The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-26
SYNOPSIS OF THE TEXT.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL
SITUATION A FEATURE OF
THE WORK.
SKETCH BY THE NOMINEES WIFE.
His Life Described as One of Use
full Purposes and His Genius That
of Industry.

OI Inc FIRST Battle, Hon. w. J.
Bryan's book, have gone to press, and
the w. B. Conkey company, the pub
fishers, expect to have the first COPY
bound in about a week. The book en-
bodies a story of the campaign Of 1896,
It's important events and issues, and in
cludes the most noteworthy incidents
OF Mr.. Bryan's famous tour 1t also
contains the principal addresses and
documents relating to the silver move
ment and some Of Mr.. Bryan's speech
es. Considerable space is given to his
connection with the silver agitation
while in congress and prior to the Chi
cago convention and to a discussion Of
the election returns and an analysis Of
the political situation. One Of the in
teresting features Of the book is the
biographical sketch written by Mrs.
Bryan. AS to the criticism that Mr..
Bryan had not distinguished himself
as a lawyer, she says:
Those who thus complain should consider
that he entered the practice at twenty three
and left 1t at thirty, and during that period
began twice, and twice became more than
self-supporting. At the time Of his election
TO congress his practice was in a thriving
condition, and fully equal to that of any
man in the city.
She concludes the sketch thus: ITO give
an estimate of his character or of the mental
endowments which he may possess, would be
beyond the scope of this article. / may be
luStned, however. in saying that his life
has been one of earnest purpose, with that
sort of genius which has been called a ca
pacity for hard work. "
1.-THE First Battle" is dedicated to
the Hon. Richard P. Bland, of Mis-
souri,; Gen. James B. Weaver, of To-,
and the Hon. Henry M. Teller, Of Colo
RADIO, whom the author considers the
foremost champions OF bimetallism in
their respective parties The early
chapters are devoted to an account of
Mr. Bryan's connection with the silver
movement, and the development of tho
silver sentiment. Then follow chap
tiers devoted to the Republican and
Democratic national conventions, in
Guiding the memorable contest over the
Chicago platform. Referring to the
fact that the concluding sentence Of his
convention speech had been widely
criticised, Mr.. Bryan says:
l had used the idea (eross of gold and
crown Of thorns) in substantially the same
form in speech in congress, but did not
recall the fact when I used it in the conven-
ton. A portion of the speech was ex-
temporaneous, and its arrangement entirely
SO, but parts of 1t had been prepared for an
other occasion.
A chapter Is devoted to the silver
Populist convention. In one entitled
1.-THE triple demand for financial in
dependence" bimetallism is thus de-
fined:
In speech made in Ohio, I think in
1895, Senator Sherman used language some
thing like this; | quote from memory: THE
parity between gold and silver can only be
maintained by the use Of gold as a standard,
with silver coined in limited quantities as
legal tender. This can properly be called
bimetalism.' This definition of bimetallism
has within the last four years become quite
common among those who favor the gold
standard, but are not willing to be known
as monometallists. Bimetallism means two
metallism just as certainly the word biped
means an animal with two feet. 1t means
the use of two metals as standard money,
and to be standard money they must be treat
ed alike. If to use gold as a standard with
silver coin in limited quantities as a limited
legal tender is 5imetallism. then England now
has bimetallism. If that system can prop
erly called bimetallsm, then the use Of COP
per in limited quantities is limited legal
tender. along with such system would con-
stitute bimetallism. 1t seems to me that the
absurdity Of Mr. Shermans definition must be
apparent to any one who will give the sub
ject a moments consideration.
1t was the attempt of the opponents Of free
coinage to misconStrue the terms formerly
used that led to the declaration of
A SPECIFIC RATIO.
Then, too, many insisted upon calling them
selves bimetalHsts who were unwilling 10
vote for bimetallism without an international
agreement. This made it necessary to adopt
some means Of distinguishing between indie
pendent bimetallists and international BIZ
metallists.
Many interesting incidents Of the
tour East and West are given, and also
quite number of anecdotes. In
chapter devoted to '"The Boiling Demo-
Gratis" Mr.. Bryan says:
The only criticism which I desire to record
here is that the gold Democrats sought to
use the party name for purposes of deception.
The party name belongs to the majority of
the party, and the minority cannot fairly,
honestly or honorably use that name in such
q way as to mislead the voters. l had at
all times defended the sovereign right of
the citizen to follow his conscience and his
judgment in political matters, and to make
his party affiliations conform to his convic-
tons, but a fraud attempted against the
voters is no more defensible than fraud at
tempted in business transaction. Had
the Indianapolis convention Endorsed the Re-
publican ticket, we might have found fault
with the views of the gold Democrats, but
their methods would have not been open to
attack. To nominate ticket, however, with
hold public meetings for the ostensible pur-
pose of aiding the ticket, but for the secret
purpose of aiding a ticket which was not
openly advocated, introduces into national af-
fairs new kind of warfare, which, in my
judgment, history must condemn.
AS to the statement In Mr. McKin-
ley's letter Of acceptance that 1.-The
mills should be opened instead of the
mints,' Mr.. Bryan says
This was an epigrammatc sentence and did
considerable service in turning public atten-
ton from the money question to the tariff
question.
He says this about trusts: Our country has,
in my Judgment, much to fear from the poit-
zeal influence exerted by large corporations.
The business Of the country Is falling more
and more into the hands of corporations, and
since a lawyer receives both his reputation
and his experience from his practice the at
torneys for the great corporations come to be
considered the leading attorneys at their re-
spective bars. In appointments to public Of
foe, CORPORATION attorneys have not only the ad-
vantage which their professional prominence
gives them, but they also have the advantage
CT friendly relations with the prominent
officials of other corporations. Thus it may
happen, without tho intention of the appoint
ing power-and 1t may happen more easily
with the intention of the appointing power
that officials appointed to enforce the law
will be biased against the law which Is to be
enforced.
1t may even happen that judges upon the
bench will retain, after appointment, the bias
acquired in corporation practice. Public off,
Gals, whether executive, legislative or judi
interpreting and executing the law, may be
unconsciously Influenced by pre-conceived
opinions or present associations. I believe
that the continued existence Of the trust Is
largely due to the fact that many public off,
cials, without openly defending II, are at
heart friendly to 1t.
Regarding the civil service, he says: I do
not believe that life tenure Is, a rule, a
wise thing In a government like ours. The
fact that the people make frequent changes in
their public officials in case of elective offices
is conclusive proof that life tenure is not
popular. II they desired to have their public
fest that desire by keeping elective officials
in Office permanently. AS long as human