New-York tribune., 1908-01-03
TOO LATE.

Hone snrings eternal in the human breast,
and the National Democratic Club, OF THIS c'S
(Which became national few years ago pS
the simple process of nationaliZing It's COT
porate titie). is human enough TO nope ssNeu
against hope and to be willing to shed us reu
hearts blood In the last ditch of orthodoxy anu
ontimism. The National Democratic Club re
fuses to believe that the Democratic Natiohai
Convention to be held in Denver next july VIII
weakly yield TO manifest destiny Ii ue-
clines to consider irreyocable the arrangements
already concluded for re-Bryanizing lne Dem
ocratic narty. 1t believes that while the lamp
holds out to burn the most errant and besotIeo
hereto NAV return, and it has arranged 10
keep the lamp burning by furnishing fuel 1or
both outer and inner man In the shape OF seven
monthly or bi-monthly dinners with tail end
attachments of missionary oratory. Ihere IS
the club officials say, pressing need lor OH
educational campaign III DenaH OF hlStoilc
Democratic teaching" Following period OIL
financial depression and currency contraction
If is highly phiIanthropic idea to associate
instruction in the true faith with properly
festal welcome to all returning prodlgais'
The National Democratic Club exhibits gen
uine zeal and charity. But its efortS lack toIe
handedness. The best food and the pest oratolN
re1uire time for digestion The nation is big
""-N
process. How many thousand errant Democrats
can he fed and edited at the clubs hospitable
hoard before the various state conventions be
gin 10 meet In response to Chairman Iaggart 5
call for the election of delegates to the natlonaI
convention? Are the invitations to be issued
In alphabetical order or are the dlHerent see
tions Of the Union to be wrestied with anu
prevailed upon in succession? Can the Demo-
cratic party be unified, harmonized, educated
and heatifed AT six or seven sittings, and the
imminent danger thereby repelled that IN the
coming campaign Democracy may again be ulS-
''rupted by the intrusion of new, untried anu iln
practicable schemes of reform! VIII even d
dozen educational dinners lay the ghosts of the
initiative and referendum and of federal OWN
ership and operation of all the instrumentalltlas
of interstate commerceE
There are skeptics who say that 1t Is waste
Of money to buy new paddock for the stable
door after the horse has been stolen. In the
Judgment of such the time for organizing 10
defeat Mr.. Bryan for denomination was hlleeh
months ago, when ne lay under the reproach oi
having committed monumental p0ltcdi Dull
der in declaring for government operation anu
ownership of the railroads. Now the effects oI
that bunder have worn off and a great ma
ioritv of his Democratic critics OF 1910 anu
1907 have confessed the futility OF undeftahin@
TO unhOrSe him. tol0nei NaIleiSoh eliod h''i"
TO rally the disaffected last spring and summer
but grew weary of fighting a losing battle ana
capitulated Now he is skeptical and dlsilln-
sionized. The Johnson boom, started by THE
New York World" and 1.-The Charleston News
and Courier" he regards as lame infringe
mont of patent as ''belated' and ''inopportune
We are inclined to think that Colonel waiter
sons pessimism is justified. \ boom In time
saves nine But neither culinary art nor after
dinner eloquence can save a boom born out OF
time or revitalize the ghost Of lost oppof-
tunity The National Democratic Clubs edu-
cational efforts may instruct and please, but
they will neither make nor unmake political
history