The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1896-08-01

Not many months ago some society
people in Omaha gave an amateur
circus performance in the great Coli
scum In that city. Mr. Bryan was
asked to take the snowy part Of ring
master. and he consented. For two
nights he appeared before the wealth
and beauty Of Omaha in the traditional
top boots and high hat of the master
Of the ring. and he cracked his whip
in Q way that made teamsters on the
back eeats salute him. He was an ex
cellent ringmaster. Besides standing
on q platform and cracking his whip
he made jokes. and he cracked his Jokes
with the same facility that he cracked
lis whip. People said Mr. Bryan alone
was worth the price OF admission. He
was happy then, and all smiles. and
when the people applauded his sailies
he was almost as pleased as he is now
when the crowds cheer him. He en-
tered into the circus project in the same
headlong manner that he has started
In the race for the presidency. He
cared nothing for dignity or the
fitness Of things then. He cares moth
ing for these now. His object was to
create an effect then. That is his OBJ
sect now. Close observers cannot see
that there Is much difference in the
way he conducted the circus and the
way in which he is conducting his
campaign. 1t may be that his circus
experience in Omaha is what caused
him to request that the ceremony of
notification be held in Madison SQUARE
Garden. New York. instead Of at his
home In this city.
Mr.. Bryan il honest and his friends
admire him for that and for his great
gifts. bIt they have been surprised al
the light manner with which he is
paying with what seems, in his hands
q mere bauble. a nomination for the
presidency Of the United States. His
picturesque trip from Salem to Lin
coin. his repeated speeches and con-
tinued publicity in advance OF the Of
ficial notification of the nomination,
his boyish and ill-considered phrases
all mark him as an excited youth
rather than an earnest man In train
ing for he highest ONCE in the gift of a
great nation. There are other
little things, not important in
themselves, that detract from the
dignity and poise which should
distinguish a man in Mr.. Bryan's
position. He is feverish in his
haste. He is nervous and excitable.
He is unable to stay in one place any
length OF time or continue at one task.
He wants to be up and going to and
fro. He wants to have a hand in all
that is doing. On the way home he
was the first man to appear on the
platform. hat in hand. and ready to
speak 1t the little towns before the
wheels had stopped turning. When
visitors arrive from out OF the city, in
stead OF receiving them quietly at his
residence. he makes a hurried trip
carrying his wife with him.
and holds reception In hotel
All of these things are. perhaps. in
significant. and in no way affect the
purity of his character. but Mr.. Bryan's
bearing is not what We have learned
20 expect in the presidential candi-
dates of great parties. The people
here like Mr. Bryan, but he fails to
serious respect. Observing
the traits which have markedly prom
inent since he was made the nominee
In Chicago. one seems to be forced to
the conclusion that his personal quail
ties. admirable though they may be.
are not such as to especially At him
for the discharge Of the duties Of chief
executive OF . nation Of rocco coo of