The Washington herald., 1908-08-15
POLITICAL COMMENT.

The. dominating topic Of political dis
cussion is. Of course. Mr.. Brysn's speech
Of acceptance There IS evident on the
part OF the Republican press a desire to
find fault with il, but the worst that Is
said does not amount to very severe crit
icism. The New York Mail takes only
one phrase out Il the speech 10 comment
on. as follows:
Shall the people ruler IS the text Of
Mr.. Bryan's speech Of acceptance to-day.
as it is OF the platform he had adopted
at Denver It is "A sounding phrase, but
how much actual pertinence has It in
this campaign. and how much aid and
comfort is there in it for Mr. Bryan him
self
IF the Democratic candidate has in mind
the rule OF maJorities. why. then. ma
Jority rule has been twice vindfcated on
his own head-once IN 1886. when he was
beaten by a popular majority Of 6000l0
and by a ma siority Of % electoral votes;
again IN 1900. when he was beaten by a
popular majority Of 5000 and by a ma
jority Of I37 electoral votes IN his several
campaigns for the Nebraska Senatorshfp
Mr.. Bryan has been further made TO feel
the weight Of a hostile popular majority.
II by his question AIr- Bryan has in
mind the triumph Of popular beliefs. the
same exhibit OF personal disaster must
be made. The people ruled against his
50-cent dollar in 1886, and against his plan
Of cutting our colonial possessions aGrift
IN 1900 Those decisions represented TIE
popular viii deliberately arrived al and
fairly expressed and hold more strongly
now than n 1870 or in 1885"
The New York sun thinks the speech
/ is perfunctory and formal and Il objects
10 the fact that AIr- Bryan says nothing
about injunctiOns. II says
Yesterdays speech, dealing lightly and
I generally with the Democratic pro-
gramme. popular election OF Senator'S.
rescue OF the House from the rules
adopted by a majority Of its members.
Z protection OF honest wealth. and so on.
. is mostly perfunctory and formal. The
real Bryan. the skilled player upon the
nerves OF discomfort. envy and sLiftIess-
ness. IS heard ia the talk about equity
IN the division Of the fruits OF industry
assuring 10 each the enjoyment o9 his
just share Of cEe proceeds of his toll,
and other echoes OF his CRY ia his plat
form for such an administrator of the
/ government as viii insure as Ear as
human wisdom can. thar each citizen
shall draw from society a reward com
LenSurate with his contribution 10 the
welfare OF society.
The little matter Of injaactions seems
7 TO have escaped Mr. Bryan's notice"
I The Harrisburg Telegraph says
Amid The mass OF sophisJry and spe-
clal pleading constituting the bulk Of SIr
I Bryan's effort. one sentence stands out
I in striking appeal 70 common sense Il
Is this.
" II the voters are satisfied with the
record Of the Republican party. and wiki
! its management OF public affairs. we can
+ not reasonably ask fo- a change IN ad-
niristra ton.
The trouble with Mr. Bryan is that
( he doesn't believe the voters know wher
. they are satisfied They have been trying
20 tell him for twelve years that Repu5.
I lean aGuinistrariou Is what they want
Z but despite their repeated rejection Of HI.
offer 90 save the nation he continues q
/ bob Up sere1ely. time after tine. as q
/ candidate for Office
The third Bryan letter Of acceptance
T reveals 10 reason why the people should
i reverse their verdicts OF 1885 and 1870"