The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-11-20
In the Ranks as the Party May De
sire.-If the Democrats Wants ann
70 Make the Race He VIII DO >o'
No Matter How Forlorn the sepe.
He Says the Party Must DECIDE
Who Shall Lead.

CSh
ton, but he will not assume to de,
eide the question Of availability, and
# the orize falls to another he will
neither be disappointed nor oisgrunt-
led. 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.
Mr.. Bryan says:
Now that the election in 1907 is
past and plans are being made Tor
next years campaign Mr.. Bryan
feels that a statement is due to the
public. Those who prefer another
candidate are entitled to know his
position and those who favor his
nomination have right to demand
an answer to the question SO often
put, VIII you accept the nornina-
tion?" His refusal to answer the
question has led to the circulstion Of
many false reports and unfriendly
newspapers have taken advantage OF
his silence to nlisrepresent his attl-
tude.
'Mr. Bryan will not ask for or
seek nomination and ne will not
assume to decide the question Of his
avaiIability. He has been so amply
recomposed by his party for what he
has done and for what he has en-
deavored to do that he cannot claim
a nomination as reward; neither
should his ambition be considered,
for he has had honor enough from
his party to satisfy any reasonable
ambition. The only question that
ought to weigh with the party is
whether the party can be strength
eaed and aided more by his nomina-
ton than by the nomination Of some
one else. If he can serve the party
by being its candidate he will accept
the commission and make the best
fight he can. If. however. the choice
falls upon another he will not be dis
appointed or disgruntled. His avail
ability is a question to be decided
not by him, not by a few leaders, not
even by the leading newspaper that
call themselves Democrats, but by
the votes Of the party, and to them
he entrusCs the decision Of the Ques-
tion--they are the Supreme Court in
all matters concerning candidates, as
they are in all matters concerning
the platform,
He assumes that they will not
select him unless they desire to make
an aggressive fight for the applica-
ton Of Democratic principles to pre-
sent conditions, and he also takes it
for granted that the organization Of
the party will be in harmony with
the platform and will be composed
Of men whose political records will
invite confidence and give assurance
that a victory, # won, Will not be q
barren victory.
The Republicans must nominate
either reformer, standpatter or
one whose position OF public Ques-
tons is unknown, and the course Of
the Democratic party should be the
same no matter which element con-
troll the Republican Convention. The
Democratic party must make the
fight for what it believes. While it
may take advantage Of Republican
mistakes, it must depend upon its
own merits for success and not upon
the error of its opponents.
The action of the Republican
Convention may have it's influence in
determining the relative availability
ofDemocratic candidate, butit ought
not to have any influence in deter
mining the question whether the one
chosen by the Democrats should ac-
cept the nomination. If the rank and
file Of the Democratic party desire
Mr.. Bryan to make the race, he will
make it, no matter who may be the
Republican nominee.
''No one can estimate the chances
Of the party in the next campaign
with sufficient accuracy to make his
candidacy dependen. upon the out
look. While the Democrats have rea-
son to be encouraged by the fact that
Democratic principles have grown in
popularity and that Demo cratic poll
cies are now praised by many who
denounced them a few years ago,
and while further encouragement is
to be derived from the fact that the
Democratic party is more united
than it has beea for many years, and
the Republican more divided, still
the action Of the Democratic party
cannot be made dependent upon the
prospect Of success. TIE prospects
now seem excellent. bu. Democrat
ic National Convention will be held,
2 platform adopted and candidates
nominated, whether the prospects
are bright or gloomy, and 'he p1rty
must make the best fight it c1n
whether it enters the campaign with
fear or with confidence. De nocra.s
believe tha. Dem )cratic , i2clp e,
az sound a..sj tina. DeIoci.tl poi
cies are oec essarv; they shol.' }. there
Iorc. AdocSe those prime PCS ard
presen lose policies and then Sc
lect as ;n,. candidates those who, in
their judg .:ent, will give the party
the greatest assurance of benefit in
case Of victory.
III the members Of the party be-
Eeve that Mr.. Bryan'S nomination
will help the party. its principles and
it's policies. he will accept the nomi-
nation whether the indications point |
to defeat or victory. A defeat can
bring no disgrace where the cause is !:
a Just one, but cowardice would be |
disgraceful, especially in one wao is !
as deeply indebted to MS part OF Mr..
Bryan is.
The next campaign will be an ap-
zeal to the public conscience. The n
yes; igations have shown not only the
corrupt use of large campaign funds.
but the only source from which they I
cao he Gra,-.- ,o,,,nl,.-.taa cnr1nnt,a.