The Washington herald., 1908-07-10
BRYAN TWELVE YEARS AFTER.

NlLldm Jennings Bryan, In 1886, the
emotional product of an emotional con-
vention, young man fred with a single
idea. put the Republican party to it's su-
premest test, and combating an opposl-
ton Of limitless material resources. re-
ceived the largest popular vote ever cast
for Democratic candidate for President
The burning issue Of that memorable
campaign, which the youthful crusader
he was crusader. rather than candidate
declared would never be settled until it
was settled right. was settled shortly
thereafter-and settled right
William Jennings Bryan. in 1900. a year
made abnormal by extraordinary condi-
tions growing out Of the war with Spain.
led waverng. divided. all but disrupted
party through hopeless campaign to an
inevitable defeat "a defeat crushing
enough to have destroyed his leadership
forever but for the indomitable charac-
teristics OF the man.
In 1904, yielding to the demand OF a
Wall street contingent OF the party not
worth reckoning with, the Democracy
abandoned ideals. and permitted the East
20 shape its policies and name its candi-
date. Alton 3. Parker, an amiable gem
tleman of some judicial attachments. but
negative quantity in politics, clumsily
led fight foreordained TO fail. and which
deserved to fail. Wreckage Of the party
was strewn from one end OF the country
10 the other at a Waterloo second only to
Greeley's in 1872.
Now, twelve years after his entrance
into national life. William Jennings Bryan
comes TO the fore again as his party's
standard bearer in a Presidential cam
paign-not a youthful crusader born Of
an economic frenzy and fired with but
single idea as in 1895: not mere leader Of
a forlorn hope. nominated for the sake Of
another chance" as in 1900, but a middle
aged. matured man OF many ideas. de-
uberately chosen by sober-minded Demo-
Gratis, representing the overwhelming mass
Of his party. who. having faith in him
and in his leadership. see IN the changed
conditions in the land the possibility of
his triumph in November.
more machine-like proceeding than
that involved in the nomination OF Bryan
at Denver has never occurred In conven-
tion history. But, unlike the Chicago af-
fair. which it resembled, II was not ma
chlne-made. II was party-made. The
body Of delegates would scarce have
dared return home had they nominated
any one else. He became as a matter
OF fact. the fixed choice Of the Demo.
cratic heart OF the country months ago.
And no sort Of intrigue or machination
could endanger his hold upon the party
masses. They wanted Bryan, and would
have no other.
What Of November? Nobody can tell.
He would be rash prophet. indeed. who
would venture to predict that William
Jennings Bryan would now reach the
White House. But this we 90 know: He
has grown in wisdom with the passing Of
The years; he has grown IN the esteem of
his fellow-men the country over; he is.
next 10 Theodore Roosevelt. the best
known OF all great Americans to-day,
and. next also. TO Theodore Roosevelt.
stands most consplcuously for those pro-
gressive or radical policies 20 the car
rying forward Of which a large section
OF the country appears to be irrevo-
cably committed. Therefore. a by no
means one-sided campaign is certainly
ahead of us.
Radicalism has not run its course.
In Bryan the Democratic party has a
candidate who is likely TO poll a million
more votes against Taft than Parker
poled against Roosevelt. Even then
he may fan short of election. But the
Republican party will have a fight on
its hands-a fight from start to finish.
and one that Will tax. It's resources TO
the very limit. That. at any rate. is the
cool, candid Judgment OF this newspaper.