The state herald., 1908-04-24
Mr.. eryan's Assertions at Omaha
Sharply contradieted

In his address at Omaha, after hav-
ing received the Endorsement of the dem
ocratic and Of the populist state conven-
tion for the presidency, Mr. Bryan said
Democracy faces the future with
hope. Our party is united, while the
republicon party is divited. AS
the republicans used one faction of the
democratic party to defeat us in 1896,
we shall return the compliment this
year and use one part of the republican
party to defeat the other"
Taking into consideration the person
ality Of the speaker and the time, place
and circumstances under which it was
made, that utterance may be fifty de-
scribed as the most asinine in the his
toy of recent oratory.
If the statement was the candid eX-
preston of sincere belief on
his part, it reveals in the mind of Mr..
Bryan most childish creduity. If it
was piece of rhetoric designed to de-
luda the democratic rank and file into a
further acceptance of his leadership, it
shows an impudent contempt for the
stupidity of his followers and brazen
disregard of the plainest facts of the
political situation.
Call it ogotism or call it hypocrisy, it
will be equally silly and equally false.
The democratic party is not united.
1t never will be united under Mr.. Bry-
an Not only is it divided, but it is dis
credited and demoralized. In some
states it has almost ceased to exist.
Even in the south its continued cohe-
renee is due to stagnation rather than
vitality; and should Mr.. Bryan be re-
nominated there will be many states
whore it will hardly be worth while for
the party to make contest at all.
The republican party, on the other
hand. was never at any time more uni
ted, more vigorous, more sure of its
purposes and its leaders or more conf
dent of success. Out of the splendid
traditions of the past republicans have
drawn not only fidelity to party princi-
pies, but a genuine loyalty to strict par.
ty discipline, If they err it is on the
side of blind devotion to party rather
than Of division and desertion.
When such leaders as Seward, Came.
ron and Chase were defeated by Lin
coin in the Chicago convention of 1860
all factions of the party rallied to the
support Of the nominee. The cry of
loyalty was spontaneous: "Stand by
the ticket" 1t was united republi-
canism against a divided democracy,
and the result was a triumph for dici-
pline anu regularity.
SO it has been ever since. When the
great republican statesmen were set a
side in 1868 for Grant, who had been II
pie-slaSery democrat, they gave him
an unbroken support. In the long ser
les of contests between Blaine and his
opponents in the party, when in conven-
ton the favorites were defeated and
Hayes, Garheldand Harrison were nom
mated, the party discipline was never
relaxed save in one instance, and in
that the detection was so slight that
the change Of few hundred votes in
New York would have elected the ticket.
As it was in the past so il is now. Ii
Mr. Bryan be nominated the democratic
party win be more disordcred and dis
integrated than ever. while the repub-
lican candidate. whoever he may be,
win receive the full vote Of his conf
dent and aspiring party
II will be contest between organ
izod political intelligence and disorgan-
izcd asininity. New York World dem. }
Nice shower Of rain Thursday night.