Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-06

of the trailers after the great Nebraskatt
have in consequence extended to us either
the cold comfort Of their sympathy or
visited upon us the more grateful largess
Of their censure. Moved and instigated by
the Indianapolis News. Mr.. Bryan tells
the editor of that paper that he
ought TO know tina the Charleston
News and Courier IL not an exponent OF
democratic ideas. 1t calls itself democratic
without being democratic, Just as some
legislators call themselves representatives
when they are misrepresentatives. The
democratic idea Of representative govern
ment does not mean thst the representa-,
shall keep faith with those from whom
he derives power; but II the representative
has to choose between effacing himself and
effacing his constituents he had better Ell
face himself"
and so on, and so on.
We have high authority for saying that
"a platform can only bind those who run
upon it," In 1892 the national democratic
convention nominated Grover Cleveland for
president. One Of the blanks In the plat
form Of the party that year was an un-
equivocal declaration for the repeal of the
10 per cent tax on state banks. Two years
later, or to be exact, in June, 1894, William
Jennings Bryan, then a member of the
house Of representatives, voted with the
republicans against the repeal of this tax,
although the democratic platform upon
which Mr.. Cleveland had led the party TO
victory demanded it's repeal. Not only did
Mr.. Bryan vote with the republicans
against the repeal Of this tax, but he spoke
against 1t, saying among other things:
1T has been stated that every democrat
is in duty bound to vote for the repeal Of
the state bank tax because OF the plank
relating to that subject adopted by the last
demnCTaffC national rOuNautinD. A Dlat-
form can only bind those who run upon It,"
In explanation Of his course Mr.. Bryan
said he was nominated for congress before
the adoption of the platform, had repudi-
ated II in the campaign, and, besides, the
democrats in his district were not in favor
of the repeal OF this tax. This incident In
the political career of Mr.. Bryan was used
recently to very good account by Senator
Simmons Of North Carolina in reply to
Mr.. Bryan's impertinent criticisms of his
course on the lumber question. In 1892
Senator Simmons was state chairman of
the North Carolina democracy. and for
most of the time since that year he has
been the official head of the party in his
state. Talking to H.. z. c.. Bryant of the
Charlotte Observer. whose pen name is
Red Buck" "a very excellent brand of
corn whisky. by the way, which used to
b0 sOlu at HdltlBh'J oolldNOI ClHlllOIs sdlu
about Mr.. Bryan and his criticism of the
senator's course:
! have not led the party into any pitt
falls and 1 have always let 1t to victory.
| have followed Mr.. Bryan for twelve
years, and always to defeat and disaster.
During that time we have had more than
once to utterly repudiate his teachings and
preachments to save the party from disas-
ter and ruin.
OF course, we do not know what posi-
ton Mr.. Bryan will take next; he keeps
us guessing all the time as to what we
should do or should not do to keep in
touch with him. His double wabble on
political questions would confuse even the
elect. We reprint today what Mr.. Bryan
says In The Commoner on the subject OF
the majority and the minority, and on this
question he appears to be entirely at va
Rance with the theory upon which our
government is founded. There are. as he
says, two kinds of government-govern-
ment by the majority and government by
the minority. As a matter Of fact, the
government OF this country is largely a
government of the minority, else why is It
that the states as such are equally repre-
scented In the highest legislative branch Of
the government, namely. in the United
States senate, not according to population,
VI HoJOliNy' l thpTcSS IL III announcer way,
but by the states themselves as well de-
fined political entities. We have long
since rejected, particularly in this part Of
the country, the doctrine OF universal man
hood suffrage, and, by the same token, the
doctrine of government by the majority.
Yet we allow this political fakir to vote
against the repeal OF the 10 per cent tax
on state banks, although that repeal was
demanded by the platform OF the national
democracy, and cotton to his sentiment
that because free lumber is demanded in
the platform which he formulated for the
party 1t Is treason to the party to exercise
upon the acceptance Of this doctrine the
right Of private judgment precisely the
right which he asserted for himself when
he found himself in antagonism to the de-
mands of his own party's platform.
And now comes the New York World
with misunderstanding comment upon Mr..
Bryan's reputation Of The News and
Courier. saying:
democrats out OF the party we are glad he
has turned his attention to the south.
where there are votes to spare. In the
north so many democrats have been read
out OF the party that they have ceased 10
exist in many sections. and survive else
where only through the benevolence of the
- NAbo' STaEbHs
We can understand what that means.
The World evidently wishes to encourage
Mr.. Bryan in his reputation OF The News
and Courier, and we shall not submit with
out a most vigorous protest. Have we not
nominated Mr.. Bryan for the presidency In
1912, in 1916, I'm 1920, and shall we be de-
prlved of the privilege of supporting this
great tribune Of the people for the office
for which he is In no way fitted, simply
because he does not think that The News
and Courier Is IAN exponent Of democratic
ideas?"' May we not say TO him as Ruth
said TO Naomi: "Entreat me not to leave
Z thee, or to return from following after
thee; for whittier thou goest I will go?n
Shake up now? Not a bit OF II II we can
help 1t, Mr.. Bryan. We do not like your
democracy, indeed, we DO not believe that
} you ever were a democrat. but our party
has placed upon you the seal OF its ap.
proval for many years. and we are going
to stick to you 10 the last. Pray God the
last may come speedily.
security In Travel.
New York World.