The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-10

siye men in America. The common idea
of him is that he is governed in all
things by his emotions. Nothing could
be further from the truth. His habit of
mind is orderly and deliberate, and he
is usually desperately slow in making
decisions. OF all the leaders of the
Democratic party as it exists today he
is. perhaps, more laborious and careful,
more studious and more suspicious of
issues that originate in popular clamor
than any other.
This statement may surprise men who
look npon Mr.. Bryan as a mere passion
ate orator But it is the simple truth.
His political passions are passions of
what he conceives to be principles. This
is the key to the Bryan of today. He is
conservative rather than radical, fun
damental rather than practical.
Since his nomination in 1896, Mr..
Bryan has grown graver, broader, deep
er. He has lost what there was in him
of sectional feeling, and looks to the
swarming East to help the South and
West in its struggle against the abuses
of corporate wealth in politics. He is
more national in his point of view. To
day he seems to understand that a man
may ulSdSTee Will IllllI UlI lAe NuiACiiSs
question and yet be a sincere Democrat,
accepting the party creed as whole.
Although | have not been a supporter
of Mr.. Bryan, l am convinced by per-
sonal contact with him and by my
knowledge of what he has accomplished
and is accomplishing now that three
years have changed him from a sec
tional leader inspired but enthralled by
a single idea into many sided, respon-
sible statesman. His patient tact, his
courageous devotion to principle and his
power of compelling confidence in his
honesty are gradually reuniting the
Democratic party.
Let no one be deluded by the idea that
Mr.. Bryan does not understand party
politics in all its ramiications. | should
say that he is at this moment the most
astute politician in the United States.
Think of the extraordinary ability and
knowledge required to hold in union the
Democratic, populist and Free Silver
Republican parties; think of defeated
candidate who can for three years, with
out power or place, hold the attention
of the entire nation, speak boldly and
without reserve on every public issue in
a time of constant and fierce excitement,
and yet not make single political blum
der: in these three years he has become
more moderate in speech and less rhe-
torical. He is reasonable rather than
dictatorial.
/ speak of him as a profound and
masterful politician, because that is the
side of his character not generally under
stood Neither Senator Hanna. Presi-
dent Mckinley, David b. Hill, Arthur
p. German nor Richard Croker is in the
same grade with him as a party politi-
clan. He seems to rule without threats,
without promises and without money.
He is building up an organization that
will compare in completeness with any
that has existed since the civil war. He
is determined thar his party shall not
go into the next campaign in a fluid con-
dition. If Mr.. Bryan has a serious fault
as a politician it is his inability to yield,
or seem to yield.
His personality is something pheno-
menal. He dominates everything about
him. In this respect he unfortunately
resembles Mr.. Cleveland, but, unlike Mr..
Cleveland, he trusts the common sense
of the common people. Mr.. Bryan S
deep religious convictions control him in
his attitude toward the masses. lie
firmly believes that the hand of God is
always present in the affairs of men,
and that it is part of the Divine plan
to work out every good thing through
the average mind; in other words,
through the majority.
No unprecedented man can travel
through the various States today with
out recognizing the fact that Mr. Bry-
an is much stronger and much more
firmly intrenched in the confidence Of
the multitude tnan he was at any time
during the last Presidential campaign.
He is the supreme, unchallenged leader
of his party. But what has most inl-
pressed me is the large and constantly
increasing following he has among busi-
ness men now.
His refusal to engage in personal at
tacks ON the President, his decent and
dignified manner Of speech and his op
position to national policy of foreign
adventure seem to have broken down
the prevailing distrust among legitimate
business men The truth is that Mr..
Bryan is today the great barrier against
State socialism in America. Were IL
not for his unceasing labors, his open
anu Tedi Sy HpdlHy iOI Tire hii1lohS VIM
suffer in the shadow of remorseless Coz
porate greed, and his power of conyinc-
ing the desperate and despairing thai
their cause can be won without over
turning the present order of govern
ment, State socialism would be kindled
into life.
Hundreds of thousands of men who
look with kindly eyes upon government
confiscation of trusts as relief for the
present top-heavy, unequal condition of
the nation have been drawn into support
of the Democratic party through their
belief in Mr.. Bryan's sincerity. he
bridges a great gulf. So long as the
original conditions, tendencies and OPP
portunities of the Republic existed there
were no signs of socialism to be seen.
Mr.. Bryan's rise into national power -
the last protest of old-fashioned con
tinental Americanism against the new
order of things represented by Mck'n-
leyism, trusts and Imperialism.
Much as / personally dislike and dis
trust the free silver idea, | ann com
PEELED by force of facts to recognize III
Mr.. Bryan really great man. stub
born and uncompromising champion OF a
II f. Il. hYYf