Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-01-28
aTHE FIRST BATTLE
a Review Of Hon. william j.
Bryan's Book.
MRS. BRYAN ADDS SKETCHES

Devoted to His Connection with the Silver
Movement, Bimetatlism, the 'sBoItine
Democrats" Trusts and the Civil Ser
vice-Poela by Ella wheeler wilcox.
CHICAGO, Jan. 26. The last pages OF
"The First Battle, the Hon. w. j.
Bryan's book, have gone to pss,ss The
book embodies story Of the campaign of
1896. its important events and issues, and
includes the most noteworthy incidents
Of Mr.. Bryan famous tour 1t also con-
tains the principal addresses and docu-
ments relating to the silver movement
and some of Mr. Bryan's speeches. One
Of the interesting features of the book is
the sketch written by Mrs Bryan, who
thus describes their first meeting:
My personal knowledge of Mr.. Bryan
dates from September, 1879. He was then
entering upon his junior year. saw him
first in the parlors Of the young ladies'
school which attended at Jacksonville
He entered the room with several other
students, was taller than the rest and at
tracted my attention at once. He was
neatly though not fastidiously dressed,
and stood firmly and with dignity. ]
noted particularly his smile. In later
years this smile has been the subject OF
considerable comment. Upon one occa-
sion heartless observer was heard TO re-
mark, THAT man whispers in his ear but
this was a cruel exaggeration.'
As to the criticism that MIR. Bryan had
not distinguished himself as a lawyer she
says: "Those who thus complain should
consider that he entered the practice at %
and left 1t at 30, and during that period
began twice and twice became more than
self supporting. With the time of his cleo
ton to congress his practice was in a
thriving condition, and fully equal to that
of any man i'll the city"
Theearly chapters are devoted to an &C
count of Mr. Bryan's connsction with the
silver movement and the development of
| the silver sentiment. Then follow chap
tiers devoted to the Republican and Demo
cratic national conventions. including the
memorable contest Over the Chicago plat
! form. Referring to the fact that the con-
Guiding sentence Of his convention speech
had boon widely criticized Mr.. Bryan
says:
II had used the idea (cross of gold and
crown of thorns) in substantially the
same form in speech in congress, but did
not recall the fact when / used it in the
convention. A portion of the speech was
extemporaneous and it's arran cement en-
tirely so, but parts of it had been prepared
| for another occasion"
In a chapter entitled 1.-The Triple. De-
mand for Financial Independence, BIZ
metallism is thus defined:
'In speech made in Ohio, l think in
| 1895, Senator Sherman used language
something like thfs--I quote from mem.
| ory: The parity between I'D and silver
can only be maintained by the use of gold
as standard with silver coined in linn
| tied quantities as limited legal tender.
This can properly be called bimetallism
"This definition of bimetallism has
within the last four years become quite
common among those who favor the gold
standard, but are not willing to be known
as monometallists. Blmetallisln means
two-metalism just as certainly as the word
biped means an animal with two feet. 1t
| means the use of two metals as standard
money, and to be standard money they
must be treated alike. If to use gold as a
standard with silver coin in limited guam
titles as legal tender is bimetallism, then
England now has bimetallisn. Mlny in
sist upon calling themselves bimetallists
| VIM WO1O 0hN AAAlilS w FObO 1OE DktllOUtbl-
lism, without an international agreement.
This made it necessary to adopt some
means of distinguishing between indepen-
dent bimetallists and international BIZ
metallists."
In a chapter devoted to "the bolting
Democrats" Mr.. Bryan says: "The only
criticism which desire to record here is
that the gold Democrats sought to use the
party name for purposes of deception. The
party name belongs to the majority of the
party, and the minority cannot fairly,
honestly or honorably use that name in
such way as to mislead the voters. had
at all times defended the sovereign right
6 the citizen to follow his conscience and
his Judgment in political matters, and to
make his party affiliations conform to his
convictions, but fraud attempted against
the voters is no more defensible than a
fraud attempted in business transac-
tion'
As to the statement in Mr.. Mckinley s
letter of acceptance that the mills should
be opened instead of the mints,n Mr.
Bryan says: This was an epigram-
matte sentence, and did considerable
service in turning public attention from
the money question to the tariff ques-
tion."
He says this about the trusts: Our
country has, IN my Judgment, much to
fear from the political influence of large
corporations. This country is falling more
and more into the hands of corporations,
and since lawyer receives both his repu-
tation and experience from his practice,
the attorneys for the great corporations
come to be considered the leading attor-
neys at their respective bars. 1t may even
happen that judges upon the bench will
retain after appointment the bias ac-
quired in corporation practice "
Regarding the civil service, he says: 81
do not believe that life tenure is, as rule,
a wise thing in a government like ours.
The fact that the people make frequent
changes in their public officials in case of
elective offices is conclusive proof that life
tenure is not popular. If they desired to
have their public servants hold office for
life they would manifest that desire by
keeping elective officials in office perma-
nently. As long as human nature remains
rs it is, it will not be safe to place public
officials in position where they are en-
tirely independent of those whom they
serve"
One of the last chapters is given up to
line Election Returns, and IN this Mr..
Bryan says: "As the evening progressed
the indications pointed more and more
strongly to defeat, and by II o'clock
realized that while the returns from the
country might change the result, the sue
cess of my opponent was more than prob
able. Confidence resolved itself into doubt,
and doubt in turn gave place to resigna-
ton. Then vanished from my mind the
vision of a president in the White House
perplexeG by the cares of state, and in the
contemplation of the picture of citizen
by his Preside free from official respon-
sibility fell asleep
The book ends with a poem entitled
"An Inspiration, written by Ella Wheeler
Wilcox.
Assaulted by Negro.
FULTON, KY. Jan sS-Miss Lula Car
yer, II years old, daughter of prominent