The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-17
FRIDAY. JULY II, 1896.
THE CANDIDATE or THE EMOTION


vent.On. Is thought Of the more 1t APP
pears to have been in the nature Of what
We call emotional insanity. 1t IS impos-
slble Tor any one TO suggest any rea-
son why Mr.. Bryan shouM have been
selected as the nominee of the conyen-
lion II he mas any regard 70 the views
and conditions which have always here
tofore prevailed on such occasions. The
convention wanted TO do something with
out knowing what. and II wanted to Sc
Iect some one TO DO mat something. but
II did not know who. Bryan delivered an
impassioned stump speech with an actors
art while the convention was founder
ing around in this uncertain state, and
everybody jumped up exclaiming that
must be the man." because they did not
understand what he was talking about,
and supposed that it must, therefore, be
something exceedingly wise.
The speeches Mr.. Bryan has made
since the nomination show that he has
not grown at an. In one Of his two
speeches at Salem. ILL.,. on Wednesday, he
said
Jefferson told us that the only duty OF
mankind was to protect men at the
hands Of their fellows. Every act begin
ming Thou shalt not" is simply an act
intended TO protect some individual from
= some other individual, and. my friends. L
say to you that no government is worthy
Of the name which Is not strong enough
10 protect its humblest citizen in every
land from oppression.
If jefferson had ever told us any such
thing as that, he would not occupy the
place in the regard of men that he does
hold Mr.. jefferson knew that man owes
a duty to himself as well as 10 others,
and whenever Mr.. jefferson said thou
shalt not" ne intended every man TO I'M
dcrsiand II as addressed 10 himself, in
his own conduct, as well as 10 exhor:-
ing him TO restrain another man from
trespassing upon his neighbor. Mr.. JEFF
ferson intended him 10 understand the
command TO be thou shalt not steal"
thou shalt not commit murder" thou
shalt not do anything which will incte
thy fellow-man To breaches Of the moral
law" as well as commanding him TO aid
his fellow-man in holding on TO that
which is his.
Mr.. Bryan does not seem to have the
faintest conception OF Jeffersons in
functions in respect TO the first line of
duty, and ne seems TO regard his ad-
wee TO us TO aid all men in preserving
that which Is theirs as countcnancing us
If -h.f 81 Hcf
dues by paying them in doubly-valucd
silver dollars. Mr.. Bryan may be a
rhetorioian, but he is not very strong on
logic.
This. however is 20 be noted Of Mr.
Bryans specch-making tour through ILL
nois. lie has been eNuberantly honored
on that tour, but he has been compelled
TO share his honors everywhere with Alt
geld. At EMngham there were at least
loo people assembled TO greet him, but
the cries that went up were IN equal
proportions for Bryan" free silver"
and "Aitgeid," and there were more
cheers when Altgeld was called for than
when either Of tho other cries was made
In the placards advertising tho meeting
that was TO be held in Mr.. Bryan's
honor at his old home. Salem, it was
announced that Governor Altgcld would
be there. We do not know, therefore.
how much OF tho attention that has been
SHOWN MIR. Bryan In Illinois Is attention
TO him and how much TO his hacker. Alt
geld.
Things then. have come 10 a pretty pass
that the nominee Of the Democratic
party should be one who openly declared
IN Birmingham. I'm 1895. that he would bolt
the Democratic nomination unless the
candidate suited him. and that this nomi-
nee should be trayersing the country
making stump speeches to iaud a plat
form composed in equal parts OF anarchy
and socialism. with Altgcd. the fore
most OF American anarchists. backstand-
ing him and dividing honors with him.
Surely something has happened that men
know not OF.