The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-08-20
'Amid the ScreeChing of Steam Wits
ties and Shouts of Welcome
from 1000 ThrOaus,"
He is Received in Butte, Mont, While
Mr.. Mckinley, Our Chief Execu-
tive, Is Quietly SojOurning,
Almost UnnOticed, in
New York.
saturdays Nashville Sun.

Yesterday there visited Butte,
Mont, one William Jennings Bryan,
private citizen of this great cOun-
try, from a state little known in
histOry;a man of modest birth, a
plain struggler for bread and the
comforts of life, with no fortune to
awe or impress and no official dis
tinctiOn to win adulation.
Here is the Introduction to a de-
scription of his reception as sent out
by the Associated Press and copied
from the Banner, of this city:
"Amid the screeching of steam
whistles and shouts of welcome
from 10000 throats, w. j. Bryan was
received in Butte. Housetops
sagged under the weight of thous-
ands and every window where a
view could be obtained was crowded
with faces. The crowd at the depot
was so dense that the police were
unable to cope with it, ETC."
Who is this Mr.. Bryan beyond the
description we have given?
Who is this man who thus at
tracts from his fellow citizens such
marked expression of esteem?
Who is this young man who is
called from State to State and city
to city that men may see and hear
him and then see and hear again?
For one thing he is a defeated
candidate for office. He goes with
out patronage and under the ban OF
failure. The American people re-
fused to give to him the honor tC
which, as the representative of 8
great party, he aspired.
History does not record, however
that defeats of such character have
apotheosized plain mortals anC
made them deities for vulgar wor'
ship. When before were sucf
tributes ever paid to any private
citizen? When as a matter of fact
were such ever paid so continuously
and so markedly to any man o
whatever position and whatever
distinction in this country?
Our presidents are accustomed t.
journey from place to place during
their terms of power; when are sucl
greetings extended to them?
Mr.. Mckinley, the foremost MAJ
in the nation, a gentleman and
patriot, is now touring upper New
York, where he has never befor
been seen and where his theorie
were Endorsed at the ballot box
what enthusiasm follows him whel
compared with that which tn
young Nebraska lecturer meet
wherever he goes?
The story from Butte is not of
sensational character. Butte ha
not Outdone what other cities d
wherever Mr.. Bryan goes. Whethe
in California or IN the nation
metropolis, whether at Washington
where he first assumed nationa
distinction, or in the mountains o
the Carolinas; in Tennessee and il
Texas, wherever he goes, Their
stand at every station thousands t
cheer and shake him by the hand.
What. then, is the meaning of
all? Why are these informal civ
honors paid to this citizen and to n
other?
1t is not necessary to tell th
public. William Jennings Bryan
defeated though he was and privat
citizen though he is, stands tO-da
the beloved leader of great party c
splendid principles. He is the pee
pies most courageous and gifte
exponent. He is their high prizes
and prophet, their strong man VIII
is to lead them to prosperity an
happiness. Without any of the art
or instincts of the damagogue, he
their apostle of humanity, thei
champion of happy homes. Dis
carding any exercise of the tricks q
oratOry, whose master he is, he is
teacher whom all can understan
and spokesman to whom tn
utterance of truth may safely b
trusted and before whose logic erro
fees as from the glance of destiny.
Called suddenly from compart
tive obscurity to great distinction
he bore himself as a leader SHOULD
and every day since his nominatiO
at Chicago he has grown stronge
and dearer. Such men are not los
sight of. Defeat does not retir
them and popularity does not spo
them. They are greater than defei
and far above party. When the
day goes out, it goes out in the
death and then history takes u
their deeds aud haloes them with il
glamour.