The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-27
EXFTNT BRYAN


Loss Of the leadership Of Democracy in Ne
braska, defeat at the hands of the whiskey in
ferests and reputation by those who followed
him in matters Of state only to forsake him
when moral issue had to be met, does not mean
the elimination Of William Jennings Bryan as
factor, influence and power in not only the
politics of his state hut that of the nation
We hold no brief for Mr.. Bryan. Nothing
happened at Grand Island that was unexpected
or was not predicted in these columns. but when
he goes down to defeat fighting for moral prin-
ciple such as was at stake in this convention,
We must say his sacrifice was honorable
and praise worthy 1t were better to 60 down 10
a thousand far more humiliating defeats than was
the wrestling of power from Mr.. Bryan while
cspousing a good cause, than 10 succeed to the
ultimate in advocacy of bad one.
The liquor issue must be met in Nebraska as
well as Elsewhere The problem which con
fronts the people is not must We deal with the
question, but how shall we best deal with it.
When Mr.. Bryan offered the plank, eve favor
country option as the best method of dealing
with the liquor question. he offered moral
truth, for which he was rewarded by outcasting,
denunciation and humiliation.
IF | have advocated that which is not good
for the State let me feel your wrath. If YOU
find | have done anything that Is not for the
good of the Democratic party. | do not ask your
mercy, said he to the assembled Democrats By
whom we knew he had been marked for slaughter
With full consciousness that his undoing was i'm
minent. that each and evry word he uttered II
advocacy of his county option plan dug hi;
political grave in the State but the deeper, he
had the courage of his convictions and the
strength of his conscience and continued tt
urge bis fellow Democrats to avoid the pitfalls o.
the past and TO meet the issue squarely. Fol
an hour and half, with the same eloquence will
which he had electrified those self same mel
time and TIME again, he entreated them TO adop
the plank which he felt must sooner or later b
written into the Nebraska platform. but the.
turned deaf ear upon his implorings. Ant
with what result.
"The Republican party and the Populist part
of this state have adopted county option; if yo
do not adopt it, it becomes an issue said Mr.
BRYAN in concluding his remarks.
And thus it is to-day that county option j
an issue in Nebraska and will continue to b
the issue until the liquor problem is solved,
And for his pains TO steer his party from
probable reefs, for his loyalty to a belief who's
truth needs but time TO prove, he is trampl
down, disowned and scoffed at as theorist ant
dreamer. No stronger corrobative proof of hi
charge that the whiskey interest had sold hin
out could be needed than the majority agains
his plank. Bryan man Nebraskans loved
respected and followed He has paid prett,
price for his conviction and his devotion to hi
State and party IN Nebraska What was rh
price of his selling out.
man who has dominated the Democratic
party in his State for twenty years and been th
haven for the national party for fourteen years
is not thus easily TO be gotten rid Of, Bryant
good principles, are bigger, broader than th'
Democrats of Nebraska, and they will prevail
when those who have sought to crush him hav'
I been forgotten.