The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-27
BRYAN WOULD ACCEPT.
BUT HE is NOT CHASING AFTER THE
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
A Very Patriotic Deliyerance fOrom the
Nebraska Statesman.
He Puts It Up to the Party to Name the
Leader-..Next Campaign Will be
an Appeal to Conscience.

VIM. j. Bryan will accept the
Democratic nomination for presl-
dent in 1908, says recent press
dispatch from Lincoln, Nebraska,
but he will not ask for nor make a
fight for it. He says that for a
year or more he has been pressed
to answer the question, "Will you
accept the nomination. and he
believes the public is entitled to
an answer, and to know the posi-
Ition he occupies. The question
that ought to weigh most, he says,
is whether his nomination will
strengthen the Democratic party
more than the nomination of some
one else. Not only will he not
ask for the nomination but he will
not assume to decide the question
of availability, and if the prize
falls to another, he will neither be
disappointed nor disgruntled. At
the same time, he denies that he
has waited this long in a desire to
see whom the Republicans are
likely to nominate, or to ascertain
the chances of victory.
i Mr.. Bryan says: Nov that the
election of 1907 is past and plans
are being made for next years
election, Mr.. Bryan feels that a
statement is due to the public.
Those who prefer another candi-
date are entitled to know his posi-
tion, and those who favor his
nomination have the right to de-
mand an answer to the question
so often put, will you accept a
nomination.? His refusal to
answer the question has led to
the circulation of many false re-
ports, and those unfriendly have
taken advantage of his silence to
misrepresent his attitude.
''Mr. Bryan will not ask for
nor seek a nomination, and he will
not assume to decide the question
of his availability. He has been
amply recompensed by his party
for what he has done, and for what
he has endeavored to do, that he
cannot claim nomination as a re-
ward, neither should his ambition
be considered, for be has received
enough honorS from his party to
satisfy any ambition.
"The only questio that ought
to have weight with the party is,
whether the party can be strength
ened and aided more by bis nomi-
nation than by the nomination of
some one else. If he can serve
the party by being the candidate,
he will accept the command and
make the best fight he can. If,
however, the choice falls upon
another, he will not be disappoint-
ed or disgruntled. His ayaila-
billty is quetsion to be decided
not by him, not by few leaders,
not even by the leading men that
call themselves Democrats, but by
the voters of the party, and upon
them rests the decision of the
question.
They are the supreme court in
all matters concerning candidates
as they are in all matters concern
ing the platform.
He assumes that they will not
select him, unless they desire tc
make an aggressive fight for the
application of Democratic princi
Piles to present conditions, and al
so takes it for granted that the or
ganization of the party will be il
harmony with the platform, ane
, will be composed of men whose
present record will invite conf
{ dence, and give assurance that |
victory, if won, will not be bar
rem victory.
FORESHADOWS FUTURE.
The Republicans must nomi
8 nate a reformer, a stand-patter, o
! one whose position on publ
s questions is unknown, but th
course of the Democratic part,
{ should be the same no matte
what or which element control
Z the Republican convention. Ih
Democratic party must make it
8 fight for what it believes. Will
Z ii may take advantage of RepuE
{ llcan mistakes, it must depend O
5 its merits, and not upon the error
\ of its opponents.
THE action of the RepubIica
convention may have its inhuenc
IN determining tho relative avai
liability of Democratic candidate
but it ought not to have any il
lfinence In determining the que
ltion whether the man chosen b
the Democrats should accept tt
: nomination. II the rank and 81
se lof the Democratic party desir
o. Mr.. Bryan to make the race,
le will, no matter who may be Il
4 Republican nominee.
o No one can estimate I'll
al chance Of the party in the ne;
4 campaign with sufficient accurae
" TO make his candidacy dependel
lie eIupon the outlook. While Dem
to Gratis have reason to be encoura,
it ed by the fact that Democrat
principles have grown in popuIa
ity and that Democratic p0lici