Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-07-10
Friday. July 10. 1908.
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
Election, November 3, 1908.
MIR. BRYAN NOMINATED.

The nomination OF the lion. WIN. ).
Bryan as the Democratic candidate for
president by the Denver convention
was as certain as the cycles of the sun.
He was the choice of the great mass of
Democrats. They would have no other
He was the only man in the Democrat
ic party who would have satisfied pub
lie demand, or have stood the ghost of
a show of election. The Democrats
wanted no more Ryan-Belmont conf
dence game in theirs. Before they
would stand another dose of it they
would have submitted to any humilia-
ton at the hands of the Republicans.
Defeat when brought about by the
strength of the opposing party is hon
orable and bearable, but when the par
ty is disgraced by perfdy of leaders,
and crammed with crow before the
battle begins, defeat becomes so hui
initiating that men of spirit and de-
cency become nauseated. From such
the Democratic party has suffered.
That Mr.. Bryan would be nominated
without serious opposition was plain
to everybody save the Ryan-Belmont
crowd from New York headed by
Ju dge Parker, that set of political
thugs who went from Pennsylvania
swinging to the coat tails of Guffey,
and some persons from other States
lacking in political sagacity. When,
however, these elements came face to
face with the decent, determined, fear
less, honest men who had gone to Den
yer to nominate the real leader of De
mocracy, they cringed and skulked
away. The people demanded Mr..
Bryan and it would have been a sad
day for the delegate who went to do
their bidding, had he not returned with
the proper account of his stewardship.
They believe that Mr.. Bryan was
fairly elected to the high office of Pres
ident in 1896, but that it was stolen
from him. They knew that corporate
money, of which defenseless women
and children in many cases were rob-
bed, was poured out to bride and cor
rupt voters against him. They deter
mined to be avenged of this crime ii
possible, at least to have chance to be
avenged, by giving to the country as a
candidate again the man who had been
so deeply wronged. Assembled al
Denver were some who had aided in
that crime. Men were there opposing
Mr.. Bryan who had bolted the party
in 1896 and 1900, but they were in a
hopeless and helpless minority. Before
the session of the convention began all
real or fancied opposition to him had
been ground to powder. 1.-THE John
son Boom," ''The Gray Boom" and all
other such malformations born of po-
litical impotence, had met death, they
had become impalpable dust under the
pOnderOus wheels of the Bryan ma
chine The ''steam roller" was baby
carriage beside it. Nothing stood in its
way and those not escaping fled to the
nearest band wagon and sought high
and comfortable seats. Never was SO
much hot air cooled in so short time,
never were tin horns of less use, never
did self conceit depart so uncerimoni-
ously,as in the instances of certain gen.
tlemen who, when they arrived in
Denver, fancied they would amount to
something in stopping the Bryan ava
lanch. The defeat was SO humiliating
that it is confidently asserted and gen.
orally believed their best friends will
n OF know them on their return, it was
humiliating in the extreme because
their effort was SO untimely, puerile,
inane and simple.
The nomination will inspire millions
of Democrats with new energy, and
instil into them new life. No battle
can be won without a leader in whom
the soldier has confidence. In Mr.
Bryan the masses have found a cham
pi on of their rights, leader who is
undaunted, a man of the people, pure
in heart, in mind, in intention. No
time server, nor tool, nor paid agent.
The country needs such, and he can be
and will be elected.