The sun., 1907-08-28
THE PRAISE OF BRYAN.
Nst an Architect OF Disaster and Mad
rather No Right than President.

Nst an Architect OF Disaster and Mad
Rather No Right than President.
To THE EDITOR or TME suN-SiT: Is the
charge 90 frequently made In the Eastern
pre1 that Bryan has brought disaster to
the Democratic party justP In 1892 the
party with Cleveland at the head swept
tho country. Two years later when he was
stifi In command and his administration was
the campaign issue the, Democrats we're
overwhelmingly defeated and lost control OF
Congress. When the Chicago convention
was called to order In July. 1893, the situation
was hopeless from the standpoint Of the
Democrats. To have asserted that Demo-
crak had the slightest chance OF success
against Mckinley was to write oneself down
q million times q most gigantic ass.
This was the condition Of Affairs before
Bryan got control. Well. he was nominated
In 1895. Cleveland and all his part isans re-
fused their support; most Of the influential
leaders Of the party deserted: organized
capital. the banks. insurance and trust COM
panies and leading business men throughout
the country were hostile to the candidate
and platform Of the Nebraskan. An immense
campaign fund was raised and used by one
Of the greatest political managers and man
ipulators In the history OF our poltics. the
late Mark Hanna. to defeat the Democratic
ticket. Bryan was poor In pocket. almost
with 30 high an ONCE. Behind him was
only q disorganized party lacking efficient
leadership. with little or no money in Its
campaign treasury and compelled to shoulder
the mistakes, failures and odium Of the Cleve-
land administration. Yet With all this Bryan
was nearly elected. He lost Kentucky by
only a couple Of hundred votss. California
by about q thousand Excepting IN the
Eastern States the election was very close.
Careful students and observers have asserted
that had 1t not been for the large campaign
fund at the command OF the Republicans
Bryan would have been elected by handsome
In 1900 Bryan was again the candidate.
nd in addition to the same opposition TO
rlT hat he had in 1899 an administrstion far
aW.3.+n- to that OF Cleveland. q successful
var - Spain, better industrial conditions
and many other advantages were claimed
with some degree q Justice by the Rspubll-
a good showing he did not do so well as four
wears previous. The let well enough alone" !"
thousand I Votes from his first poll. - - -
Bryan's opponents then asserted that as
he had led the party twice to defeat he ought
Tor s' one modelled after. Grover Cleveland.
and they managed to put him aside and nomi-
nate such man. In year promisng great
hopelessly defeated defeated worse than
Bryan In either of his campaigns.
disaster to Ss E s psrty nf Bryan reG it.
The disaster. il you calf the 1895 and 1900
defeats disasters, was brought on by the
pssS Shsn L pnfssa .s ss leaders
and resolved e advocate Eenui9e progress
ye pSSnbSss; pSs Bryan has
while Parker and his friends made it 80 like
the osy has of
Democrats preferred an honest outspoken
Republican like Roosevelt to psuedo Demo-
leading public questions ooincided with those
OF the average Republican, while Roosevelt
nss %Se sSs 81
working TO defeat him in 1904.
Bryan has in my opinion been a good
nes TreStIy Indebted to him for his fearless att +
tacks on Individuals and organizations who
have sought TO undermine our institutions
and for his insstence on putting principle
Il 'Ree Re would e1 trS and bacEslide. but fS the
tRst gsS ssd raSsr be- S0z rst tSsn
II the country had to depend only on those
a sad way. The really great men are not the
ONCE seekers. Bryan answered the call TO
lead. he did not seek nor does he now seek
nor does he seek the leadership Of the party,
though it is in the judgment Of many right
silly attacks so frequently made in the lead
ing Eastern papers on MIR. Bryan. He IL
broad, generous and charitable in dealin g
with his opponents, and the latter would
in this respect.
II Is. q good rule to follow that when you
see falsshSod: gsr6linS MISREPRESENTATION: =
sound argument on one side. the other
side is right. That is how ! size up this
Bryan controversy. Every time q hostile
shot is fred at Bryan he gains hundred
friends. for the shots never hit. The oppo-
stion must get better InsTksmsn.
CHARLEs L. CLARKE.
HE BRONX. August 20.