Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-09-02
INFLUENCE OF THE PRESS
ON THE CAMPAIGN

In view Oh Tue recent announce
ment of the Baltimore Sun TO sup
port the Republican nominee il
the present Presidential campaign
it is interesting to read that the
New York World has lined VI
for the Democratic nominee. Tn,
following editorial appeared in the
Washington Herald of last Satur-
day and not only defines the posi-
ton OF the World but likewise tina,
of the Herald. We Invite careful
reading of the article. The Herald
says:
The New. York World, after
conducting a virulent campaign
against the nomination of Mr.. Bry-
an. on grounds of principle end
expediency, has with rather bad
grace determined to give the Ne
brasksn a qualified support, and to
extend to the Democratic party,
under his leadership, such aid and
sympathy as 1t may without self
qualification offer. The World
agrees to overlook what it terms
Mr.. Bryan's past folIles' and the
'dslusive issues he has imposed
on the Democratic party in former
campaigns, if Mr.. Bryan, for his
part, will adhere to his admirable
speech of acceptance and bury
che past.
"Why should not the World or
any other Democratic paper, or
any Democrat, support Mr.. Bryan
and the party which has again
chosen Mr.. Bryan as it's standard
bearer? In this campaign, at any
rate, the Democratic candidate
and platform represent principles
and issues and policies for which
the World and it's Democratic con-
stituency have been contendiEg
many years.
"On the main issue, that of plu.
tocracy versus popular government,
Mr.. Bryan is as everlsstiugly right
as he is everlastingly Democratic, as
Henry Watterson has so ably ar
gued; and on many subsidiary |
issues-the tariff, for example
Mr.. Bryan occupies the traditional
Democratic position. With much |
Of Organism the World has always
been in 81 mpathy; it has steadily
been q conspicuous exponent of
progressive Democracy; and We
should judge our contemporary
will find it much more comforta BILE,
during the present political cen
A,ct, to emphasize it's agreements,
instead of it's differences, with the
Democratic nominee. 1t will be
more consistent to 60 half way
with Bryan than to part company
with him wholly; to support the
who embodies some of
the principles you profess, rather
than to oppose him because he
differs with you on some Of the rel;
Atively unimportaut matters. Com
promises of this sort must fire.
quently be made in political al in
business life, and they afford, In
many cases, the only practicable
of attaining some desired
object. And it ought to be obvi-
oue to any Democrat amenable ]
10 reason that the only practicable
way Of attaining the ends of his
party, as matters now stand, is to !
support, and elect, if possible. the ]
candidate of his party. f
"Some such argument as this /
ong ago brought over the veteran :
'ditor of the Louisville Courier !
Journal to the support of Bryan, g
md it is an argument that will op
rate, we think, with increasing Y
orce as the campaign proceeds.
I there is any vitality left in .
Democratic principles. if there is a
my ground of appeal for Demo
ratio policies, certainly MI. Bryan !
ums up in his personality the ?
ital things, the matters as to :, -
vhich appeal may be most conf. v
emily made to his countrymen for p
upport. Well grounded in the t
ssting, as opposed to the evanes. +
snt, ideas of the Democratic par y
=, no has applied these to the I,
of to-day, and so made g,
{ his party q living organism. res Il
onsive to the needs of the time, ri
nth . constructive program of '
10 own. To the ordinary political q
bssrver, itwould seem that if Dem.
cracy means anything and is