Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-12-13
Bryan VIII Eiaht.

MT. bryan leaves no doubt as Il
where he will stand in the coming
contest within his party.
He says in the plainest possible
terms that he will fight.
He has no more federation for stand
pattery in the democratic party than
for standpattery in the republican
party, and he declares that democratic
conservatism is only another name
for republican 'standpatism.
And Mr. Bryan Is right.
He is also, right in saying that there
Is today more formidable movement
to swerve the democratic party from
the line of progress than there was
in 1903. The interests are preparing
to capture 1t ana to prostitute it to
the service of Big Business. That is
beyond any reasonable dispute.
| But can this plot be carried to sue
cess? Can another Parker nomina-
ton be forced in 1912? VIII the pro-
gressives In the democratic party
again stand aside to give the reac-
tionaries a chance to show what they
can do?
In 1904 there was a disposition on
the part of the progressive democrats
to allow the conservatives to demon.
strate the power they claimed. 1t will
be recalled that the safe and saners"
insisted that the party had been
wrecked by Bryan and that if they
were given free hand they could re-
store it to its ancient prestige. Many
of Mr. Bryan's most ardent friends
felt that it would be good politics to
put the matter to practical test. And
this in fact was done. But never be-
fore in the history of the party was
its discontinue so complete and so
Illuminating as in this ignoble cam.
pagn.
IL can hardly be expected that the
progressives will show a like COM
plaisance in 1912. The one expert
ment was enough to convince them
that the democratic party is not re-
dictionary and that its voters will not
follow the flag unless 1t is carried in
proper hands in the right direction.
They will not give way a second time
to powers and influences which in 1904
were believed to be and are now
known to have been directly allied
with the predatory interests; and II
the worst should come to the worst,
means will be found for carrying for.
ward the democratic idea although the
democratic party may be straying far
afield in the service of plutocracy.
We are unaffectedly glad that Mr..
Bryan has so promptly and decisively
declared himself. We still regard him
as the great tribune of the people. He
is still the trusted leader of the rank
and file. He still possesses in full
measure the confidence and the affec-
ton of the unprivileged hosts who
have thrice followed him to glorious
defeat. The conservatives may lay the
fattering JUNCTION to their souls that
Bryan has passed" and that Bryan
ism is passing" But let them make
no mistake. Bryan is as much a force
in American politics as ever. He will
probably never again be called upon
to stand for office. But that does not
dispose of Bryan nor does it dispose
of the progressive policies for which
he has stood and for which he still
stands mistaken and unsuitable. The
war will go on and democratic stand
pattery must be prepared to face DEM
ocratic progressiveism in a final strug-
gle the issue of which can hardly be
considered doubtful. For reaction has
never yet been able to measure swords
with rogress.-Johnstown (Pa.) Daily |
Democrat.