The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-01-23
Mr.. BRYAN RIGHTEOUSNESS HIS
DREAM OF THE PRESIDENCY

|
less aspirations for the presidency
The handwriting IN the wall is SO
iplain of President Wilson'S growing
popularity that Mr.. Bryan can not
help bot obse"-.e it. 1t goes now with
out saying that Woodrow Wilson will
be re-nominated and reelected for
the second time. That will bring his
retirement along about the year 1920
almost quarter of a century since
Mr. Bryan's first nomination at Chica-
go when he electrified the country
with his "cross of gold" speech.
Mr. Bryan it is claimed is content
because all the measures that he has
stood for for the last twenty years
are having a fulfillment in the ad-
ministration of Woodrow Wilson.
| He is said to have remarked that
lit matters little to him under whose
hands these ''hings have been brought
about so the country is benefited by
them.
That sounds like the talk of a pa
triot and We wish that it were histori-
cally true but are the things that Mr..
Bryan stood for finding enactment in
to laws under the administration OF
President Wilson?
In 1896 Mr.. Bryan's great slogan
| nf CT a
the ratio of 16to l."
At that time this paper was a
worshipper at Mr.. Bryan's shrine.
1t believed implicitly in his declara-
tons 1t would be almost cruel now
to quote from his speeches then. For
example: He told the farmers of the
country that the price of silver and
the price of wheat always remained
| the same. After delivering this dictum
or prophecy We saw wheat gradually
advance to a dollar a bushel and sill
yer fall to thirty-seven cents.
One looks in vain for the free coin
age of silver in the new currency
law Indeed We are further from its
| free coinage at any ratio now than
at any time in the nations history.
1t seems impossible to galvaniZe
it into new life. Even Mr.. Bryan has
not the courage to attempt to revive
it. 1t must take its place in the tomb
less silence of the dead issues of the
past.
Four years later when he again re-
ceived the nomination he made anti
imperialism the issue. 1t is claimed
by those in a position to know that
Mr. Bryan was more largely respon-
sible for the treaty with Spain that
gave US the Philippines and other in
sular possessions than any other man
in the United States. He was the great
leader of the party and was sure to
be its next nominee, when disregard
ing the remonstrances of his wisest,
most cautious and conservative sup
porters, he hastened to Washington
and advocated the adoption of the
treaty
So from that day to this we have
had a white elephant" on our hands.
When Mr.. Bryan returned from his
tour around the world and made his
famous speech in the Madison Square
Garden in New York city he boldly
declared himself in favor of Cover.
ment ownership of railroads and tele-
graph lines.
That issue held the stage for a
brief period of time, but now lies ap-
parently hopelessly entombed beside
10 to l."
The antitrust laws antedates Mr..
Bryans entrance into national promi-
nence; the free rural delivery belongs
to the parentage of Tom Watson; the
parcels post became a law under Mr..
Roosevelt.
The tariff measure that finds full
lfillment in the enactment of the I'm
derwood bill into law is as old as
democracy itself.
So what great measures bear the
stamp of Mr.. Bryan's genius that have
found fulfillment under the present
administration?
Mr.. Bryan has preached the gospel
of the prince of Peace" but surround
ed by his friends in the cabinet we
continue to build dreadnaughts and
make preparations to kill and Stay
in battle.