Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-02-07
"BRYANISM WOULD REMAIN"

The Springfield Republican. in a
notable editorial, asks and answers Il
very interesting question. The ques-
ton is this:
Suppose in one of his innumerable
railroad Journeys Mr. Bryan should he
accidentally killed. That would i'll
stantly eliminate him as Il living per
sonality and force him from American
politics. What would happen then TO
Democratic politics."
1t is more than eighty years since
Thomas Jefferson died Yet the Demo-
cratic party is still alive, and standing.
as it stood in the day of this great
and illustrious leader, for the ideas
and principles of which he was the
immortal champion.
1t will soon he sixty-five years since
Andrew Jackson died. yet the Demo
cratic party lives, and stand today. us
Jackson stood, the champion of the
plain people and the foe of special priv
lege.
These thoughts might we'll have in
spired the Republicans answer to its
own question. which is as follows:
THE question should be broadened
to read: What Is the Democratic
party without the things that Bryan
represents? For the Democratic party
would profit little from the disappear
ance of personality If the things that
personality stood for did not also pass
away. One thing is certain to begin
with. With Bryan gone. his follow
ing would remain to idealize him, for
to his following Bryan represents an
idea. The idea they would cherish
and it might be that their crusading
zeal would take fire with their leader
snatched from them. Sometimes that
is the case. In any event. Organism
would remain for the party to reckon
with"
Organism would remain. Man IS
mortal, but ideas are immortal. No
cause that deserved to live ever per-
ished when its leader died Always
there have been others to leap forward
snatch the banner and stagger with it
up the heights. Mr. Bryan, as he has
frequently said, did not originate the
ideas for which he stands. They were
alive before he was born, and will be
alive long after he is dead. When he
won the nomination for President, in
the historic convention of 1896, he won
it simply because that great conven-
ton was saturated with the ideas. the
since been labeled Organism 1t was
because. better than any other. he gave
articulate voice to the thoughts that
were surging in the minds, not only of
the delegates but of the Democratic
millions all over the land, and Bryan
became the leader Of his party. And it
is because. through fair weather and
foul. through good and evil repute,
through obloquy, scorn and derision.
he has stood steadfast and true for
those Democratic ideals; stood true
when some faltered. others fled. and
some denied the faith and turned their
hands against the flag; it is because
Of this that Bryan. through the long
years that have tried mems souls and
tested their devotion, has remained the
Democratic leader
No man, even though he be Bryan,
a Lincoln, a Jefferson, a Luther, a
Cromwell, Caesar. is Indispensable to
the progress of the world. James A.
Garfield quieted the mob in New York.
when the Great Emancipator was
stricken down, with the words: God
reigns. and the government at Wash
ington still lives" The Democratic
dream Of human liberty and equality
Is born in God. and In Gods providence
1t will never cease to inspire and en-
noble the lives of his people or to
shape the destinies Of nations. II
Bryan died, Organism would remain