The Washington herald., 1908-07-08
POLITICAL COMMENT.


cratic party one Of his personal assets
Such is the tenor Of the remarks Of the
New York Tribune, which says:
"As we understand il. Mr.. Bryan holds
that the Democratic party in Pennsyl-
vania should not he operated as an asset
OF Col. Gufey. The Nebraskan has made
the party at large his own asset, and he
wants no msubordinate division superin-
tendents or agents. Why should ne be
estopped from doing to the party at large
what Col. Guffey has done to il in Penn
sylvania2 Should he be restrained by
| gratitude by the remembrance that Col
| Quincy once contributed TO his campaign
chest? BY no means. The gratitude
theory is subject as are all other political
theories, 10 the statute Of limitations
The great law of gratitude was suEpend-
/ ed when Col Gufrey interfered inOppor-
tunely last May and spoiled Mr.. Bryan's
Well-laid plans for capturing the delega-
ton from Pennsylvania"
The Rochester Union thinks that the
Republicans will find IL very difficult TO
convince the country that they really de-
sire revision. They have boasted for so
many years OF their fidelity 10 protection
and OF the benefits that have resulted
from II that the identity Of Republicanism
and protection has become fixed I'm the
minds Of the people. And in any event
the people will know that the Republican
party has made this promise OF an extra
session for consideration OF the tariff
only because OF its fear OF the rising tide
Of tariff reform sentiment all over the
country. a promise made under such con-
diuons does not inspire confidence"
There would seem 20 be strict Justice in
this view, considering how long the Re
! publican party, securely in power. has
ialled utterly 20 make any response TO
the ever-increasiqg demand for justice
against tariff inequalities.
That the Democratic party will bid for
and gratefully receive the vote Of the
negro no one doubts. and the New York
Post thinks that Bryan will 20 after them
in spite Of the objections Of Mr. Varda-
man. Of Mississippi The Post says:
Mr. Vardaman. Of Mississippi, is deep
Ily panied at the thought that the Demo
cratic party might say a good word for
4 the negro. and even. as Henry Waiter
\ son suggests, treat him decenuy and
ask for his vote L had rather he
says, the Democratic party went down
/ TO defeat forever than that Bryan should
/ be elected President by the votes Of We
Ineered savages.' Now. the Evening Post
/ is not, We reluctantly confess, in the inner
counsels OF w ]. Bryan but we think we
violate no confidence in saying that If the
/ votes Of savages, veneered or Unveneered.
clothed or unclothed. were Offered 10 him.
/ he would accept them without a qualm
T N sf h.
member that he was thereby endangering
/ our Anglo-SaXon superiority. and. what is
more important, going counter 20 the
wishes Of James X. VaTdaman, apostle Of
purity. culture. and refinement. But st!u
/ he would take those votes"
/ The Kansas City Journal dwells rather
strongly on Mr. Bryan's autocracy. and
feels certain that he is strong enough
[ personally to muzzle opposition. II points
on; that.
/ The New York Journal Of Commerce is
I inclined 60 doubt whether Mr.. Bryan can
bring out. at least in the East. the full
voting strength Of his party, and Affects
70 believe that his insistence on having
/ first place weaIens the chance for Demo
! cratic success:
However il may be IN other parts Of
the country, it is doubtful whether in tGe
East Alr. Bryan is so far the leader Of
his party as 20 command its full voting
strength. IL Is certain that there are
many voters that would prefer a Demo-
cratic ticket and that are rather eager 10
vote against the Republican ticket. who
VIII never accept Bryan. He viii lose
many votes that a conservative and high
minded candidate, who was more of a
statesman and less of a demag0gue.
would receive, and IL IS not likely that
I he can replace these with an equal num-
4 Der from the other party IL certainly
7 looks as though he would get less sup
/ port In the North auG East than he did
/ in 1896 or 1900. and there are many evil
dences that his support in other parts OF
/ the country is half-hearted and wearied.
/ In spite OF the control Of primaries and
! conventions He is imposing himself upon
/ the party. and il is accepting him as the
4 inevitable. but the present prospect is
that the result viii be q worse defeat
/ than before. There are many who believe
| that the Democratic party had a great
opportunity for success this year, but is
/ thro ring IL away as the result OF this
/ obsession Of Organism"
/ The Middle West is not so earnest about
/ Mr. Bryan's alleged bossism Of his party
as is the East. The st. Louis Republic
says:
/ According TO Mr.. Lincoln J. Steffens,
/ Democratic obedlepce to Mr. Bryan VIII
/ be reluctant at Denver. Evidently Mr..
steffens thinks he is still at Chicago.
There will be neither big stick nor obedi-
ence to big stick or steam roller IT Den
yer. Nor will there be reluctance. The
/ candidates Of a Democratic convention
are nominated, not TO boss Democrats. but
{ 10 repr sent them"
/ Mighty few newspapers have looked
! forward far enough to speculate as to
what Mr.. Bryan would do If elected. but
| the Springfield Republican says:
! Few people have thought Il worth
/ while to inquire what would become OF
/ the Commoner # its editor and proprietor
I should become President Of the United
| states. Would it continue publication:
could it, under any reasonable conditions,
/ survive such a shock to its fortunes? It
! seems that Mr.. Bryan has already made
! provision for the contingency, remote as
so many conceive it TO be. The Com
moner viii suspend publication If Mr.
/ Brysn should be elected. and the busi-
/ ness manager is now putting aside a fund
4 10 be used, If the crisis appears, in re-
imbursing subscribers for unexpired sub
/ scriptions. Such an end would be unique
| in the history OF American journalism,
but it would be most ftting-if."
That the campaign this year is marked
by autocracy in both parties is pointed
out by the Pittsburg Dispatch. 1t says:
THE year is certainly notable for the
control Of both parties by leaders. with
a full appreciation Of their grip on the
lever and a controllinF conviction that