Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-03
WILLIAM Jennings BRYAN.

A great many men-most of whom did
not vote for Mr.. Bryan-are nowadays
heard to say they fear" that that gentle
man sis talking too much"
Mr.. Bryan is gifted with eloquence'
and possibly may be aware of the fact;
at any rate. the people love TO hear him.
During the last canvass he addressed I'M
precedentedly large multitudes. and OF
late he has been having goodly crowds
IN hear him lecture at 81 and $3.50 a
head.
Considering how hard are the times,
and how little money at best, we Bryan
ties are supposed TO have, his lecture-au-
liences have been very flattering in size
and personnel. Furthermore, not even
the envenomed partisanry Of the Nc
Kinley and mugwump press can disguise
The fact that crowds flock about MT
Bryan's person wherever he goes. This
was his experience upon his last visits
10 New York and to Washington.
, When Mr.. Bryan entered the United
States House of Representatives, during
one of its sessions a few days ago, the
their enthusiasm, but rose and gave him
rousing cheer The incident was so
notable that the reporters of the Congress
sional Record made mention OF it in the
proceedings of the day. This fact having
been brought to the attention of Speaker
Reed-doubtless at his request-he or
dered that the paragraphs in question be
struck out of the Record.
SO the Congressional Record will not
testify TO the truth of history in this in
stance: but all the other histories of the
day will record the fact that members
of the House gave Mr.. Bryan a royal
reception. Again, the New York World
has recently taken the pains to inquire
OF leading politicians in each State as
TO Bryan's popularity, and has ascer-
tanned and published the fact that the
opinion Is general that. If the Demo-
cratic National Convention were in ses-
sion at this time TO nominate a Presi
dent, Mr.. Bryan would be that man. So,
the overwhelming mass of testimony goes
TO show that Mr.. Bryan is to-day even
more popular than he was during the
last campaign.
As to the objection that Mr. Bryan has
already opened the presidential cam
paign Of 1890, and is "again agitating
the free-silver question:" it is due TO
him to say that, IL any remedial legisla-
ton Is squeezed out of the Republican
party. it will be because Of the constant
prodding that he is giving them.
When the Republicans relieve the coun-
try, as they nave promised to do,
Mr.. Bryans appeals for free sill
yer may fall upon dull ears
When business is active. and our
laborers can find employment, and when
our farmers can make fair livings out
OF the soil, less attention will be paid
to those who clamor for change in
our financial system. So let us look
upon Mr.. Bryan. rather as one who is
engaged in the work Of holding the Re-
publicans up to their promises than as
one who is bent upon mischievously
disturbing that confidence" from which
SO much was expected, and so little has
been realized as yet.
to the public merely as private citi-
zen. He has been our nominee. and
may be our nominee again; but he is
only a private citizen now albeit a very
eminent one The views that he ex-
presses are his own. With most of them
we agree; with some others we do not.
II seems 10 us that he has modified his
opinion as to our receiving back into our
party the men who bolted last year But
whether he has or not, we must say that
IL Is a matter for each State 10 settle
for itself Alabama has adopted con-
cilatory policy. and we would have the
Virginia Democracy do likewise. All the
world-all the political world, at least
knows that II IS usual for our State
Democratic Convention 10 endorse and
reaflirm the party's national platform.
And all that world also knows our next
convention will certainly ratify the Chi
cago platform. II. under these circum-
stances our boiling brethren would like
10 come back and take their places in
the party. we are free 10 say that we
would like 20 see them there. Our in
formation IL that the majority Of them
~dil come. They ought to come. Their