Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-14

paign in 1896, 1.-The fast in the Wild
erness" promises to be the watchWord
of democracy during the on-comlng
campaign Not, however, that 1t is to
be officially recognized as such by
democratic campaign writer's, or is 10
wake the autumnal echoes as the DEM
ocratic orators hurl from the stump
their invectives against the wickedness
of the party in power.
The fast in the wilderness" cry Is
rather being thrust upon them by re-
publican paragraphers, and by the
public which has perused Mr.. Bryans
speech of acceptance. 1t is scarsely
possible if he had searched for meta
phor more appropriate to the present
situation and less tactful from demo-
cratic standpoint, that the nominee
could have chosen one which has
proved such a source of joy to the par
agrapher of the opposition press, or
with greater possibilities for republic
an orators.
Mr.. Bryan deplores what he tey O
the corruption and rottenness
the republican party, ascribi' S J
reason therefore to the longer d
ministration to which the - has
been intrusted. 8
Not" says the nomine y III that
party passes thru pc % fasting
in the wilderness viii republican
leaders learn to study olican Ques-
tions from the standpoint of the
masses"
No one can question Mr.. Bryan's
real meaning in this regard. He In
tends to convey the idea that the re-
publicans have been intrusted with
the administration of national affairs
for so many years that they consider
themselves irremovable and have be-
come arrogant and unworthy of fur
ther trust, and only a period of rele-
CATION from office will sufficiently
purge them of their insufficiency.
But where the newly notified candi-
date made his metaphorical error was
in his reference to fasting. 1t recalls
too wildly to the minds of his audi
tors and readers khat democracy
hoped, after period of twelve years
of prosperity, the people had erased
from their memories.
1t is being noted by these same par
agraphers that the trouble with the
fasting process is that its evil effects
are visited on the unjust and the just
alike, that the remedy is too strenu-
Gus, too comprehensive in it's scope.
too lasting, and remedial in its effect
only by the prompt cessation of its
use, at the earliest opportunity.
Many are even recalling Joe Miller
famous remedy for corns; separate
each foot carefully from the leg, and
burn in a hot fire until the corns have
entirely disappeared.
1t is being recalled further that this
panacea is not altogether NV one,
that it was proposed once before, when
there was just as much need for its
use as there is now and that the fast
ing was in no way confined to the
wilderness but persisted in extending
itself to the crowded cities and the
i; populous prairies, that it continued IN
! spite of democracv's frantic attempts
| to stem the tide and ended only when
the people voted their doctors out OF
a job.
| The "fast in the wilderness" scheme
will scarcely be accepted seriously as
| a remedy for ills which existed only
| in the minds of men who are out OF
| office and want to get in.
People can we'll afford to look on
! the humorous side of their ills OF yes
terday, but their levity does not indi-
cate forgetfulness. Behind the grim
smile is a determination to steer clear
of paths which lead to pitfalls former
1y encountered.