American Presidency.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 209, 7 September 1904, Page 4

American Presidency.

o JUDGE PARKER'S INDEPENDENCE. A remarkable incident has increafied the interest of the Democratic Convention assembled at St. Louis to nominate a candidate for the Presidency. The majority of delegates present intended to voto for the Insertion of a clause in the proigiramme accepting a gold standard, when a firy speech from Mr, Bryan

warned them that they might theretoy lose the " silver!to " vote, and they decided on a compromise. They left out all mention of the currency "question. Mr. Alton Brooks Parker, Chief Justice of New York Stale, was thon nominated ae candidate of the entire party by a two-thirds majority, and the news was telegraphed to him while living at his country home. Instead of accepting, however, Mr. Parker at once telegraphed back that he considered the gold standard had been " irrevocably " adopted by the Union ; that if he became President ho should act 0 n that decision; amd that if the convention disapproved that course they must select another candidate. The managers of the party were thunderstruck by this exhibition of independence ; ,but after private discussions which lasted for four hours, and another speech from Mr. Bryan, they yielded, accepted Mr. Parker's decision, and confirmed his nomination iby an increased majority.

A HARD FIGHT. The effect of Mr, Parker's action upon his party throughout the Union has been electric. Th&y were aware to a vague way that Justice Parker was a man of character, (U.tit they had not expected lnim t 0 display slieh decision and energy, and they welcomed him a s a man lit for the highest position i a Ms country. He is, they say, " a new and grand asvet for the Union." Even tho "silverites" will, it is believed, now voto for Mm; and it is recognised on all hands that the contest, which it was provi o usly supposed would lie a "walk over," will'be a very serious une. The Republicans are astonished, and, as w» note with some surprise, a little dismayed. Tho truth, of course, is that in a democracy the people expect a leader to lead, and not to sit on the fence and wait to see on which side opinion is the stronger. They are often misled by clover manoeuvring, .but they never respect it. We wish it were possible to impress that great truth upon all llritish politicians, and especially Sir. balfour, who now occu. pies just tine position which the managers of the Democratic Party thought so astute, but from which they were driven the moment their nominee uttered his whole mind.