The Washington herald., 1908-04-17
New York and Mr.. bryan

Tammany is going 20 Denver, as It has
gone TO other Democratic national con-
ventions. for the purpose OF trying GO de-
feat a candidate for the Presidential
nomination who is obviously the choice
of the rank and file OF his party. 1t is
the old game. with a somewhat different
setting bnt we see no reason why it
should succeed any better than 1t has
done before. An eminentIy respectable
gentleman, with conspicuous motive for
personal vengeance. has been selected 10
head the New York delegation and 70
lead a movement for the nomination of
ticket that will rally to its support
the judgment, conscience, and vote OF the
majority Of the citizens Of the country"
The platform adopted declares that the
Democracy Of the nation has this year
presented to il an unusual opportunity
to return 10 the control Of the govern
ment Of the country"
Now. if the Democratic party has such
an opportunity, as most careful observers
think it has, how has the opportunity
arisen, whence comes its strength. and
whose leadership has enabled the party
to take advantage Of it? What contribu-
ton has been made TO Democratic oppor-
tuHity. OF is likely TO be made TO il, by
any of those composing the New York
delegation-at-large? What have any Of
them done 10 mold party sentiment, or to
direct party opinion and party activities
into channels where they may be avail
able TO take advantage of the blunders Of
the party in power? In a word. what is
the dominant mood Of the Democratic
party, and do men OF Alton B. Parker's
type and persuasion stand outside OF it
or in harmonious relation to il? And if
they are out of tune with the party spirit.
how can they hope to sway the Denver
convention TO their way of thinking?
The present situation of the Democratic
party is the product Of political forces
over which no one man or group of men
has had control, and which no one man
or group of men can hope to turn back
ward These forces have operated upon
both the great parties. turning the faces
of their leaders TO newer problems OF
government. legislative and administra-
tive. Under the leadership of Mr.. ROOse-
yelt. the Republican party has been made
TO realize the necessity of responding TO
the demands of the time and to some ex-
tent it has broken away from its old
moorings. Under the leadership Of Mr..
Bryan, the Democratic party has parted
company with the BourbOnism OF the
past and embraced an inspiring and con-
structive outlook toward the future. II
the Democratic party had proved inn
pervious TO the vital forces of our ma.
tionaI life as certain old-school Demo
Gratis think il should what opportunity
would there have been for Democratic
return to power as against the virile new
Republicanism TO which Roosevelt has
given life?
1t looks as if Mr.. Murphys delegation
were going 10 Denver in the hope OF de-
feating the one man 10 whose untiring
efforts it is mainly due that the Democ-
racy enjoys the unusual opportunity
unctuously referred TO as if it has been
manufactured in Manhattan or there
about. A new light may dawn on some
Of these provincial Fasteners as TO the
nature Of this opportunity by the time
they have traversed the immense inter
vening space between New York and
Denver. and have taken observations on
the real sentiment Of the country.