The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-05-11
Tempting the Democracy.

After Mr.. BAILEY's famous victory in
Texas some Of his enthusiastic admirers
nominated him for vice-President Why
not? Nothing could be more logical and
consistent. In the days Of his succes
and his undisputed as~cendency he was
opposed to BRYAS's leadership Whether
he thought himself a better man we have
no means of knowing. AZ all events, he
disapproyed Of BRYAN, Recently, dis
mounted from his high horse, beset by
enemies, fighting the battle Of his life
with his back against the wall, he found
il necessary to court the Bryan following
especially in the western part Of the State
and in the depths OF the ~chaparral, and
he won out bya very narrow margin. He
won because the cowboys did not under
stand and could not be made to understand
the issue. Further east, where the popu-
lation was thick, the appliances Of civili-
cation fixed and the diffusion Of knowledge
general, the majorities against him were
both intelligent and conspicuous, He
prevailed. il would seem, by a species Of
default. The cowboys hadn't heard any
thing OF consequence for two or three
a 80 BAILEY throve upon their good
natured ignorance.
And now his fervent henchmen pre-
tend TO think and possibly do think that
he ought to be nominated for Vice-Presi-
dent on the ticket with his new found
chief, and we make bold TO join small
and distant voice with theirs. Where
could the Democracy-as il seems TO be
constituted to-day-fnd a more felicitous
and appropriate conjunction? II it is
proposed to nominate BRYAN for the first
place, by all means let us have BAILEY
for the second. The question after the
initial plunge will not be that Of practical
success; il will be one Of the fantastic
and the picturesque. We ransack the
Democratic situation in vain quest Of a
more appropriate ~apotheosis.
How different it might be were the old
party animated by courage and spirit
and intelligence we do not like to think.
They have reached a point at which vic
tory fairly beckons them il only they
could see il. A return to the principles
OF THURMAN and TLDEN, a leader ami
mated BY the ideals Of CLEVELAND, and
a proclamation to the harassed, discour-
aged and alienated people-these are what
they need 10 win with and to restore the
republic to it's ancient ~moorings. II would
not be necessary to consider present align
ments. There would be no occasion for
anxiety as regards the Populistic contin-
gent. The right sort Of candidate on the
right kind Of platform would summon
from their nov forgotten refugees every
old fashioned Democrat and latter day
independent in the land, and TO such a
nucleus would rally-for this once II
neve ~again-the countless thousands Of
all parties or Of no party who seek
peace, security, protection, the promise
Of deliverance from unrest and fear, the
guarantee Of restoration TO vanished but
still remembered paths.
But the Democrats who cry the loud
EFT are all for BRYAN, and from their
stupid uproar It Is difficult 10 redeem a
really Ineligible note Of hope. The fer
ment Of opposition is at work and much
may come Of it. Dissent manifests itself
With increasing frequency and emphasis.
Instructions such as those in South
Carolina, are languid and perfunctory,
often enigmato. The original supersti-
ton has weakened visibly, and out Of all
these processes Of disintegration some
thing tangible may yet come,
Tho suggestion Of BAILEY, however,
a. q second to BRYAN on the Denver
ticket is 90 apt, 80 fitting, 90 thoroughly
inkeSptng with the party general history
for the last fifty years, that it disheart-
n and Gbashes us 1t suggests such a
triumph Of erhllty and infatuation that
we can hardly believe the Democratic
narkw UfU NASnCf A