The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-26
'THE FIRST BATTLE"
A Review Of Mr.. W. J. Bryan's
Book.
MRS. BRYAN ADDS SKETCHES

Devoted to His Connection with tho Silver
Movemont, Bimetallism, tho "Bolting &
Democrats" Trusts and tho Civil SER
yice-Poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Z CHICAGO Jan. 26.-The last pages of
"The First Battle" the Hon w. j.
Bryans book, have gone to press. The
book embodies a story of the campaign of
tS98. Its important events and issues and
includes the most-noteworthy Incidents
Of Mr.. Bryan famous tour IL also con-
tains the principal addresses aud 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
hrst in the parlors of the young ladies'
echool which attended at Jacksonvills
t1e 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 heartloss observer was heard to re.
mark, That man whispers in his ear, but
This was cruel exaggeration.
. As ito the criticism that Mr. Bryan had
not distinguished himself rs u lawyer she
saysi "Those who thus complain should
eonslder that he entered the practice at %
AR.A NAfk . knA
began twice and twice became moro than
self supporting. With tho time of his cleo
tion to congress his practice was in
thriving condition, and fully equal to that
Of any man in the city"
The early chapters are devoted to an ac-
count of Mr.. Bryaus connection with tho
silver movement and the development Of
the silver sentiment. Then follow chap
ters devoted to the Republican and Dsmo-
cratic national conventions, including tho
memorable contest over the Chicago plat.
form. Referring to the fact that ths con.
cluding sentence of his convention speech
had been widely criticized, Mr. Bryan
says,
81 had used the idea (GrOss 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 tho
convention. A portion of this speech was
exteinporanaols and It's arrangement en-
tirely so, but parts Of it had been prepared
Tor another occasion" "
In chapter entitled '"lhs Triple Da.
mand for Financial Independence, bi.
metallsm is thus defined
"In speech made in Ohio, think IN
1895 Senator Sherman used language
something Ike thiS--I quote from mem.
Ory The parity between gold and silver
can only be maintained by the use of gold
as standard with silver coined in lin
ited quantities as limited legal tender
This can properly bs called bimetallism.'
"rhis definition of himetallism has
within the last four years become quite
common among those who favor the gold
standard, but are not willing to be known
As monnmetnlists Bmetallism means
two.netalism just ms certainly as the word
biped means an animal with two feet. 1t
means the use of two metals MS standard
money, and to be standard money they
must be treated alike If to Use gold az
standard with silver coin in limited guam
hties as legal tender is binetallism, then
England now has bmetallisn. Many in
INST upon calling themselves bimetallists
who were unwilling to vote for bimetal-
iism, without an international agreement.
This made it necessary to adopt some
means of distinguishing batwean indopen-
dent bimetalists and International bi.
metallists."
In n chapter devoted to "ths boiling
Democrats" Mr. Bryan says "rho only
criticism which desire to record hero is
that the gold Democrats sought to use the
party name for purposes Of deception The |
party name belongs to the mniOrity of the |
party, and the minority cannot fairly,
honestly or honorably ilsa that mama in
such way Hs to mislead the voters had
nt all times defended the sovereign right
Of the citizen to follow his conscinnce aud
his Judgment in political matters, nnh TO
make his party affiliations conform to his
convictions hut fraud attempted against
the voters is no more dGfenSiha than n
fraud attempted in Il business transac-
tiun."
As 10 the statement in Mr. MrKinley's
letter of acceptance that tho mills should
bo opened instead of the mints," Mr.
Bryan says: This was an epigrain-
matte sentence, and did considerable
service in turning public attention from
the money question to the tariff atlos-
tun'
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 molo
and more into the hands Of corporations,
and since II lawyer receives both his repu-
tation and experience from his practice,
Va ~ ba =
COme to he considered the leading attor.
neyS at their respective bars. 1t may even
happen that judges upon the bench will
retain after appointment the bias ao-
quired in corporation practice"
Regarding the civil service, he says: IL
DO not believe that life tenure is, as rule,
\ wise thing in a government like ours
The fact that the people make frequent
,hanges In their public officials in case Of
'iertiye offices is conclusive proof that life
'enure is not popular. If they desired to
nave their public servants hold Office for
iia they would manifest that desire by
ieeping elective officials in Office perInn-
lcntly. As long Us human nature remains
IS ii is, it will not be safe to place public
officials in position where they arc en-
ireiy independent Of those whom they
icrve'
One Of the last chapters is given up to
THE Election Returns and in this Mr..
Bryan says: ''As the evening progressed
hr indications pointed more and more
strongly to defeat, and by II o'clock |
enlized that while the returns from the
ountry might change the result; the sue.
ess of my opponent was moro than prob
'ble, Confidence resolved itself into doubt,
nd doubt in turn gave place to resigna-
ion Then vanished from my mind the
'ison of president in the White House
'erpleNed by the cares of state, and in the
contemplation of the picture of citizen
" his iireside free from official respon-
iblity fell asleep"
The book ends with poem entitled
An Inspiration, written by Ella Wheelar
Wilcox
Improvement Company Officers.
The stockholders of the Industrial I'M
rcvement Company held their annual
lerling last evening and heard q report '
iat the affairs Of the company were in c
condition. Among other {
llngs reported was that through the in. @