New-York tribune., 1908-07-11
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

The Democratic National Convention fulnlied
the main purp sse for which it was called 10
gether when, with only a perfunctory snow OF
onnostion it n ominated William J. Bryan for
President The Tribune has long consdered
such action pr, adestined and inevitable Fer
more than a year it has been convinced lhat
Mr. BRYAN woul q be the next Democratic Presl-
dentiaI candidate. We have been reproved by
many of our contempuraries-''The New York
World .'rhe l9ew York SUM- THE Phladel-
nhfa Record 1.-THE Baltimore SUM- Inc
Charleston New and Courier, The Boston
Herald" and others-for conducting Bryan
nropaganda as they said. We nave even
be,rr accused of being Bryan organ 1t is
needless to say had no intention OF promot-
ing bfr. RTyan's political fortunes we were
only yrterrreting the signs of the times as we
saw them. and could not delude ourselves win
the belief obstfnately cherished h. a large sec
fion of the Eastern press, that a combination
could he made powerful enough to endanger
Mfr Rrynn's nomination.
II 500 med to us that any opposition within
the Democratic party TO his third candidacy
was desti ned to fail. The Democracy had tried
the exper Snent four years ago Of renounclng
his leadership, and was appalled, by the conse-
quences Of that misadyenture Before Judge
Parker's canvass closed Mr.. Bryan, trampled
upon at The ST Louis convention, had again be
come the chief factor in Democratic politics and
what Wes tern delegate to Denver recently
called Judge Parkers defeat by acclamation
DESTROYED all possibility of Democratic recuper-
etion except under radical leadership. But a
return 10 radiscalism meant logically return
TO Bryan as b.r far the most available exponent
Of the partys sadiea tendencies
The mistake which many of our contempo-
raries made was in thinking that the minor
Democratic bosses" would unite TO defeat
Rrvar ON paIper easy to figure out that
If Mr. Murphy in New York, eX- Senator James
Smith in New Jersey. Colonel Guffey in Penn
syIvania Roger Sslivan in Illinois. Senator
Ravner in Maryland, Senators Daniel and Mar
tin in Virginia, Senator Simmons in North Car
olipa Jobn T McGraw in West Virginia, Sen
ator Johnston in Alabama. Senators Foster and
McFnerv in Louisiana. John Sharp Williams in
| Mississippi and Senators Bailey and Culberson
in Texas combined to oppose Bryan he could not
| obtain twp-thirds majority at Denver. All
/ these leaders would have been glad to see Bryan
! shelyed for a nominee like Gray or Johnson
| Rut the great majority Of them knew that they
could not fight Mr.. Bryan openly without en-
| dangering their own standing in the party, and
nearly all of them quit the field when the time
J came 10 begin the fight. Senator Smith and
Colonel Guffey alone took chances in manfully
combating the Bryan sentiment in their states,
and though Mr. Smith remains unscathed,
Colonel Guffey paid dearly for his rashness
| when he fell into, the cogs of the steam roller
at Denver.
Mr.. BRYAN undoubtedly owes his nomination
! 70 the support of the great mass of the Demo
cratic voters These voters prefer radicalism
| TO conservatism and Bryan to any other posi-
bile Democratic leader. Recognizing this fact,
| The Tribune has never considered Mr.. Bryan
nitiably weak candidate. He is obviously
stronger as a vote getter than Judge Parker was
| in 1904 or than any other Democratic nominee
would be this year who owed his selection to
| conservative influences Republicans will do
| well not to consider the campaign of 1908
| walkover. We have every confidence that be
| tween Mr. Taft and Mr.. Bryan the country
will choose Mr.. Taft. His superb equipment
| for the Presidential Office must appeal TO the
Judgment of the large class OF Independent
| voters when compared with Mr.. Bryans entire
/ lack of experience as administrator and his
superabundant endowments as q theorist and
manufacturer of phrases The Repub1can
party has earned the confidence of the country
| nv its splendid record of achievement under
Roosevelt Mckinley and their predecessors The
! Democratic party has repealed confidence by its
| record of hysteria, vacillati0n and inethcency-
| But Mr. Bryan's capacity as an agitator and
| infiamer Of political prejudces must not be
| uDderyalued Republican victory this year
! should be made complete and sure. 1t can be
| made complete and sure by good generaishlp
and hard work ard the time for activity and
| rational enthusiasm is now and every day until
election