Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-11-20
BRYAN a STAND pArrER

: The Defeated commoner Finds Com.
fort in Election Returns
Bidding his followers not to despair
but press on in the fight, W. J..
Bryan declares he takes comfort in
the result Of the election, and is
not cast down. He says the Demo
ioratsout of office have done more tina
the Republicans in office during the
last twelve years, and that is some
satisfaction. The last issue OF the
Oommoner contained Mr.. Bryan's owl
ideas Of the election and his plans
: for the future. He said:
"The election of 1908 Is over and
the returns disclose a signal victory
for our opponents, but the principles
Tor which our party stands, the pol
icdes for which our party contends
these are not dead. A good PROPOSE
ton - not made bad by rejection at
the polls. A needed reform rs not
made unnecessary by an adverse vote
The LEGISLATION asked for by the Dem
ocratic party in Its last national plat
form was not of a temporary charac-
teri was legislation which will be
Of permanent advantage when It is
secured.
g Does anyone believe that the
American people will permanently pei
NIT secrecy as to campaign co0tribu-
tons? Does anyone believe that the
American people will permanently PEI
unit the will of the voters to be
thwarted, as it is now, by the cleo
ton of senators through legislatures?
Does anyone believe that the trusts
will be permitted to permanently ex-
plot the masses? Does anyone be-
.1ieve that the consumer will perma-
,nently permit the tariff to be writ
Q ten by the beneficiaries of that tar
iff? Does anyone believe that the
public will permanently tolerate es-
arrangement between labor and CAPT.
tal2 Does anyone believe that the
fifteen millions of depositors will
forever permit their savings to be
.jeopardized as at present? Does any
one believe that the extravaganza of
the government will go on forever un
checked? Does anyone believe that
our republic will permanently con-
sent to colonial policy with its
humiliations and financial burdens?
There must be a party represent
, ing the peoples protest against the
wrong in high places, against cOrrup-
ton in politics and against the OPP
.pressiOns of the struggling masses,
and the Democratic party must con-
tinue its fight or dissolve. It could
not exist as a plutocratic party.
During the last twelve years the
more out of power than the Repubh-
Democratic party has accomplished
can party has accomplished in Of
} fice,. and this is a sufficient reward
for those who fight for a righteous
cause: It would have been pleasant to
have been able to reward worthy Der
ocrats with official positions; they
are looking for good government, and
they labor unselfishly for the promo
ton Of good government. They will
Neither be discouraged nor dismayed
by defeat. They cannot cease to be
interested in the government, for
e Indifference would only invite worse
abuses than those from which we
now suffer. The fight must be con-
.tnued because a good government is
the richest legacy that a parent can
leave to child.
"As for myself, let no one worry
about my future. The holding of Of
flee is a mere incident in the life
of those who are devoted to reforms.
The reform is the essential thing. If
one can advance reforms by holding
office, then the holding of office is
. justifiable; if one can best advance
reforms as a private citizen, then The
holding of office is undesirable.
The world owes me nothing;
have been abundantly compensated fC
whOt have been able to do. My life
will not be long enough to repay the
people for their support. and for
me confluence winch tney nave eX-
9 pressed. My gratitude to those with
whom / have labored surpasses Ian
guage and the days of the future
will be devoted to work in the inter.
est Of the people as l understand tina
interest, and in behalf of those re-
forms which seem to me to be the
G best. 7 invite the cooperation OF
those who approve, and l shall not
be. deferred by the criticism of thos
who disapproye.
with an abiding faith in the tri
umph of the truth and an unfalterins
confidence in the righteousness Of our
. cause, L speak this word Of encour
o0omonf IN fhoco rrho coll than coIvn