The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-01-23
The Ocala Banner
and Mr.. BRYAN Again.

Despite its perverseness, its weak
nesses, and its inconsistencies, we are
Obliged to confess to a certain fond
ness for the Ocala Banner. 1t is this
fondness, perhaps, that makes our
regret all the more keen every time
our contemporary goes worng, and
that makes US feel, as a parent does
for his child, a deep sense of pain
every time we are called upon to chas-
tise 1t.
We are publishing today the Ban
ner's reply TO our previous request for
the reasons underlying its assertion
that either Judge Gray, Governor Folk.
stronger candidate for president than
Mr.. Bryan. For answer, the Banner
ignores Gray and Folk completely, and
argues that Johnson would be stronger
than Bryan ID because the New York
World says so, C2) because Clay was
never elected president, CD because
bryan polled a million less votes in
his second than in his first race" and
(4) because Roosevelt has prosecuted
criminal corporations, and the corpO-
ration adherents stand ready to vote
the democratic ticket if we will only
nominate a man who is willing to allow
them to defy the law with impunity.
Taking up his reasons seriatim, we
may observe, first, that the New York
World is mighty poor authority from
oh, r. aif erio
or duty. OF recent years, it seldom
supports democratic candidates, and
its support of democratic policies
usually has a string tied to it some
where. The least we, can say-the
mildest we can put it-concerning the
Banners deliberate choice of the
greatest renegade and traitor the dem
ocratic party has known in genera
ton, as counsellor and companion in
the effort to defeat Mr.. Bryan, is that
we are ashamed-positively and thor
oughly ashamed-of our contemporary.
The fact that poor old Henry Clay
was defeated and died considerably
more than a half century ago we ad
NIT is good argument. But Clay was
whig. He was one of the progenitors
of the present republican party. He
didn't deserve to be elected, and we
are glad that he wasn't elected. We
are sorry that he died, but inasmuch
as he is dead, we see no use of she'd
ding tears over it now.
The assertion that Bryan "polled a
million less votes in his second than
in mis- first race" might be important
If it were true, but it is not true. We
have an idea that our contemporary
has experienced another lapse of
memory Be that as it may, if the
Banners conclusions no more to |
be relied upon than its statements OF
fact-of which. we take this to be a |
is rather a dangerous logI- |
clan to follow Suppose, to settle this
matter, you get a copy of the New |
York World Almanac and look up the |
figures. They are, we think. correct, |
even if the World itself is frequently
wrong.
As to- Roosevelt's policy toward rail-
roads and the Standard Oil Company,
It is strange logic, indeed, for a dem
pcratfc paper to assume that the demA
ocratic party, in order to win, mist
nominate a candidate who is willing
to take his instructions from corpo-
ration sources and who will allow big I
criminals to continue their operations /
of the law, the presidents
bath of office, the public interests. or
anything else, while such little fellows
IS Green, Eaynor, and Capt. Carter
Ire sent to the penitentiary
That was the plea in 1904 Nomi-
late Parker, said the win-at-any-cost
element, and the corporations viii put
lp more money to defeat Roosevelt
han Mark Hanna ever secured to beat
iryan. The people who do tia voting, l.
however, were not as ready to ratify |
he sale as tie candidate-make:s slip !
;osed, and the result ought to be an
object lesson Ter all time on the vesy ,
question which we are now discussing. /
And now let US prefer a word of
and advice to our es- !.
eemed contemporary. Mr.. Bryan Is
hs stxessast individual democrat in