Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-14
is DENVER The END?

In speaking OF the Democratic con-
vention at Denver, the Philadelphia
Public Ledger concludes that Demo
cracy has gone mad and that the
new Democracy is only a ghost OF
what 1t used to be under Cleveland.
In the alterations Of control be-
tween radical and conservative In the
Democratic party the non-partisan
voter has arrived at a state of puzzle
ment about the relations between the
two party forces. In 1896 the conser-
vatives fought manfully in convention
and were defeated. In the campaign
they preferred principle to party, 0
ing against the party or refusing to
vote for any candidates. With cons1d-
erably less vigor of opposition within
the party they pursued much the
same course in 1900. In 1904 the Goa
servatives had charge of the party or
~ganization, and the radicals fought in
convention, went home and slaughter
ed the party's candidates. This year
the old leader of the radicals is In
command. and the steam roller Is
crushing the conservatives In the ma
tional convention.
In the preliminary proceedings up to
JllLo udgS liC i oil hSl DOhloS Ai"No
accepted fate with a poverty of spirit
which causes the n%on-partisan to won
der whether the conservative element
has ceased to be a contestant for su-
premacy or is undergoing Its innings
of defeat only to return with restored
power and confidence four years
hence.
Mr.. Bryan's ambition, vision and be-
lief from the moment of his triumph
in 1896 has been the organization, UNI
der his leadership, of all the discon-
tented elements into n body. For
this years campaign he is evidently
willing to retain a hold of party regu-
larity on the conservatives; further
than that 1t is doubtful whether he
cares to cater to their favor. Even
taking into account the Parker year.
it must be admitted that gradually
the "safe and sane" influence has
steadily declined in the Democratic
party since the standard of revolt was
raised against President Cleveland's
policies in 1893. The holiness Of spir.
1t and the high quality of manhood
which stootegainst free silver in 1896
has degenerated or been beaten down
into apologize weakness in 1908. AT
st. Louis in 1904 Bryan was the real
figure of the convention, the aggres.
sive, determined, persistent purpose,
At Denver, as far as the proceedings
have gone, no strength of battle has
appeared on the conservative side.
Judge Parker started with a ringing
resolution on Grover Cleveland. II
was whipped to f%eebleness before he
took his first dinner in Denver. New
York is playing the part of the small
est politics. New England has nc
voice of protest.
Has the old Democratic party given
up the fight and lost its existence as
one by one, the men who stood b.
Cleveland have paid the debt Of ma
ture and passed to the realm Of 81
lence? Is the Denver convention to be
known as not only a scene of Bryan
victory, but as the last breathing OF
the old Democracy and the unobstruct,
ed entrance of a party bearing the old
Democratic name on a flag carried by
a host which knows not tariff reform
financial soundness, individual Amerf
canism and the development of ma.
terial prosperity, and stands for no
tons, theories, administrative incom.
petence and ~recklessness of RESPONSE
bility, for the influence which for the
first time in It's existence would give
the republic a definite impetus toward
mobs and revolution?