The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-25
CALAMITY HOWLS

Enthusiastic Over bt1Er aS They
Were. M
Denver correspondents OF the Pitts
burgh Times: William Jennings Bry-
an hss Just concluded a Tip through
this section of Colorado. speaking at
cripple Greek. Victor, Colorado Springs
and Boulder.
At Boulder Mr.. Bryan spoke at the
Texas-Co Colorado chautauqua, and had
an audience of 5000. the auditorium
being thronged to the doors Mr.. Bry-
nm was there in the capacity of a lee
turer, his advertised theme being
pending Problems" his compensa-
lion was half the gate money, which
Is said to have amounted to between
$500 and 800.
Mr. Bryan was to lecture before an
educational association, and for a COM
pepsatIon, therefore 1t was but nat
ural to expect that his address on
pending Problems" would not be a
polltlcal speech. In starting out he
gave the impression that such would be
the CASE LQE nc ulhE1 al RAEnGhAt 0GAA-
ocTats, Gold Democrats, Republicans,
silver Republicans and Popullsts to de
vest themselves OF all partisan bias and
IN consider the problems he was about
10 discuss solely as they affected them
IN their higher relations as American
citizens. Then Mr.. Bryan, having per-
shaded his audience to lay aside for
the time their partisan garments,
threw off his disguise as q lecturer and
appeared in his lighting rig as a DEM
oysat and Democratic aspirant for
the presidency.
His address in no sense resembled
lecture. II was Democratic stump
sneech pure and simple, an arraignment
OF the Republican party and Its prin-
cIples and policies, not even by indirec-
ton, but by name and specification. II
was delivered with all the arts OF the
professional stumper, with all the quips
and turns and tricks, the story, the apt
expression, poetlcal quotations, that
catch the ear and impress the mind Of
those who do not stop to think how for
eign they are to real argument, or how
inconsequentlal in the exposition OF
great truths.
Mr.. Bryan spoke two hours. 1t was
a skillfui speech. Like the katydld. he
saws an undisputed thing In such
solemn way that his hearers might al
most believe he was stating new and
entirely original propositions when he
enuncfated fundamental principles of
government in which all Americans be-
IIeye. and which are embodied in the
Declaration OF Independence and the
Constitution. The only disputes over
them are those relating to their appll-
cation to changing conditions or sud
den problems In the administration OF
To- I'D "a
mtngling, therefore, Of statements
which no one disputes. with false pre-
mIses and false logic. weaving the
whole into a fabric from which It was
difficult to separate the false and the
true. He constantly, too, stated halt
truths, carefully stopping at the point
where TO tell the rest would weaken the
Impression or destroy the, point he
wished to make. -.
An Illustration or two may show the
adroItness Of his appeals Mr.. Bryan
said:
for a standing army OF 100000 men. We
had only 10000 soldiers Id 1896, and 20.-
OCJ were enough. And. as u to make 1t
more striking and Significant, this re-
Gucst was made when the id2.nr OF Rus-
sIa had called upon the nations OF the
world. not to Increase thelrl armies, but
TO reduce them. II was MADE, too, near
the Christmas time, the Anniversary OF
the birth OF Him OF whom the angels
proclaimed that He brought Peace on
earth: good will to men,
It is difficult TO believe that an audi
ance could assemble In the United
States and not know that In 1876 the
United States was at peace and In 1888
at war; that more soldiers were need
ed because Of the mastering out OF vol
unteers. Mr. Bryan himself having
Travelled to Washington TO ask that ms
own regiment be mustered out ana
having left the service before his men
ala. There Is no audience but knows
Ihat Russia and all the European ma
lions are at peace, and that, moreover ,e
their standing armies number, not ~.
400 or 100. 600, but In some gases almost
/ 900 600 men. And schoolboy knows
that under the law the last session OF
Congress began on the first Monday OF
December and ended March 4, and that
consequently any recommendation OF
the President to that body must nave
been made at a date near the annlVer-
sary OF the Savlour's birth. NeVerthe-
less, Mr.. Bryan made his statement
with uplifted eyes and solemn Vlsase,
ms though calling for the condemnation
OF God and man upon such an act Oh
impiety and sacrilege. Si- ,
Mr. Bryan was especially Yehetnent
against imperialism" He read a news
paper clipping containing a dispatch
from England telling OF q Fourth OF
July dinner in London at which Festive
occasion imperialism was In the air.
Mr.. Bryan read this newspaper story
with the air OF man who has Just dis-
covered a mares nest and chased heE
off. He dwelt upon the principle OF
~ tho rFnVnFnnn' IN cons
nectlon with the Philippines question.
Upon that ne harped persistently. he
was speaking in that section OF the
United Safes acquired by purchase ana
conquest, the consent OF the govern
cd" figuring in neither case. From ABB
raham Lincoln he quoted copiously. IL
is Interesting to speculate what MT.
Bryan would have done In 1851 had nc
been President instead OF Mr.. Lincoln.
We know what Mr.. Lincoln dld IN Ilas
crisis He raised armies OF over 2'OOO'-
600 men and fought bloody and costly
four wears war to bring back the II
seeding states into the Union, there
10 be governed with or without their
Il was evident that Mr. Bryan is not
incommoded with modesty. He dis
cussed the campaign OF 1896 and his
own connection with II us though II
were stlll being wuEed. He told what
President Mckinley could and should
have done or can and should do now
with the air and manner which plainly
said: Were President that IL what
I would have done or would do now
That part Of It was amusing. II was
evident. too that he Is confident OF De-
ing the Democratic nominee In lsOO' lie
shows that In everything he says. Ana
when ne can get $500 or $500 for
speech In his own behalf. even II de,