The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-12-18
Bryan. The Democratic PART and he Sout
tcouciuded from First psgej

the country who are 10 the habit ~
parzdiBg then selves - thcrangh-goin
~. nersonian IJencc rata" and at the
same time proposing or supporting
measures absolutely at variance with
JefersoB's theory Of our system Of gov
eminent. This matter Is here touched
upon mainly Tor the pnrpose Of pointing
out the gross Inconsistency of these
gentlemen. AS a matter Of fact, while
Jefferson la correct 10 his conception Of
the true basis OF government and Its
fundamental duty to the people over
whom il is established. yet his favorite
doctrine OF strict construction of the
Constitution In its grants OF federal
power would have made the union a
mere "rope Of sand" It was long since
put to sleep by the great judgments Of
Chief Justice Marshall. And it may be
added that those Judgments have been
approved by the American people.
II would be unjust TO epdeavor to
place on Mr.. Bryan all, or even the
greater part Of, the responsibility for
the present unhappy predicament Of the
Democratic party. After all, the fact
cannot be overlooked that Bryan and
Organism have been possible only by
consent Of the Democratic party. Mr..
Bryan Is only one OF several million
Democrats. When we apportion the
responsibility, the South must come In
for her share, which by the way is not a
small one. The South could have pre-
vented the nomination of Bryan In either
1900 or 1908; and might have done so
had those Southern Democratic leaders
fearlesaiy taken a stand against him
WHO as not at heart believe in him or
his doctrines and policies, and who did
not in either Of Those years believe that
he could be elected. 1t is quite proba-
BILE that these leaders have greatly over
rated his real strength with the South
ern people. Senator Johnston Of Ala.
bama has declared that TO- of the Dem
ocrats Ia Congress we're at heart oppos-
cd to Bryan's nomination this year. An
editorial In the New York World a few
days after the recent election contain.
ing tho following language:
"The Democratic leaders Of the South
are especially deserving Of censure.
They represent the character and intel
iigence OF the Democratic party as
against the Murphys, the McCarrens,
the Corners, the Sheehans. the Hills, the
Taggarts, the Sullivans OF the North.
All Of them we're opposed to his Dry
an's) nomination, yet only Senator John
ston went into his own State against the
election Of Bryan delegates, and he be-
gan too late"
The question az to whom the split In
the Democratic party Is primarily at
Observation-Disclosures to the gold or sill
yer Democrats is one that does not de-
serve notice Neither faction should BIO
regarded as deserving blame, for the
reason that the split came over a ques.
tion serious enough to Justify party di-
vision. A vast body Of citizens, all
equally patriotic, cannot be expected
to act together politically when a ques-
tion arises m which they differ among
themselves, and which at the same time
they regard as involving the honor as
we'll as the vital welfare of their coun-
try. And II is well that this is SO. IL
will be a sad day for the Republic when
any considerable body OF her citizens
puts party above country on such an
issue. Pursuing this point further, !
to say a word concerning Grover
Cleveland, In view of the bitterness
long exhibited toward him by many
Democrats. The South never
had a truer friend than Cleveland. Not
only did he show a liberal regard for her
welfare in the policies of his administra-
tion, and gladly accord her her rightful
place of dignity and influence in the ma
tional government, but he did not hest
In a day when the generation that
the Civil War had scarce passed It's
noon, and In defiance Of a powerful SEN
timent in the North, to all the Repub-
lies highest posts of honor and service
with soldiers and statesmen who had
been conspicuously identified with the
cause of the Confederacy. Let us hope
that the day will soon come when the
South will appreciate these facts
as 1t should and behold In a true light
integrity, the courage, the patriot
and the craftsmanship of Grover
Cleveland.
But rejecting upon past mistakes, Mr..
Editor, will avail nothing without a do
termination to profit by them In future
and to that aspect OF the case lot us now
turn.
The writer has that traditional at
iachment to the Democratic %arty which
makes a Southerner regard with repug- {
the thought Of a Southern state {
Republican in a national election.
such a feeling ought not to be al
owed to becloud the Judgment In a nat {
or that involves the welfare OF the {
south and her dignity as an important {
OF the Union. J wish it plainly I'M /
ierstood, however. before going further I
nto the subject, that what | am about Z
o say is not that any southern state G
'hoald become permanently Republican a
n national elections, but that II should
lnf heaifatn fn hao4anna On Ea. Az ALL