What if the Bourbon Democrats could retain control of the Democratic Party, rather than having the populists and bimetallists take over? What would the short-term and long-term effects be of this?
As far as the short-term goes, would William Jennings Bryan run as the Populist candidate in the election? How would he do? Who would ultimately win the presidency? Who would the Democrats nominate the next time around in 1900, with Bryan out of the picture?
Long-term: would the Populists go on to become a viable third party? How would American politics over the next several years and decades be affected?
Also, as a matter of interest, I’ve been trying to identify American politicians during the twentieth century who would be part of a Bourbon Democratic Party…does anyone have any ideas in that regard?