New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-14
READY FOR THE FUNERAL.

| The Hon. Isldor Rayner. who recently an
nounced at jefferson birthday dinner that
| Iago not Jefferson, was the original Democrat,
| seems TO be not little distressed by apprehen-
siOns that in the highest Democratic circles both
lRgo and Jefferson are getting hOpelessly out of
date. Iago, according TO Mr. Rayner, precognized
] the normal mental attitude of the Democratic
party when he said, II am not what | am"
For the greater part of its long career the De
mocracy has tried TO maintain multiple iden-
tity, to reconcile contradictory ideas and to hold
together voters sharply divided in opinions and
interests 1t has endeavored TO be all things TO
all men, and it has been an adept in arranging
patchwork compromises and cOlning deusive
phrases. For most Of its leaders Jefersonianism
was an inscrutable and sacred mystery, not to
be lightly and impiously uncovered 4 Dem
ocrat was a Democrat not because he believed
or practised this that, but because his heart
beat true TO the indehnabe and therefore I'M
perlshable principles of Jefferson.
But evil days have come. and there are Demo
cratic leaders who insist on dragging jefferson
out of his grave and showing what he would do
were he TO return TO the fesh-or. worse still,
limiting what they would do to him If he ques-
TONED the correctness Of their versions Of mod
ernized Jeffersonianism. Mr.. Bryan Is one Of
the most positive of these 'if Jefferson came
back" forecasters and the explicit and definite
form he gives to his revision of Jeffersonian
ideas jars on the nerves of Democrats who
like Mr.. Rayner, think that In such matters it
is better to stick close to generalties and leave
an unfettered rein to the imagination. Mr..
Rayner is warm admirer Of Mr. Bryan and
will support him unreservedly for the Demo
cratic Presidential nomination Yet he holds
that the Nebraskan is lamentably Overprecise
when he tries TO boil down the Jeffersonian doc
trlne into this modernized working programme:
First-Ultimate ownership by the govern
ment OF all the interstate railroads of the United
States.
Second-The initiative and referendum
Tnird-Congress 10 have the right to arbitrar-
lly fix the total product Of all interstate corpo-
retions. quasi public and private. and TO destroy
their business IL they transgress the Congress
sional limit
Fourth-The supreme power of Congress to
prescribe the terms upon which all interstate
commerce shall be conducted, and whenever
Congress (Which, Of course means the dominant
party concetves IL TO be against public policy
II shall have the right absolutely to prohibit
commercial intercourse between the states upon
the interdicted article las is fully exemplihed in
the provisions OF the child labor bilD.
With that degree of Difference in reInonstrance
which one statesman is bound to show another
whom he recognizes as the party's leader and
whom he is supporting for the Presidency, the
Maryland Senator suggests that the adoption Of
any such programme would be the prelude to
the death and burial of the historic Democratic
party. Yet, even II 1t ends all, Mr.. Rayner is
still prepared TO stand by Mr.. Bryan. He has
counted the cost and is getting ready for the
funeral AS he told reporter Of The Balti-
more Sun" the other day in tremulous and eIo-
Quent prose poetry:
Then, after have done this adopted Mr..
Bryan's programmed, the final step will be, with
our leaders in the van, in solemn procession, to
accompany the remains OF Democracy to their
resting place, and when are engaged in per-
forming the last sad rites and obsequies, and
are COMMUNICATING her departed virtues, do
not let forget TO recount the tragic manner
OF her death, so that posterty shall know that
in the hour of her brightest hopes and most
alluring prospects, determined 10 end her great
historic career, she threw herself upon the
poisoned weapon of federal Capitalization and
died of a self-inficted wound.
Mr.. Rayner has earned the post of funeral
orator to the Ill fated victim, and trust the
next Democratic National Convention Will vote
unanimously TO avail itself Of his services. An
address from him would take half the sting
from the demise OF the historic party of Iago
and Jefferson.