Arizona weekly citizen., 1896-08-01

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tongue, his portrait in all the papers,
and his movements and uttersnces given
with minuteness to the country by As
ISOLATED Press dispatches and special
correspondents, Bryan has suddenly
doomed into the horizon as one or the
two foremost figures in the great ma
tion8l drama that is about to be played
on Americas political stage. The story
of bis early life, his academic training,
apprenticeship as lawyer, his forensic
triumphs in the schoolhouse and on the
political rostrum, his career in congress
and intrusion into the arena of journal
ism, have furnished material for the peo-
pie who absorb with avIdity all that is
said aud written concerning the man
who captivated great national conven-
ton with his eloquence and carried
away the laurel crown for which the
greatest of his party's leaders bad been
striving. With all that has already been
published concerning Bryan's physical
and mental makeup, his habits and his
associations, the popular conception OF
the man is vague, and the World is
therefore we'll justified in asking me to
supply some data for q true estimate OF
his ability, character and capacity for
filling the high Office to which he now
aspires.
Without pretending to have On init
mate acquaintance with Mr.. Bryan, my
opportunities for gsuging the man have
been ample. Measured by the stand
ard Of men truly great, William Jen-
nings Bryan will scarcely take rank
with eminent political leaders of the
democratic school, such as were Steph-
en- A. Douglas, John @. Breckenridge,
Horatio Seymour, Allen @. Thurman.
Thomas A. Hendricks, Samuel j. Ran
dali, to say nothing ofSsmuel j. Tilden,
Thomas f. Bayard or David B. Hill.
While gifted with oratorical powers of
high order. Bryan lacks both depth AID
breadth. He is a populsrizer of other
hCd ioCno hhah Oh OAhk
thinker, and has a catchy way of pres
entlDg his subjects to an audience. He
Is consumnate actor, whose forte lies
in appeals to sentiment and emotion
rather than in arguments and sound
reasoning. He is born agitator, who
never hesitates to employ the Weapons
~ hA n 70 La inf
Brysn's most vulnerable part is his lack
of moral stamina and utter Indifference
to the ~ maintenance Of public integrity.
While so far as | know his private char
scter is unimpeachable, he has never
raised his voice or used his pen in de-
nuncl8tion of fragrant abuses of public
Office or betrayal OF public trust, but,
on the contrary, has permitted the paper
of which he is ostensibly the RESPONSE
bic editor to gloss over and defend en-
bezzlements in public Office, gross Off
clal negligence and corrupt collision
with public plunderers, even where the |
offenders were foisted into Office as re-
publicaps.
From the professional standpoint Mr..
Bryan may be considered dismal fail
ure. His legal practice has never am
5unted to anything worth mentioning.
His venture in the newspaper business
has not been regarded as anything Sc
rious in these parts. While he has been
1ominal editor of the Omaha World
Herald since September /. 1894, he has
n reality been a mere journalistic fig
Ire head. His name has been psraded
It the head of the weekly edition to
lrsw free silver delusioniste, but was
oon taken out of the daily and has not
been replaced. Instead of devotirg his
lime to the paper be has been travelling
bout the country five weeks out of six
Is the paid champion of the Bimetallio
League.
AS a politician Bryen has displayed
10 organizing ability. He is a good
lump speaker and an effective cam
'Bigner, but that is ALL II be has any
xecutiye capacity il has not yet mani
ested itself. He has never held any
xecutive position end has never had
u opportunity to exercise any faculty
e may possibly possess in that direc-
ion. The best business men Of Omaha,
egardless of party, look upon him as a
nan of immature judgment, who would
onstit1te an extrahazardous risk as
cad of the national government.
E. ResEwATER.