The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-12-18
1893 to 1873.

1893 TO 1873.
| The r!ssform of 1896 contained
another plank which should not b,
passed over without notice. viz.
that which by obvious innuendo ar.
raigned President cleveland for us
lug the federal authority for the pro.
lection OF the rights of a sorely suf,
fering public in keeping the rail.
roads open to inter state commerce
and the mails during the great rail
way strike Of 1904. This plank was
proposed by Governor Altgeld of II.
llnois as "rebuke" to the President.
1t also contained plank assailing
the United States Supreme Court
for its decision in The income tax
cases.
These three proposals impressed
the platform with a distinct and
startling revolutionary character.
Given fleet in legislative, executive
aud judicial policy, it would have
suddenly changed the standard Of
value to a material extent, denied to
the federal government its power to
keep inter state railways open to
commerce and the mails during do
mestic riots, aud rendered the Su-
preme Court Of the United States
subservient to TEMPORARY popular
impulses and passions. Is it sur
prlsing that the party met with dis
astrous defeat that year?
The leaders of the new movement,
many of whom we're Southern men,
of course anticipated the exodus
from the party Of a considerable part
of its conservative element, but
thought the detection wold be more
than offset by accessions Of Populists,
Socialists and radical Republicans.
However, the experiment not only
brought disaster in the general re-
suit, but wholly failed to restore the
South to its old position of leader
ship in the Democratic party, mere
ly transferring the dictatorship from
New York and the East to Nebraska
and the populistic West.
spoonrssiitbaiIity; attached to Bryan for
the course OF events. He ran in 1896
on issues made for rather than by
him. Bryan's real responsibility be-
gan after his defeat in 1896. I'M
mediateIy thereafter he started a
campaign for the nomination in 1900,
as first step publishing his book
"The First Battle" in which he an
nounccd that the fight against the
gold standard was just begun. And
the platform of 1900, written in toto
by him, or at his dictation, contain
ed an express reaiiirmation OF "l6 to
L Notwithstanding the people, after
probably the most thorough educa-
tionai campaign in our history, had
four years before repudiated the
doctrine by a decisive majority. The
same platform also contained aplank
denying our right to hold the Philip
pines, and demanding our speedy
withdrawal from them, notwlth-
standing the treat of 1899 by which
we acquired them, and under which
we paid $2O,OO0,000 for them,
would have failed OF ratification IN
the Senate but for the open active
exertions Of Mr.. Bryan in its behalf.
The result was more crushing de-
feat than it 1896.
In 1904, by permission OF Mr.
Bryan, the dictatorship Of the party
was temporarily passed back to the
East, and Alton B. Parker made ms
foolish campaign as an opponent o.
antitrust" legislation at a time
when the people had made up theiI
minds that the great corporations o.
the country should be brought undel
more stringent federal control. II
that year the Bryan faction in th'
East and West had their revenge OF
the "deserters" Of 1896 and 1900 b!
helping pile up the stupendous ma
iorities under which Parker wa
crushed. As has been wittily said
Bryan stepped aside while Parke'
was "flung to the invincible Roose
welt like Daniel to the lions, excep
hat Roosevelt ate Parker
But be soon appeared once NOR
i 10 the arena, owning the soft i'm
peachment" Of q third ambition. n
"a -. vrnIn IN foraakaI