New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-09
THE USES or THE ULTIMATE"

In trying to meet the criticism of Democratic
conservatives like Senator Isldor Rayner'
Representative John Sharp Williams and Henry
NJ Whitney that his railroad policy is too
advanced and too revolutionary, Mr.. Bryan
shows a disposition 10 draw distinctions be-
tween what is imminent and what IS merely
ultimate" He finds a world of saving grace
IN the adjective with which he has qualified his
somewhat bald and discOncert.ng programme
Of government ownership" That ownership Is
TO he ultimate" like the reign OF peace, the
perfectiblity Of man and the realization OF the
millennium. Mr. Bryan holds that "cOnserva-
tive" Democrats-especially Democrats who
were old enough 10 vote against him in 1896
and l0O0-need not harrow their souls over the
betrayal OF Jeffersonian principle which they
think involved in the naturalization OF all the
instrumentalitles OF interstate transportation
and commerce. They will probably be dead as
long as jefferson before the ante-penultimate
and penultlmate stages in the journey toward
government ownership have been travelled.
Why should they want to carry their apprehen-
sions with them across the StyI? What will
be will be There is no more wisdom In dis
counting the ultimate than In fighting the
inevitable. Mr.. Williams, Mr.. Rayner. Mr..
Whitney and the other borrowers OF the
troubles of the next century are therefore In
yited to ease their minds and fall cheerfuliy
into line in committing the next Democratic
National Convention to the policy OF govern
ment ownership of the railroads at some un-
named date when the government the railroads
and the voters are all equally educated up to
it and equally enthusiastic for IL
This question OF imminence and ultImity is
iIldminatingly discussed in a recent issue Of
The Commoner" Mr.. Bryan rebukes rs IRA
tional the assumption that a statesman must
always confne himself to the Immediate in
politics He must not be compelled to find
proximate solutions for the problems he stud
les: nor because he believes he has found the
right solution need he advocate a premature
attempt TO apply the remedy. AS the prOprie-
tor of The COmmoner" points out, Thomas
jefferson believed emancipation to be the
proper solution of the slavery problem. Yet
he did not insist On immediate emancipation.
He freed his own slaves when he died and
hoped to influence other shareholders by his
good example. lie an ultimate" eman-
cipationist, just as Mr.. Bryan is an ultimate"
collectivist in his proposal that the govern
ment assume the ownership and operation Of
the railroads. jefferson did not live TO see the
slaves emancipated. Probably Mr.. Bryan does
not expect to live 10 the railroads of the
country made public property and operated on
schedule from Washington.
To Judge from suggestions which he dropped
last Saturday evening at Des MOines. Iowa,
the Nebraska statesman has In some respects.
|. however eye open to the imminent in poll
tics as well as the ultimate" He Is reported
as serving notice TO the conservative" leaders
who controlled the last Democratic National
Convention and managed the last national cam.
paign that they must fall to the rear In 1908
Their self-effacement is to be prompt and alb
soute None but trusted radicals are here
after to be put on guard. This is a reform
which apparently cannot wait. If the con
| servatives" will give him immediate control of
the party machinery Mr.. Bryan will let them
find all the consolation they can in the assur-
ance that his disturbing programme Of state
socialism is merely ultimate"