The San Francisco call., 1896-07-22
w. ]. BRYAN AS A CITIZEN.
CANDID ESTIMATE OF HIS CHARACTER, QUALIFI-
CATIONS AND EXECUTIVE CAPACITY.


pS,io New y YORK; July 15:-To Edward Rosewater,
Editor OF the Bee: VIII you greatly oblige the
World by telegraphing Us a candid estimate Of Mr..
bIyAhs aDlIty, character and convictions on
other political questions as well as silver? Apart
from tne siver issue. on which the World shares
your views, what kind of sn executive would Mr..
Bryan make? Did he take an active part in the
management OF the Word-H erald, and IL So how
was his influence exertedY AS an editor and law
yer how does he stand with respect to corpora
lions! w nat sort OF practice had he? What le-
gai experience? Is he generally regarded in
Onana as man OF SOUND judgment? Please re-
member that the East knows nothing about him
ana Is exceedingly Interested. We would like TO
PuDhsh your dispatch signed. THE WORLD.
OMAHA, July 16, 1ss6.-To the World, NeiC
York: Within the short space of one week
William Jennings Bryan has emerged from
comparative obscurity to find himself the SUBJ
Ject OF National solicitude and international
discussion and speculation. With his name
on every tongue, his portrait in all the papers,
ana his movements and utterances given with
minuteness to the country by Associated Press
dispatches and special correspondents, Bryan
hes suddenly loomed into the horizon as one
OF the two foremost figures in the great Ma
uonal drama that is about To be played on
Americas political stage. The story of his
early life, his academic training, apprentice
ship as lawyer, his forensic triumphs in the
sehoolhouse and on the political rostrum, his
career In Congress and intrusion into the
arena OF journalism have furnished ma
terlsl Tor the people who absorb with
ayidtty all that is said and written con-
corning the man who captivated great Ma
uonal convention with his elouuence and
carried away the laurel crown for which the
greatest OF his party's leaders had been striv-
ing. With all that has already been published
concerning Bryans physical and mental make
up, his habits and his associations, the popu-
lar conception OF the man is vague, and the
World is therefore we'll justified in asking me
to supply some data for true estimate of his
ability, character and capacity for filing the
high Office to which he now aspires.
Without pretending to have an intimate ac-
quaintance with Mr.. Bryan, my opportunities
for gauging the man have been ample. Meas
ured by the standard OF men truly great, Will.
liam jennings Bryan viii scarcely take rank
with eminent political leaders of the Demo-
cratic school such as were Steph en- A. Douglas,
John c. Breckinridge, Horstio Seymour, Allen
q. Thurman, Thomas A. Hendricks, samuel J.
Randall, TO say nothing OF samuel ]. Tilden,
Thomas +. Bayard or David B. Hill While
gifted with oratorical powers of a high order,
Bryan, lacks both depth and breadth. He
is popularizer of other mems ideas rather
than an original thinker, and has a catchy
way OF presenting his subjects 10 an audience.
He lie consummate actor, whose forte lies in
appeals TO sentiment and emo tion rather than
in arguments and sound reasoning. He is a
born agitator, who never hesitates TO employ
the weapons OF the demagogue to make q
point. Bryan's most vulnerable part is his
lack OF moral stamina and utterindifference 10
the maintenance of public integrity. While so
far as know his private character is unim-
peachable, he has never raised his voice or
used his pen in denunciation OF hagrant abuses
of public Office or betrayal of public trust, but,
on the contrary, has permitted the paper of
which he is ostensibly the responsible editor
TO CLOSE over and defend entertainments in
public office, gross Official negligence and cor
rupt collusion with public plunderers, even
where the offenders were foisted into Office as
Republicans
From the professional standpoint Mr.. Bryan
may be considered dismal failure. His legal
practice has never amounted to anything
worth mentioning His venture in the news
paper business has not been regarded as
serious in these parts. While he has been
nominal editor of the Omaha World-Herald
since september /, 1894. he has in reality been
mere journalistic figurehead. His name has
been paraded at the head of the weekly edi-
ton TO draw free-silver delusionists, but was
soon taken out of the daily and has not been
replaced. Instead OF devoung his time TO the
paper he has been travelling about the coun-
Try nVe weeks out of six as the paid champion
OF the Bimetallic League.
AS politician Bryan has displayed no Or
ganizing ability. He is good stump speaker
ana an enectiYe campaigner, but that is all.
II he mas any executive capacity IL has not yet
manifested itself He has never held any e1-
ecuuve position and has never had an oppor-
tunity TO exercise any faculty he may possibly
possess in tnat direction. The best business
men OF Omaha regardless OF party, look upon
him as man OF immature judgment, who
would constitute an extrahazardous risk as
head OF the National Government.
e ROsEWATER