The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-21
BRYAN MORAL INsURGENT.

There ought to be To mourning at the bar
among those who realize his highest utility to
the country upon the occasion ct William Jen-
ning's BRYAN passing ont Of the hsrbor OF parti-
san politics. His announcement that he Will not
support the nominee Of Nebraska Democracy for
tine gogernorship Oh account Of the conflict be
TWEEN his own and Mayor Dalhman's views on the
mora Issue Of liquor regulation Is merely the
inevitable action In such crsis-lonC clear 10
egery friend and student ot Bryan and his ways.
Some nlen are born 10 partisan ability; some are
born without the genius of organization as eX-
pressed I'm parties. Bryan Is Of the latter class.
lie is moral insurgcn1, for the party SO long Is
II squares with his convictions. against it when
LsS moral sense Is shocked All through his re-
Inarkahle career it has been this fundamental
independence inherent in the man which has
had most TO do with his defeat He has been
imperious and wilful in good causes be has been
utterly without that accommodating quality that
makes politician.
Nov that Mr. BRYAN has separated himself
from the party which he has led, it may per-
haps be said in all friendliness that it Is we'll
that the inevitable moment has arrived. As an
independent he can still exert his great and un
doubted moral influence. He can still follow hi,
f'@AAtA@oi
in the setting of ideals ahead of the times. He
can still he great American-greatcrt than he
has been for, the fact that his words and actions
will henceforth be coupled with no faint of self
u interest, with no suggestion of ambition other
than TO place his talents at the service of the
people. Mr.. Bryan has tried hard to be a poll
tleian. He has not had the stomach for the role
His moral character overrides his tactical genius
IL
to abide the conventional ethics of party LOYALTY
tie goes out of the party honored and regretted
leaving behind him much that is good, taking
with him the admiration of all men who arc
capable of recognizing honesty even in an op
ponent.
II were idle To say that Mr.. Bryan's course vii
not cause real regret among the majority oil
Democrats everywhere. 1t were idle to say
that his action is not i'll striking degree incon
sistent with his general teachings No man ha,
more strongly and persistently announced thu
doctrine OF party fealty based upon the arbitra
ment Of party ma iority. 1t will not be for
gotten that the whom Bryan now desert,
i the man to whom the primary in which Bryan
participated gave a plurality. II must not be
blinked that IN taking the course he has Mr.
Bryan has made himself technically traitor
not only TO his oft expressed principles bu
10 the method upon which reform sentiment can
ordinarily hope to make itself effective. in ON,
party or the other. Mr.. Brvan's zeal for wha
he considers right simply separates him from an,
and all parties. In our view he will be for tina
reason all the more valuable 10 the country al
large as great and inspiring leader calling
forth the best that lies in the hearts of the mel
who give to parties their worth and character
Saying so much it ought also 10 be carefully
noted that Nebraskan conditions that could have
called for such sacrifice on Mr.. Bryans part
a sacrifice involving political suicide. involving
the elimination of himself as factor in the great
party he has largely nfuenced--lnust be
conditions 10 raise the gorge Of decent men, 1t
onght to be noted that there is an undereurrent
Of moral sentiment that all parties must reckon
with 1t ought to illustrate the truth that the
rank and file Of parties are congealing upon de-
cency as a prerequisite to economic principle.
Where Bryan goes, thousands will follow. If
party organizations are to win and hold this
growing force of independents who look to
cleanliness before they look 10 political theory,
they must purge themselves and keep themselves
pnrged. They must know for certainty thai
political success, soon late, will be conditioned
I upon personal purity, in parties as well as in the
Ease of candidates
The Democracy can survive the detection of
Mr.. Bryan. More than that. his detection, so
lar as his own state is concerned, will emphasize
everywhere the new principle and the new basis
q party power and authority. There is a prin-
ciple greater than any in the economic code of
political organization Of any the principle
81 moral regeneration and progress. 70 this
parties must bow. Otherwise, they will not
much longer remain as parties, except in name.
MORSE