New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-28
At TBE CALL OF THE PARTY

Mr.. Bryan's announcement i'm The Com
mOner' that the Democratic party's next fight
must be one 10 overthrow the protective system
ought TO interest those Democrats who have been
talking about going back TO the tariff issue in
order TO get rid of Organism. Only the other
day The New York Times advised the regen-
orators who are soon 10 meet ut Saratoga
Springs to stick close to the saving doctrine of
non-protective tariffs so as 10 get away from
free silver coinage, anti-imperialism, the initia-
tive and referendum, national ownership of all
the instrumentalites of interstate commerce. the
compulsory guarantee Of bank deposits the legal
iZation of the blacklist and the secondary boy
colt and other more or less paramount demands
TO which the Democratic party has been com
mitted under Mr.. BTyan's leadership AS he had
tried all these issues and lost with them, while
Mr.. Cleveland had won i'm 1892 on an anti-pro-
tectiOnist platform it was felt that a plausible
case could be made out for ~ recession 10
Clevelandism. Mr.. Bryan is an observing and
resOurceful politician. He may or may not have
read our former neighbours convincing argu-
ment But he has acted as if he fully appre-
ciated its force. and when the Saratoga regenera-
tors assemble next month they will find that Mr.
Bryan has outfoOted them 10 their destination and
has added 10 his already ample wardrobe OF JEFF
fersOnian stage properties the mantle of Mr.
Cleveland
Necessity cOmpelS strange associations in poll
tics No one would have thought year ago
that Il mOdUS UirCHdi between Organism and
Cleyelandism was possible The Nebraska leader
had repudiated most of Mr.. Cleveland's ideas
and policies. Those which he did not assall he
treated with studied neglect. But the unex-
pected insurgency OF Mr.. Bailey and the neo-
Randallites AZ the recent session of Congress
completely altered the situation. They rebelled
against what they called the Cleveland pro
gramme Of free raw materials. and denounced il
as un-DemOcratic. But they alsO repudiated the
tariff declarations Of the Democratic national
platform OF 1908. which Mr. Bryan wrote. and
their attitude a direct challenge 10 him as
the leader Of the party. Mr.. Bailey did not
hesitate TO say that the tariff policy Of the De
mocracy must he de-Bryanized as we'll as de-
Clevelandized.
That association Of names represented an as
sOcation of interests If the South. now largely
proteetionist in sentiment. was 10 be organized
in support Of the new Bailey policy, Mr. Bryans
hold on il would be shaken. for Mr.. Bailey and
bis allies are pronounced opponents of Bryan.
To retain his control Of the party the Nebraska
leader would therefore be obliged To unite the
East and the Middle West and he would nat
urally be inclined TO seek the aid of the Eastern
Democrats. who. in the main. have chung 10 Mr.
Cleveland's multiplication policy.
AAieT Il ptTlOu or lnOeNlSlOn ana gentle remOn-
STRANGE the editor of The CommOner' has de-
cided 10 take up the gage thrown down By the
Baileyites. He sees that he must declare him
self and fight the prOtectionist insurgents TO a
finish. He therefore says:
Whenever Democrat begins 10 defend pro-
lection he throws away his arms and joins the
ranks OF non-combatants. Taxation should be
for revenue only Taxation OF the many for the
benefit Of the few is robbery under the form of
law. whether it is invoked 10 aid the manufact-
urers Of the East or the producers Of raw ma
terial in the West and South. Tariff reform by
the friends Of protection has turned out 10 be a
fraud Tariff reform by protectiOnist Democrats
would be just as disappointing
Mr.. Bryan has also only the kindest words
for the Democratic attitude in 1892. when we
attacked the principle of protection" He says
he wants 10 renew that fight, and only mOdesty |
fOrbids his adding that he is the proper man 10 |
lead il. If the chief concern of the Saratoga
Springs conference is TO push the tariff issue to
the fore in Democratic politics it cannot do bet |
ter than 10 invite Mr.. Bryan 10 shape its actvi-
lies and inspire its deliberations.