West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-06-24
THE PASSING OF BRYAN" :"

We note 10 a few Southern cuckoo
newspapers certain outbursts OF
ilabby jubilNtion over what the cdi
tors arc pleased to call "thc passing
OF Bryan" Some Of these editors
still retain the Federal Offices to
which MIR. Cleveland appointed
them four years ago. Others are
patiently waiting for the Clevelar d
millennium four years hence. Bryan
Is their bugaboo, and his "passing"
Is the vision which irradiutcs their
fatuous sleep.
Has there been "passng Bryan?"
Does MIR. Bryan stand lower to-day
IN the esteem, tho confidence, the
affection OF the Democratic masses
than he did on the day before cleo
ton last November? Defeated can.
dldate though he be, has he lost the
smallest fraction OF his influence
over those who followed him
through the brilliant and dramatic
campaign Of 1896? We look IN
vain for any evidence to such effect.
No where in the whole political
prospect do we find the slightest
indication that his star has wanod.
We sec MIR. Cleveland retire TO
private life after twelve years OF
leadership, eight OF which he spent
ns President Of the United States,
and, save the little band of fenth-
cred ones who roost and twitter i'm
the Reform Club Of New York, we
detect no symptom OF sorrow or
regret in The ranks Of the Democ-
racy. But Bryan, tie Standard
bearer Of "a few moaths, the defeat.
ed chlcftaln, with no record of
domination to- commend him. with
no background Of successful leader
ship and no atmosphere Of official
power and prominence Bryan is
in the mouths Of all Democrats; his
counsel ia collected in every State:
his views aud wishes arc consulted
hourly; the whole scheme Of Demo.
cratic action for the fntare rcvolyos
abou5 him. Defeat at tho polls
seems TO have only oudearcd and
strengthened him. lie arousos en-
thu3lasm as surely AMI as power.
fully as he did eight months age.
lie is, IN all genuine respects, more
truly the head OF the Democracy
than he ever was before.
Nothing in the career Of this cx
traordlnary young man is as as.
founding as his present relation 10 .
and influence over the party organ
Ization Of which, list July, he was
made the candidate aud representa-
tive. When, at the Chicago Con
yention. he first sprang into promi-
nenco; when elevated I'm am instant
10 dnzzllHg attitudes and cnylroncd (
with the ineyplicpblc magic Of pop .
ular enthusiasm, no seemed almost /
q dcmIgod; even then ho WIS less .
wonderful product OF political cvo- I.
luton than be is 10 day. The sud /
den feryor Of party gathering, lhn /
mysterious magnetism that trans
forms mon into dcvotccs. are not
uncommon things in our experience.
But tho mtn who pusscs through
Tho disencbantIpg process Of 20 cam f.
palsn who cudnrc3 Tho scrutiny F.
and the contact Of hundreds OF F.
thousands OF hIs fellow citiz.uy. /
and who, most trying test Of 400. /
encounters dofcat cvutualIy-the .
man who cmcrge5 from aIl ihcso
trials with his dignity uuimpured
and hI5 innuouco intact this man
ls not to be dismissed With quota.
tlon or eliminated by an cpigram.
Has tharo been ''pl-sipg of
Bryan ~ Not yet, dear htlc
cuckoos William j. Bryan is -
larger, q more impcrious, more
iorceful quantity in the Democratic