New-York tribune., 1896-10-20
THE BRYAN BIBLE.

There are Bibles and Bibles. There is the
Vinegar Bible and the BrecchcS Bible. There
Is also the Wicked Bible. containing advice cal
culated 10 scandaliZc al good people. The
fame of these books rests on their Topographic
cal character. The new Bryan BibIc-for there
is Il Bryan Bible-is probably perfect III text
bat II Will bc noteworthy. nevertheless AMI
not the least noteworthy because OF the cloSc
+, resemblance il might appropriately have {" the
Wicked Bible. All that Is necessary is To
leave out a few different negatives 10 make it
exactly lit the creed OF the man whose fol
lowers delight 10 call him the New Messiah"
The "Woman's National Democratic League"
has just held a meeting M Mr. Sinjuns head
quarters in the Hotel Bartholli and examined
the Bryan Bible which they intend 10 send To
the VIII OF the Polocraic candidate with an
address eXtolling the inspired character NJ the
candidate himself. The book. of course. though
given 10 Mrs. Bryan. il. like the testimonial.
meant for the benefit Of Mr. Bryan. The gifi
il intended 10 be an impressive example of III"
way the religious people are turning to the
Popocraiic calse and entering into holy cru
sade. Bible In hand. for free silver. II is en-
trely in line with the course pursued by the
candidate from the time he nominated himself
with his 'cross of gold" and crown Of thorns
metaphor and went about mispuotIng Scripture
and making blasphemous comparisons between
himself AMI the Founder Of Christianity. The
women who II; We brought forward the Bryan
Bible say: I'VE regard the Honorable Will
liam jennings Bryan IA the divincly appointed
Header who * effectively sounding The truIn-
pet of liberty and patriotism which calls the
"industrial masses OF the United States 10 the
polls in order To save our Nation from the
"mischcvous designs of public Opprcssors."
That declaration raises the campaign ont of the
realm Of politics into tie clouds of religion \
"divincly appointed leader, of course Is sill
pcror 10 all the petty cXnctions OF logic. truth
az understood by the uninspir"d. or the Com
mnndmcnts as handed down from old time.
II Is well enough for women dcvOtccs to present
to their new high priest n Bible and talk Of
"ioyfully repeating the Impershablc song OF
Miriam Of old. Sing yc 10 the Lord. for lie has
"triumphcd glorIOusly." AS likely rs not the
Mormons with religious fcrv6r. sang how the
Lord had triumphcd glorously after the Noun
tain Meadows massacre and il is by no means
improbable that some OF the ladies of Dcscrct
presented Bible % their great leader. or
one Of his wives. which lie valued. and per-
haps quoted from with Bryancsquc vcrboslty.
Bui for all that the Brigham Young Bible was
not the Ming James version OF tne scriptures,
and neither Is the Bryan Bible.
If anybody gets hold OF n Bible rewritten TO
fit Mr.. Bryans doctrine and practice he will
find IL reads something like thls Thou shalt
take the Iame OF the Lord thy God I'm vnn'
Thou shalt steal" Thou shat bear false wit
ness against thy nc'ghbor" Thou shalt covct
thy neighbor's Louise and everything that is
his" From the beginning until now the Popo-
hitherto unheard OF blasphcmy and free use
of sacred names. The campaign speakers have
talked like religious mnnlncs in their familiar
addresses TO the powers of Heaven. Mr.. Bryan
has gone about telling people that they could
help themselves by robbng their creditors OF
half the debts due them. He and his followers
have borne false witness against advocates OF
the gold standard at every opportunity, put
speeches into their mouths which they never
made. misquoted their other utterances. forged
documents and tampcred with extracts from
public records. Then. 10 cap the climax, he has
preached TO the people hate Of their fellows,