Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-02-06


Texas Baptist Standard, and candi-
date for vice president on the pro-
hibition ticket four years ago evil
IDENTIFY takes no stock in the opinions
of that class of squeamish people,
who think that Mr.. Bryan is "lower-
ing his dignitynin taking the lecture
platform at $1,000 lecture. He
answers the criticisms of the enemies
of Mr.. Bryan, in this and other
respects, in leading editorial in a
late issue of his paper as follows;
Hon. VIM. Jennings Bryan, the late
candidate of the national democracy
for President of the United States, is
in Texas, and it was the pleasure of
the editor Of The Standard on Tues
day OF last week to make his &C
Quaintance. He lectured in Waco on
Monday evening and our people,
with one accord, and regardless of
party utilization, gave him an ovation
worthy of the standard bearer of one
of our great political parties.
Mr.. Bryan is preaching the gospel
of free silver at dollar admission,
and people of all classes and condi
lions enthusiastically flock to hear
him. Some of a critical turn of mind,
and who seems to stand on the nice
prophecies of life, think that Mr..
Bryan is making a show of himself
and is greatly lowering his dignity
by taking the lecture platform at
$1,000 lecture. The editor of The
Standard has not thus far heard
anybody criticise Mr.. Bryan who
would probably be able to command
as much as $1,000 lecture. Until
We do, we shall hold TO our present
conviction, that it is not becoming in
us nor in others TO criticise a man
who is able to make 81, coo in an hour
and half, and at the same time to
instruct the people to what he be
lieves to be a great national ques
ton. 1t seems to us that MIR. Bryan
is killing two birds with one stone,
and that is, of course, not only Ell.
tirely justifiable, but commendable.
If he believes, as we think he does
believe, in the doctrine Of bi-metal
ism, and he believes that the trans
mutation of those doctrines into law
will be the financial salvation of our
country, he acts the part of an un
selfish statesman to advocate them
from every platform to which he may
have access. If in the advocacy of
these policies he is able to clear a
thousand dollars day, so much the
better for him, for Mrs Bryan and
the little organs that he has left at
home.
Mr.. Bryan is great orator. His
greatness as an orator consists in
great degree in the fact that his
heart is permeated with great con
viction. Thomas Carlisle, in his
matchless essay on Robert Burns,
states great truth when he says,
Let him who would move and CON
vince others, first be moved and con-
WINGED HIMSELF This is the secret
of MIR. Bryan's great and magnetic
power. He has been convinced him
self and with the dignity OF a great
conviction upon him he does not find
it difficult to convince others.
When the editor of The Standard
was conversing with MIR. Bryan we
jocularly remarked to him, seeing
that there were about hundred
democrats SIanQlnS round, that we
did not know there were so many
democrats left. Left" he inme
diately responded, they are all left
This quickness of repartee is charac
teristic of the man. He belongs to
the highest type of American man
hood and is a product of the keenest
and most incisive age the world has
ever known. We are glad it was our
pleasure to see and know him, and
whatever may be the criticisms of his
enemies, he left an impression upon
our own mind and upon the minds Of
our people that he is genuinely up
right, honest and conscientious
Christian gentleman, who is great
and will be great whether he ever
achieves the distinction OF being our
chief executive or not.