| Show A FACULTY OP OF leadership discussing mr bryans prospects for the leadership of the democratic party three years hence the springfield republican goes into a clever dissertation on political consistency that paste jewel that has never yet deceived the true statesman surely it is a jewel which makes up a very emall email part of the treasure of the average politician and there is no risk in suggesting that in order to secure success mr bryan need not always face the same way it was burke who said he could change his front without chang iny ins his ground and he did so go on at least one great question gladstone and salisbury and chamberlain are living examples of self reversal in policy and principle either from conviction or a purely thrifty motive bismarck is a notable trimmer yet one who has carried successful tul ful statesmanship further than almost any other man among leading americans we nave jefferson jafferson the Etric strictest test of constructionists buying louisiana without saying a word to congress 1 on gress or getting a particle of authority tho rity calhoun repudiating protection and becoming a as roon as the question of slavery became prominent while webster on the other hand renounced free trade and became a protectionist as soon as new england manufacturing took its first great start after the war of 1812 charles sumner delivered some of his grandest speeches against war yet in the alabama claims controversy alth with england he was ready and eager to fight on the spot of living americans mr carlisle was for free silver in 1878 but during several years past has been its bitterest opponent and mr cleveland who in 1892 defined the test of democratic loyalty and virtue as consisting of acquiescence in the decisions of the majority within the party came out in 1896 in support of a platform and candidate that was an out and out bolt from the regular bartys work mr bryan has therefore precedent enough for any change in attitude he may see fit to assume in nearly all these cases there has been no loss of political success moreover it may not even be necessary perhaps that he should abandon in toto the issue on which he made his last contest if that ceases to be the absorbing issue however the next leader will have to hunt up and hoist into prominence some other issue on which to face the country has mr bryan the sagacity and statesmanship to do that |
