The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-06-25
of imperiaIism.

! In 1900. on this new issue, and as
usual epitaphs were written over his
political grave. II is favorite par
lor game; but Bryan never stays
dead, because there is something en-
tduring in him. What is II? That
same spokesmsnship for the average
man of many regions, the man of the
little parlor with the melodeon or
parlor organ, the. plush bound photo
graph album and the History of the
San Francisco Earthquake" bought
by subscription from a book agent,
and the grandfather's clock in the
corner of the hall.
But i'm 1904 the Dem ocratic lead.
ers, tired of defeat, turned desperate
ly to the opposite wing of the party
The radical leaders, really opportun-
lists foreswore or hid their convic-
tons for the sake of victory. tried to
teach their unskilful tongues the
language of conservatism, and Joined
in with the conservatives in the nom
ination of Parker. But Bryan did
not yield; he foreswore nothing, hid
nothing, and he fought lonely
fight, the bravest of his life.
Bryan Fights Against Parker.
His fight was one man against a
multitude. Alone. he had to be every
where; he was in the Committee on
Resolutions, in the Committee on
Credentials. on the floor of the Con-
vention. speaking fighting, working.
twenty hours day. He had no one
to help him: all his fellows we're on
the other side, strangling their con-
victions and fighting against him. He
was insulted on the platform, even by
fellow-radicals; he was elbowed aside
and snarled at by men who had been
more radical than himself; attempts
were made to deny him a hearing.
Nothing could daunt him or perturb
him; he fought on till Parker was
nominated, went to his hotel at dawn
as the Convention adjourned. and fell
into his bed in utter collapse. A doc
tor was summoned, who said that
Bryan must instantly give up all
work and undergo treatment.
That evening the news came that
Parker had refused to run unless the
word gold" was written into the
platform, the convention was thrown
into panic, the sick man arose from
his bed and entered the wild and tur-
bulent hall, white-faced, breathing
with difficulty. sweat pouring down
his face and there took up the work
again, single-handed still he fought
on all night and was again defeated,
and went into the doctors hands. |
Those speeches in that convention
were really the greatest of his life |
tho they may not read as we'll as
others, each of them was battle.
Parker's defeat by Roosevelt again
erased that ever recurring epitaph |
over Bryans political grave. 1t was
evident at once that nothing could |
prevent him from a gain being the |
in 1908. Again he was de-
'eated, and again the epitaph VS. ju-
oilently written. He VS. extinguished,
ne would never again be an influence
n the party: it was, to use the phrase
If 1895 1900 and 1904 "the end Of
Bryan
Again the epitaph had to be eras-
ID. He was so far from being extin-
,uished that he became the domin-
lting force in the convention of 1912.
There is no doubt in the mind of
he writer, who was there, that Bry-
IN had given up all hope of running
President, for as he had expressed it
n a thrilling midnight speech at that
he recognized at last that
lie had too many enemies ever to
expect to win. But he did determine
D De king MAKER IL ne cOuiu HOt
,e a king, and king-maker he was.
Dominated the 1912 Campaign
Not even the convention of 1904
howed Bryan in better light as a
lighter than that of 1912. He was de-
ermined that the reactionaries
hould not control the convention.
1t the beginning he was defeated,
tut defeat never affected Bryan in
he least in all his life. and this time,
IS usual, he only went on fighting.
When the convention rejected him
or temporary chairman and elected
parker, the embodiment of all he OPP
'osed, he merely took a fresh hold
nd fought harder.
When he swung Nebraska from
,hamp Clark to Wilson he had won,
md theafter Wilson's nomination
vas only a question of time. He was
he center of violent scenes, as when
naddened men swept down upon him
nd, ohnoLx th al r OF a m a a rds in hia fa ga |