The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-07

James Creelman, the distinguished
journalist and war correspondent, who
has come to Atlanta for the purpose Of
making a study OF the political condl-
lions in the south. Is a man OF ability
and clear perception. He has been sent
here by the New York World on a tour
of observation He comes to Georgia
as he went to Michigan. Illinois. Ohio
West Virginia. and other states in which
lively campaigns are being conducted.
to size up the political situation for his
paper.
Few men in the newspaper profession
have achieved the reputation for accur-
aey that Mr.. Creelman has. His obser-
vations concerning Mr.. william J. Bry-
an are therefore Of more than ordinary
interest.
Mr.Creelnan was asked yesterday for
q fair and impartial estimate of the
Democratic candidate for the presiden-
cy. ATr. Creelman knows him intimate
". He has studied Mr. Bryan as
statesman, as a citizen. as a man. He
has sized him up at close range. and
what he says of Mr.. Bryan is his candid
opinion of him. uninhuenced by friend
ship or political relations. Mr.. CreeI-
man differs from Mr.. Bryan in his po-
ltical opinions In fact, he is diamet-
rically opposed to him. but as a student
of men. Mr.. Creelman has given his
impressions Of Mr.. Bryan. and they are
worthy Of careful consideration by those
who desire a more perfect insight into
Mr.. Bryan's personal character.
without moments hesitation Mr.
Creelman gave his opinion OF the Dem
ocratic nominee when requested to do
50. He spoke rapidly, without hesita-
ton. This is what he said:
mr.. Bryan is man Of great indi-
viduality. and the intensity Of his per-
sonality was never better illustrated
than by the independence of political
managers or management he has shown
through this campaign.
I'VE have been trends for a long
while. and although I do not share Mr..
Bryan's views on the principal econo-
mic question of the day. recongnize
in him a singularly courageous and
patriotic honesty.
Mr.. Bryan is an absolutely genuine
man. He is in private just what he
seems to be in public-a rapt enthusi-
asst, an American Of the old-fashioned
type So common before the war. the
kind Of man who believes that the Uni
ted States can whip Europe
mr.. Dickens pol1ed a good deal Of
fun at the Bryan type in Martin Chuz-
zlewit. and yet it is a pure and admira-
bic type. for after all. we are not as
people, to be weighed in the balance as
second rate Englishmen. or Irishmen or
Seotchmen, and we are only a distinct
nationality to the extent that we differ
from the original parent stock
Mr.. Bryan is a religious man. not a
pious man in the cant of the day. but
deeply. silently, practically religious
man, who carries his belief in the in
terDosition OF God in human affairs in
to the ordinary matters Of his daily
life
II have never known a man more
spotless in his personal character.
think he is wrong in his political views.
but he is sincerely, earnestly wrong. He
is the sort of man out of whom the cru
saders were made. He believes that all
things are foreordained in this world
That accounts somewhat for the tran
guilty with which he faces the i'm
mense responsibility thrust upon him
in this never to be forgotten cam
paign.
He told me the other day that If he
were to be defeated and the news of
his defeat should reach him at o'clock
on the night of the election he would
be in bed and asleep at 10 o'clock.
II believe 1t. That is the sort Of
man he is.
Mr. Bryan has never made more
than $500 a year as a lawyer and new
er more than $500 a year as a journal
ist. but that is largely so because he
has from early childhood set his mind,
his enegies and his hopes upon a pub
lie career. He told me once that from
the time he was old enough to think.
he believed it would be his destiny to
serve his country in the United States
senate.
If Mr. Bryan has a weak place it is
his proneness to generalization. He
plants his feet upon what he considers
principles ana scorns expedieney. or
which the French call opportunism.
AFTER WATSON.