the party thought hin too con-
serv8tive. and before eight years elapsed
a Republican Congress tried to impeach
Republican President
Tile Independence League must grow in
order 20 exert a great influence. and 80
cannot draw % itself any considerable
number Of thinking men without becgm-
ing a debating society.
Whether the new party is really needed
is a matter which time alone can decide.
Mr.. Hearst has q large personal follow
ing, and his papers exert a marked in-
fiuenCe. He has left the Democratic party
because be has lost faith in its power %
rf' .fa'll.I~- anu h..H is.ttt.' 2
L.agIe viii offer political home to those
who despair Of relief through either tile
Democratic or Republican parties. but il
cannot hope % attract those Democrats
who still believe that the Democratic
party can b, made an effective instrument
iu the hands of the people for the secur-
ing OF rem ejial legislation; neither can
il expect 20 attract reform Republicans
Independence League can bring reform
sooner than the Democrats can
The Commoner has faith I'm the Demo-
cratic pTrty-1ot en- It's iuf8lHbiuty or in
its freedom from mistakes. but ia the
patriotic purpose Of the rank and file of
the party and I'm the prospect Of an early
victory for that party. The Democratic
party has made mistakes-what party has
not?-but to-day it stands for positive and
progressive Democracy, and I'm 1905 its
platform. its candidates. and fits o-ga1iza-
tiUn viii be such as To appeal 20 the con-
science and Judgment OF the reform oIe-
ment OF the country. II the Democratic
party ignores its greatest opportunity and
disappoints loyal Democrats the Indepen-
dence League viii grow rapidly. but if the
Democracy dees what il ought TO dC-and
the C0mmoner believes that it will-the
members Of the Independence League are
likely 10 be found supporting the Demo-
cratic ticket just as the members Of the
Populist party supported the Democratic
ticket IN 1895 and 1900
In the meantime Democratic papers
should treat Mr.. Hearst and the new
party as an ally rather than as an enemy.
We are going in the same direction. even
though We march under different banners.
and there ought 70 be no quarrel so long
as we are trying 10 east out devils" al
though we invoke the name Of Democracy
while Mr.. Hearst and his associates in
woke the name Of the Independence
League.