The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-12
KANSAS COMNENT
MIR BRYAN. IN DEFEAT.

No Republican In the flush of VIC
tory would be willing to say anything
to- make the sting. of defeat for Mr..
Bryan any keener than it is. He seems
to have been thoroughly convinced that
he stood a little better than an even
chance to be elected. He had been lis
tened to by immense crowds through
out the campaign. his organization was
better than it was in the other two
campaigns and even the Republicans
had given evidence of being frightened
by the gains he was making in the
middle west and even in the eastern
states, which to him in former cam
paigns had been the "enemy's country"
His partisans hadn't been so sure of
election since Cleveland's time in 1892
Yet in spite of it all Mr.. Bryan was
Overwhelmingly defeated. Millions of
his countrymen had listened with rap
ture to his oratory, his political OPP
ponentS had treated him with marked
respect, In striking contrast to the
method employed in 1896. and yet they
Taft.
1t is difficult to. say what there is
three struggles for the presidency
which he has made memorable and his
toric, he has endeared himself to the
people SO that he is really entitled TO
wear the crown of the Great Common
er which his admirers have placed on
him. But they have refused to place
on him the crown of official RESPONSE
bility. Yet it must be admitted that
his agitation has done great deal tow
ard helping in the enactment OF the
regulative laws which the people have
demanded. And in a moral sense he
has stood for everything that is good
in the nations life.
Mr.. Bryan's effort to gain the presi-
dency is probably at an end. But 1t
is something for him to remember IN
the poignancy of his disappointment
that six million of his fellow country
men have followed his. banner through
three campaigns always with perfect
confidence and trust, always with nope
and always with an enthusiasm
amounting almost to idolatry for MIN;
To them today in his defeat he is stlll
the same idol. His defeat hasn't lessen
ed their love for him. And Mr.. Bryan
has the satisfaction of knowing that II
has been given to only few men in
the nations history to have SUCH love
of a great party.-Iola Record.
NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
It is an interesting fact that in this
wear of the greatest spread of prohibi- |
ton sentiment, the prohibition vote
should be a sad disappointment to the
supporters of the third party cause.
The fact bears out the contention fire.
quently made during the past year.
that people are theoriZing less over |
temperance, and on a nonpartisan and |
nonsentimental basis, putting more |
liquor dealers out of business than |
ever before in the country's history.
Prohibition has ceased to be either a |
third party political issue or an issue |
upon which social and religious lines
NAV be drawn. 1t has become bust |
ness issue, which has its support in all |
parties and creedsY and among those OF |
no creed. That 1t has moral side. no |
one would attempt to deny, but that It |
is being worked out On its n business
side-on the plain and practical argu- |
'ment that Hquorsis nuisance and the /
men who drink it and sell it alike dis
turbers of the peace and clogs upon
tt1siness-is the zevidence of the past /
few wears of progress. The Republican
state of Kansas set the pattern of pro-
hibition by law, and maintained that
pattern in the face of frequent Well
meant but poorly-conceived attempts
of the third party prohibition followers
to weaken the laws support dividing
the vote The Democratic south has
prohibftory sentiment. Dry
IN local option states have
multiplied with amazing rapidity in
the past year.
And vet the third party prohibition
vote has fallen off. 1t is coming to the
point where making a party political
issue out of prohibition will be the
same as making a platform out of the
that men ought not to beat
their wives.-Ottawa Herald.
i