New-York tribune., 1896-09-30
WORDS AND BRAINS.

Mr. Bryan is phrasemaker, but that Is not
the reason his audiences begin TO evaporate soon
after he begins to speak. SO far as II goes HIS
moderate capacity In this line Is useful 10 hlIh'
talking as he commonly does to people VINO
would naturally be allured by the devices OF the
rhetorician 1t Is because there is generally not
much sense, and sometimes none at all. Dehlhu
his verbal combinations that intelligent hearers
quickly get all they want. This campaign IS re-
markabe for the number of epigrams II mas pro-
duced and scores of them. having sunk into the
public mind are performing continuous service
for the party of law. order and honesty. Major
Mckinley. in the wonderful series OF speeches
by which he is doing more to elect hlmseif thah
anybody else is doing to elect h,ln, makes al
mirable use of q rare talent for colnpresSlng an
argument into sentence. General HARRISON
great speech in this city was full OF such VIVA
expressions of truth as ''the first dirty erfand
"a dirty dollar does is to cheat the working
man: and "the prospect of Republican sue
cess never did disturb business" Mr. Bourke
Cochran likewise has well-earned reputation
as a master of epithet. which attracts the au-
ditors whom his higher powers OF nina convince.
And the same is true Of Speaker Reed and others
whom il is not necessary to name. Mr. Bryan
fails to sustain his cheaply earned reputation as
an orator because there is no substance worth
having behind his decorative phrases
The reference to campaign speakers who are
making brilliant successes while the POpocratlc
candidate is accomplishing monumental hasco
would be incomplete if ii did not include the Ke-
publican candidate for Governor of New-lork
There are these superficial points of resemblance
between the candidates. of Mr.. Bryan and MI.
Black that both the nominees are young that
each was in sense an accidental choice, and That
in one case a convention speech had something.
and in the other case everything to do with the
nomination. The likeness stops there we believe
Mr. Black who made a remarkably pungcnt ana
vivaciouS address as temporary chairman al
Saratoga is confirming the favorable impression
Of his powers by campaign speeches as 1mpreg-
nable in logic as they Gre striking in form. Among
the sentences in his sparkling defamation be ore
the Republican delegates which gave no aid or
comfort to the enemy were these: NO money
"is sound which has as one Of its characteristics
IAN intention to cheat; and "a dollar that willis
"when YOU take 1t to salt water IS too weak for
this robust Republic" His speech in this city
on Monday night proved that the felicites OF his
Saratoga address were not fOrtuitOns. 1t was
An impressive revelation of the quality which
Mr. Bryan Stimulates 1t brought the genuine
into vivid contrast with the spurious. The
fundamental truth which underlses the whole in
dustrial and financial argument has seldom been
better expressed than in these words:
We have no orgaI.ic trouble. but are slight
iy run down. and let not make the mist axe
of taking any free-silver patent medicines. What
we need Is not medicine. but exercise. If we mad
more to do should have less time to consider
how poorly off we are. The free-sver medicine
which is now offered will afford you relief.
Mexico has taken ii for years. and Of her condi-
t!on you have often heard. China and India, If
they could throw off the effects of it. would sub
ject themselves without complaint to the gold
cure. Strong are, we cannot stand the
medicine which has been given to them. But if
we could what should we gain? Does a strong
man take poison because he believes his power
is so great that II will not quite Kill him?
Mr. Black made al admirable speech in Car
negie Hail. and one Of the respects in which it
was most interesting and valuable its dem
onstration Of the difference between young can
ddate of intellect and convictions and young
candidate with little besides prejudices and
yOcabulary.