The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-10-29
tLOOks Like a Third
Defeat.
BY LEO.

presidency of the United States,
but despite all his energetic pur-
suit the great object of his am
bition is about to elude his grasp
the third time.
We could find in our heart a
real sorrow for him, were it not
for the conviction that defeat for
Mr.. Bryan will prove beneficial
for the nation, for the Demo
cratic party, and for the candi-
date himself. AS a nation we
are not prepared to adopt the So
cial schemes propounded by the
Democratic candidate. Tariff
for revenue only, if adopted at
this time, would stagnate busi-
ness, paralyze industry, and cause
a widespread destitution among
laboring men. We need not go
far back into American history
for an object lesson. We have a
vivid recollection of things dur
ing the second administration of
Grover Cleveland, from 1892 to
1896. The presidency, the House
and the Senate were Democratic
and at the urgent request of the
president the Congress took in
hand to reform the tariff. They
gave us what is known as the
Gorman-Wilson tariff measure,
which was as near Cleveland's
ideal as they dared go. 1t was
not tariff for revenue only, it re-
tained considerable protection :;
but the result was very deplora-
BILE. Business was staggered,
the industries languished, labor
ing men were thrown out of en-
ployment, tramps became plen-
teous, farm products sold very
low, and the profit on merchan-
dizing came to the vanishing
point. The whole country was
stagnant, and Mr.. Cleveland had
to borrow money to carry on the
government. 1t was indeed a
time of great distress. Do we
want a repetition of that? That
is what a tariff for revenue would
do. Mr.. Bryan wants to come to
it gradually, just as the country
can bear it, but no matter how
gradually we approach the sys-
tenn, the very idea of it is with
ering to business. And for this
reason we think the third defeat
OF Mr.. Bryan would prove Dene-
fetal to the whole nation.
Moreover, it would rebound to
the benefit of the Democratic
party. AS things now exist Mr..
Bryan is an autocrat in the par
ty. He rules it, not the people.
He has ruled the party for twelve
years. He speaks as if the peo-
pie forced him to be the Demo
cratic candidate the third time
in reality he forced the people to
nominate him. No sooner was
Judge Parker defeated in 1904
than Bryan began to prepare
himself for 1908. He kept him.
self in print all the time, and
would allow no other candidate
to show his head. In fact, since
1896 Bryan has been an autocrat
in the Democratic party. Is this
a good thing for the party? Is il
in any sense a real democracy,
rule of the people? We think
not, and therefore believe thai
the defeat of Bryan on Novem
ber 3 would be a good thing fol
the Democratic party.
And would it not be a goot
thing for the candidate himself
It is a misfortune for any man t'
be thrust into a great office fol
which his unftness is obvious
Mr.. Bryan has proven himself ;
man unfit for the presidency o:
this great nation. His whim
and vagaries in politics, his alb
rupt changes from one policy t.
another, his lack of experience
in administration all count a
gainst his fitness for the place
Put him in the presidency ant
you put a square peg in roun'
hole.
This is not to deny to him ma
ny excellent characteristics. H
is a man of good habits, gener
GUS, just, and patriotic, and pro
baby as fine a campaign orato
no Tho country can turn out. wv