Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-07-02
NEARING A CRISIS.
RESENTMENT TOWARD ADMIN
ISTRATlON Is ALARMING.
Tho Rising Tide In Favor Of "Bryan-
ism" sIikened Unto the Clsmor for the
statcs-General In 17s8-Potency Of
the Ballot Threatened.

From the st. Louis Dispatch:
It is very seldom indeed that the com.
ments of English newspapers upon
political affairs of the United States are
informing or even intelligent, and Of
all the journalistic blunderers, the Sat.
urday Review has been in the past the
most persistent and consistent, be-
cause the most bigoted and prejudiced
Yet recent issue Of the Saturday Re-
view contains an article on Mr.. Bryan's
book, "The First Battle" which is sug-
gestive, because it is the opinion OF o
well informed and disinterested observ-
err.
j The title of the Saturday Reviews
article is 1.-The Coming American Rev
olution." Speaking of the last presi-
dental camgain, which Mr.. Bryan
commentaries in his book. 1t says:
1T was an event Of profound histor-
zeal significance from every point Of
view-political, social, ethical, inter-
national. There is no exaggeration in
putting 1t among the great epoch max
Ing occurrences, like the gathering OF
the States-General in May of 1889.
Here in Europe We still see not much
beneath its quaint and naive surface,
which was undoubtedly both exciting
and entertaining. But in America
everything has been changed by it.
Opinions and aspirations which lurked
half formless in unnamed depths of
the public consciousness a twelmonth
ago, are now on top. familiar to all
eyes and ears"
After personal sketch of Mr.. Bryan,
which was evidently written by some
one who has seen and observed him
keenly, and who does not derive his
Impressions from the portraits in TIE
book, the Saturday Review says:
Very likely Mr.. Bryan would have
made what even his enemies would
call a good commonplace,
perhaps, but reasonably conservative,
and above all things scrupulously at
tentive to appearances" 1t then adds
terance in the article:
Mr.. Mcinley was elected instead.
and brief month of his administration
has carried the revolution forward as
swiftly as the spring sunshine and
showers are bringing forth the leaves
and buds. Where there were
four Bryan men last summer, there
are already five this summer, and there
is discernible nowhere any reason for
supposing that their increase will be
checked on this side of the crucial year
OF 1900.
This shows that the growth of
"Bryanism"-the increasing hold which
the principles embodied in the Chi
cago platform are obtaining upon the
American peoples impressing itself
upon foreign observers as well as upon
those who have the advantage Tor is it
a disadvantage?) of a closer point of
view.
The above expressions from a lead
ing English paper and leading Amer
lean paper are the first open ones
that have so far been called to our no.
tice. The meaning is very plain. The
sad and terrible truth is that political
ly speaking the United States is rest
ing as 1t were on key of dynamite.
That prosperity fraud is bearing its
legitimate fruits. The people are
growing doubtful of the potency of the
ballot Prosperity must be produced
If even at a late date. Otherwise It
will be difficult to conduct the victims
Of great fraud to another campaign.
Class hatreds are becoming intense.
Every Christian, every patriot should
pray for the preservation of peace.
While writing the above our atten-
ton has been called to a leader in the
Chicago Record Of June Is. That paper
is nothing If not conservative. Yet it
sees that the time has come to warn
the people of an impending crisis. Here
is what it says: There is today. how
ever, call for an exhibition of patriot
ism OF even a higher type than that
manifested in rushing to the defense
Of country when attacked from with
out or threatened with armed rebellion
from within. The foundations of gov
eminent are subject to attack by foes
more dangerous than European army,
because they work more insidiously.
There are traitors in positions Of pub
lie trust today whose treason is as
harmful to the commonwealth as was
that Of Benedict Arnold in selling his
for British gold. The man
who betrays trust reposed in him by
the people and disposes of public priv
ileges for private consideration is a
traitor. The men of wealth who seek
to secure from legislatures and city
by corrupt means concessions
to which they are not entitled are enc
mics of everything which the patriot
holds dear.
1.-The time is opportune for revival of
the old idea of the Fourth of July as
a day for patriotic consideration of
evils that threaten the country, and
those that are manifestly in
with the state and the mu-