New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-22
THE MYSTERY OF 1905"

Mr. BRYAN seems disposed to conduct a politl-
cal post-mortem which is to show on whose
shoulders must be laid the blame for the loss OF
"the third battle Over in Russia the nominal
head of the army institutes court martlals Whlch
have the power to sentence TO death subordinate
commanders suffering defeat. Mr. Bryan mas
been In Russia and seems disposed TO adopt the
Russian scapegoat system He is going to try
Mr. Murphy lust as the Car tried General
StoesseI and Admiral Rojestvensky. II Is great
convenience to have an unpopular organization
like Tsmmany or discredited leaders Ike Messrs-
Murphy McCarren, Guffey and Roger Sullivan
10 punish for mIscarriages of manifest destiny
like the last Bryan campaign If they VII only
stand still and be sentenced historical ponsi-
bilitv for a great disaster can be definitely fixed
OF course. Mr. Bryan cannot imagine that he
was in any way responsible for the failure OF
the Democratic party He speaks of the outcome
of the election as ''The Mystery of 1908. 1t is
almost as impressive to hear him talk about the
preternaturalism Of his defeat as it used TO De
to hear Senator Stewart Of Nevada, talk about
the mysteries of The Crime of 80" That crime
was committed under the eyes Of the Nevada
Senator. He participated in ii. although as ne
contends invountarily and hypnoticaIly. Mr..
BRYAN was In the thick of the campaign Of 1908.
Yet he is equally at a loss 10 fathom It's causes,
and he purposes filling the columns of The
Commoner' with direct and hypothetical ques-
tions addressed to Democrats under suspicion,
and plainly intends the inquest TO last until l9lZ
The Democratic leaders investigation Will
have the widest scope He will try to find out
why he ran worse than ex-Judge Parker IN Con-
necticut and New Jersey, as we'll as In New
York He will want to know why he lost two
electoral votes in Maryland. while Mr.. Parker
lost only one Why did he run behind the vote
of four years ago In Kentucky. Georgia, Virginia
and North Carolina? Why did he lose Missouri.
once a stronghold Of Organism? If he is intent
On getting all the facts he ought 70 welcome
piece Of testimony offered by one of the most
untiring of his supporters in the recent canvass
Major Hemphil of The Charleston News and
Courier" Said Major Hemphill the other day
During three days trip in the state not one
expression Of regret that the Democratic ma
tional ticket was defeated was heard by rep
conversed with gentlemen who live in a dozen
different South Carolina cities and towns II
such be the feeling in state where fifteen years
ago the election of a Republican to be President
was looked upon q peculiar menace to the
Southern people there is slight ground for Won
der that Mr.. Bryan failed stgnally 10 make gains
IN the North.
II the people in the states which gave Mr..
Bryan their electoral votes were not in the least
disappointed at his defeat, why should he charge
the leaders in other states with lethargy and
treachery? If there had been a free vote the
issues actually involved in the contest between
Mr. Taft and Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. Taft would have
carried Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina.
That is feature Of The Mystery Of 1909 which
should not be overlooked by the editor of The
Commoner." BY 1912, it is to be hoped, the sit
uation in the South will be so improved that
voters there will not support candidate whom
they really prefer TO go down In defeat