The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-14
BRYAN
KEEPS Up
WAR FOR
REFORM

Bidding his followers not to despair
hut press on in the fight. w. J. Bryan
declares that he takes comfort in the
rciult of the election ana is not cast
down. lie says the Democrats out OF
Office have done more tnan the Repub-
Leans in office during the last twelve
years. ana that is some satisfaction.
The current issue of his Commoner
contain Mr. organs own ideas of the
election and his plans for the future.
He says:
"rhe election of 1908 is over and
The returns disclose a signal victory
for our opponents. hut the principles
tor which our party stands. the policies
for which our party contends-theBe
are not dead A good proposition is not
made ba by rejection at the polls.
needed reform is not made unnecessa-
ry by an adverse vote. The legisla'
ton asked for by the Democratic party
ia its last national platform was not
of a temporary charactef-it was legis-
lation which will be of a permanent
advantage when II is secured
Does anyone believe that the Amer.
lean people will permanently perm
secrecy to campaign contributions
Does anyone believe that the American
people will permit the will Of the vot
ers to be thwarted, as il is now by tho
elections Of senators through legisla-
tures? Does anyone believe that the
trusts will be permitted to permanent
| " exploit the masses? Does anyone
believe that the consumer win per
manently permit the tariff to be writ
ten by the benehciaries of that tarlfy
Does anyone believe that the public
Nlll permanently tolerate cstrangemen'
between labor and capital? Does any
one believe that the fifteen millions OF
dcpositors viii forever permit their
iavings To be ieopardized as at pres
ent? Does anyone believe that the eX
| travaganCa of the government will so
on forever unchecked? Docs anyone
| Delieve tfat our republic will perma
nently consent 10 a colonial policy with
. IS humiiiations and financial burdens2
There must be a party representing
ne peoples protest against wrong in
Igh places against corruption in pol
( Ics AMI against jhe expressions of
he struggling masses, and the Demo
ratio party must continue its fight
lr dissolve II could not exist as q
ilutocraic party
During the last twelve years the
\ ,emoc-alic party has accomplished
| more out ct power than the Republican
arty has accomplished in Office. and
! lis Is % sufficient reward for those
/ ,ho fghl for righteous cause II
! would have been pleasant 10 have been
bic TO reward worthy Democrats with
/ official positions: they are looking tor
4 good government Gnd they labor un.
Sc fishly ior the promotion Of good gov.
crnment. They win neither - dis
couraged nor dismayed by defeat They
cannot cease 10 be interested In the
government, for Indifference would
Ionly iny'te worse abuses that those
from which we now suffer. The fight
must be continued because good
lg0vernmeht is the richest legacy that a
iparent can leave TO a child,
"As for mvsclf let no one worry
labout my future The holding of Office
is a mere incident in the life Of those
who are devoted TO reforms The re
form is the essential thing. If one
can dayance reforms by holding office
then the holding of Office is iustlhable;
If one can best advance reforms as {
private citizen. then the holding OF Tho
fee Is undesirable
The WOrld owes me nothing; | hav,
been abundantly compensated for VIVA
{ have been able TO do Ny life vii
not be long enough to repay the peo
! plo for their support and for the con
= fdence which they have expressed
) My gratitude TO those with whom
have labored surpasses language an'