The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-29
IS HE A DEMAGOGUEs

In the opening speech of his closing series
in Chicago Mr.. Bryan undertook to defend
himself against the charge of being dema-
gogue. He said:
Your papers have called me a demago
Ii there is one thing L not it is a dema-
gogue. dehaagogue is Defined as a man
who advocates thing which he does not
peneVe. IN order to conciliate those who
differ from him. A demagogue is a man
whether he believes it or not which would
be advantageous to him and gain him popu-
iaridy. Now, my friends, | have never ad-
L did not myself believe.
No such definition of the word demagogue
is to be found in any dictionary. 1t is a
Bryan definition framed by him to suit
his own case and the object he had in view.
The international Dictionary, Webster $
Unabridged, defines the word as follows
A leader of the rabble; one who attempts
TO control the multitude by specious or de-
ceitful arts; an unprinciped and factious
MOP orator or political leader.
A more comprehensive and specific defini-
ton is that of the Century, Dictionary, as
follows:
An unprincipled popular orator or leader;
one who endeaVorS to curry favor with the
people or some particular portion of them
by pandering to their prejudices or wishes
or by playing or their ignorance or pas
sions; one who seeks to obtain political
power by pandering to the ignorance or
prejudice OF the populace.
This fits Bryan exactly His definition. a
free coinage of his own, implies that no
person is demagogue who sincerely be-
lieves what he advocates. "a demagogue
he said, lis man who advocates thing
which he does not believe in order to con-
ciliate those who differ with him." and he
added, Now, my friends l have never ad-
vocated during my public life anything that
/ did not myself believe" According to
this definition "Pitchfork' Tillman, who got
into the United States Senate by his earn
est and sincere advocacy of all the Popu-
listic heresies Of the day, is not a dema-
gogue. Governor Altgeld, who secured his
first election and is trying to secure Sec
ond by preaching sugar-coated anarchism
and telling people they are being robbed
and enslaved by the government is not a
demagogue if he believes what he says.
Dennis kearney. once the sand-lot agitator
of San Francisco was not a demagogue
because he did not advocate anything in
which he did not believe. Jack Cade, who
told his followers There shall be in Eng
penny; the three-hooped pot shall have ten
hoops; and / will make it felony to drink
small beer. All the realm shall be in COM
mon. And when 1 am King, as King L will
be, there shall be no money; all shall eat
and drink on my score" The world has
long held Jack a typical demagogue, but,
according to the Bryan definition, he was
not because he meant what he said. Of
course, the Bryan definition is false one
He did not dare to give a true definition
of the word because it would have fitted
him like his skin, so he coined one that did
not fit him. Bryan is a thorough dema-
gogue and all the more dangerous because
be believes much that he advocates though
he makes a great many statements which
he must know to be false. The meaning of
words is settled first by custom and usage
and then by the photographers. These
have settled the meaning of the word dema-
gogue, and Bryan cannot unsettle it to suit
himself. According to the common under
standing and accepted definition of the
word he is the greatest demagogue that has
ever appeared in this Countrywide Jack
Cade of American politics.