The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-01-26
WR. BRYHN'S
FIRST Battle.
A Review Of the Democratic Candi-
didate's Book.
MRS. BRYAN ADDS SOME SKETCHES
Devoted to His Connection with the Silver
Movement, Bimetallism, the Boiling
Democrats, " Trusts and the Civil
service-Poem by Ella
Wheeler Wilcox.

CHICAGO, Jan. 26.-The last pages Of
1.-THE First Battle,' the Hon. w. j..
Bryan's book, have gone to press. The
book embodies a story of the campaign Of
1898, its important events and issues, and
includes the most noteworthy Incidents
OF Mr.. Bryan's famous tour. 1t also con-
tatns the principal addresses and docu-
ments relating to the silver movement
and some Of MIR. 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. L saw him
first in the parlors Of the young ladies'
school which / attended at Jacksonville.
He 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. I
noted particularly his smile. In later
years this smile has been the subject Of
considerable comment. Upon one coca
sion a heartless observer was heard to re-
mark, That man whispers in his ear but
this was a cruel exaggeration."
Asto the criticism that Mr.. Bryan had
not distinguished himself as a lawyer she
says: "Ihose who thus complain should
consider that he entered the practice at 90
and left it at 30, and during that period
began twice and twice became more than
self supporting. With the time of his cleo
ton to congress his practice was in a
thriving condition, and fully equal to that
of any man in the city"
TheeGrly chapters are devoted to an ac-
count Of Mr.. Bryan's connection with the
silver movement and the development of
the silver sentiment. Then follow chap
ters devoted to the Republican and Demo
cratic national conventions, including the
memorable contest over the Chicago plat
form. Referring to the fact that the con.
Guiding sentence of his convention speech
had been widely criticized, Mr.. Bryan
says:
Il had used the idea (cross of gold and
crown of thorns) in substantially the
same form in u speech in congress, but did
not recall the fact when L used it in the
convention. A portion Of the speech was
extemporaneous aud its arrangement en-
tirely 50, but parts Of it had been prepared
for another occasion"
In a chapter entitled THE Triple De-
mand for Financial Independence" BIZ
metallism is thus defined:
In a speech made in Ohio, 1 think in
1895, Senator sherman used Language
something like 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 linn
tied quantities as a limited legal tender.
This can properly be called bimetallism.
"Ihts definition of bimetallism has
within the last four years become quite
ngrnarr,nn or,.,a III.
standard, but are not willing to be known
as mOnometallists Bimetallism means
two-metalism just as certainly as 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 treated alike. If to use gold as a
standar with silver coin in limited uuan.
titles as a legal tender is bimetallism, then
Ehgland now has bimetallism. Many in
sist upon calling themselves bimetallists
who were I'm sling to vote for bimetal-
ism, without an internaTfonr3 a--,enent.
This made it necessary to adopt some
means of distinguishing between indepen-
dent bimetallists and international BIZ
metallists.'
In a chapter devoted to "the boiling
Democrats, D Mr.. Bryan says: ''The only
criticism which / desire to record here is
chat 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 i'm
such a way as to mislead the voters. 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
pDnUiPtiOnG hnf q fpatrI affov,-A.1 a.
the voters is no more defensible thar a
fraud attempted in a business transac-
tom
AS to the statement in Mr.. MoKinIev's
letter of acceptance that the q" mills should
be opened instead of the miuts,' Mr..
Bryan says; "This was an epigram-
matte sentence, and did considerable
service in turning public attention from
the money question to the tariff ques-
tion.'
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 more
and more into tho hlpds Of corporations. d,
and since a lawyer receives both his repu-
ation and experience from his practice.
the attorneys for tho great corporations
come to be considered the leading attor-
neys at their respective bars. 1t may even
happen that judges upon the bench will
retain after appointment the bias ac-
quired in corporation practice"
Regarding the civil service, he says: 81
do not believe that life tenure is, as a rule.
"a wise thing In % government like ours.
The fact tn sc the pep9le make FREQUENT
changes IN their public officials in case of
elective offices is conclusive proof that life
tenure is not popular. If they desired to
have their public servants hold office for
life they would manifest that desire by
keeping elective officials In Office perma-
nently. AS long as human nature remains
as 1t is, it will not be safe TO place public
officials in "a position where they are en-
tirely independent Of those whom they
serve"
One Of the last chapters is given up to
''Ihe Election Returns" and i'm this MIR.
Bryan says; "As the evening progressed
h indications pointed more and more
strongly TO defeat, and by If O'clock 1
realized that while tho returns from the
country miglb change the result, the sue
cess of my opponent was more than prob
able. Confidence resolved itself into doubt.
and doubt ia turn gave place to resigna-
ton. Then vanished from my mind the
vision of a president in the White House
perpleHed by the cares of state, and in the
contemplation of the picture of a citizen
by his Preside free from official respon.
sibility / fell asleeD.n