The Washington herald., 1908-08-18
POLITICAL COMMENT.

rule2'' Is already answered, and II says:
Mr.. Bryan bases his campaign upon
the query; SHAH the people ruler He
implies by his >questior that the people I
do not rule. but that if he were elected
President he would see 10 it that they
did rule
"An will admit that in a republic the
most essential principle OF al is that the
people rule. If left 70 an unbiased bal
lot to-day, however. how would the
100000 voters answer the question If
they are not already ruling2 Did they
ever rule more securely or certainly than
they do now2 Would a majority Of these
100000 men stand Up and confess that
they are not ruling. but that they are
permitting somebody else. some mythical
beings in the background, 10 rule over
their heads2
Hardly. There never was a time ia
any country when what the people
wanted received so great attention as
II does IN the United States in this year
1905. Popular demands have had greater
weight al Washington and IN most % the
State capitals n the past few years than
they ever received. Why the very fact
that 50 great attention has been given
to these demands FOR all kinds sf popu-
lar legislation has been heralded by GER
tain interests as the chief reason for the
business depression"
The New York World, speaking Of Mr..
Bryan's speech Of acceptance, says:
Mr.. Bryan promises not revolution
but reformation. He says he attacks the
wrongs OF business. and not business it.
self He believes that the bad can be
destroyed without injury 70 the good He
cratic party as instruuentalities ry
means Of which these ends may be
reached Where a Roosevelt failed, he
sees no hope Of success for a Tafc- on
this point Of party fitness and personal
fitness. therefore, he makes the issue,
promising a detailed discussion later on
OF the tariff, the trusts. the railroads. che
banks. labor, imperialism. waterways.
and other questions Of Importance
The Kansas City Journal seems 10 see
I IN 91r. Bryan's speech Of acceptance that
/ he has not changed much from the radl-
calism Of a decade ago. II says
I'VE heard a good deal not long ago
about a new Bryan. a sobered and
broadened Bryan. whose youthful en-
! thusiasm had given way % the sedate-
I judgments OF middle age But there is
/ no evidence II this speech OF acceptance.
any more than in his former deliverarces.
{ that Lr. Bryan has learned anything
. from experience. that he IS more 20 be
E trusted now than ts--- with the manage
me-t Of the nations affairs He Is 10
safer and no saler than Ee was when
be led his first assault upon the financial
+ stability OF the country The same Old
] catch-peuny methods OF argument are
used. the same old class appeals made
I The free trader is promised relief from
. tariff hurde-s-' the social-stically inclined
+ is promised his just share o. tie pro
Z ceeds Of L.s roI-' the corporation balce,
/ has plenty Of pabulum with which 70 1eel
Fat his ancient g-ldge.
The Kansas City Times thinks IL Quit.
natural that IN his speech of acceptance
aIr. Bryan should seek 70 proft by n.
omissions 3 the Chicago platform Il
says
Naturally 1Ir. Bryan seeks 20 pro1
by the omissions Of -he Chicago plat
form Naturally, TOO. as q politician h0
does not want Lr. Taft 90 secure crell
for his personal aurl.Icauou Of tEa
platform Therefore III. Bryan. in on
e those convenient adjustments 20
which De IS famous. takes Jle Erouu,
that "a candidate for Office j. bound bl
his partys platform. not only I'm wha
it says, but as 20 what Sc OuiJs II thl
be true. then not only a Presidential can
diGate but also President would b
restricted il his activities by the G=cla-a
tons Of the party 20 which he belongs
This view e truly absurd IN view OF q
fact that the Constitution Cf the Unite
States. which defines the functions Of N
President does not contemplate 5ltI=
party conventions or party platforms
President who would have all his wor
mapped OuI for him by party plagforr
would have little need TO address Con
gress, except by way Of transmitting I
It. for its refreshmeut the platform G
the party in power
The Baltimore American thinks TIA
; Mr.. Brysn's speech OF acceptance is uk
I the voice Of a man lost in the sand
wastes OF no-success. II says
{ Mr.. Bryan recommended 10 the Reput
. licaus wilderness-Handering as good di
- cipliEe. His speech Of acceptance boz
i every mark Of being the product OF
e man lost in the sandy wastes OF nor
success 4 person who Invariably fail
7 invariably acquires the stamp Of fai.u-
That stamp is as clear 70 the eyes
/ others as Il IS apt 10 be hidden frci
the eyes of Bryan himself The Amer
can people are not disposed 70 Sir
e any measure of consideration 90 one Tyt
70 comes 10 them with the haccid commel
p that u view OF the fact that he has tails
! I twice as a candidate, his selection Tor
third time must be proof positive IN
the country very much yearus Tor hir
r. This Is so silly 70 those who take a.
e count cf the breakdown Of the Dem
r. cratic party under Bryan leadership h
e Il IS absolutely amazing that M Brya
!. political egOtist that he IS. could ent
such plea for support AIr- Bryan is
wilderness candidate. and that Is all
+ ever VIII be. he had the foolhardine
l. TO lead his party into the desert
J. strange doctrine. and he cannot set the
5. out Of the predicament If he would ;
r. is a man of mirages- he IS hopeless
= under the illusion Of the senses
y sees cases all about him when they a-
y in fact. a thousand miles away and r
ragged in the rose-tilted skies Of his ov
political fancy. Imagine the AmerlC;
people in this era OF sanity following su
a man
The New York Tribune tells its rsade
r, that Mr.. Bryan-s speech is made up
= sophistry and attempts 70 forecast he
'1 ably Mr.. Tai, viii carry out the p0lici
begun by Mr. Roosevelt It says
y My. Bryan's argument that the R
a publican party has been IN power. wi
:, the exception OF two administrations ev
y since the civil war and that. therefor
the economic abuses that exist are d
IT 10 the Republican party and 1t IS incap
bic Of remedyfng them, is sophisticaI. T
vast concentration Of capital. with
abuses. is q recent development. ex1e1
I ing only over a period in which the Dem
II cratic party has been il power half.