Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-28
Mrs. leass At tho Hub.


riety. has just been electrified by the
peculiarly moving eloquence of Mrs.
Mary Elizabes Lease. Familiarity known
through the newspaper photographers
as Mary Ellen Lease. The large audi
ence that listened to her lecture in
| that city, Sunday evening, on Christ
or Caesar" appear to have been quite
unanimous in the opinion that she is a
remarkable woman. 1t will generally
been able to make his or her person.
atty conspicuous in the legitimate life
of a great people is not lacking in
strength of purpose Or vigor Of mind.
Our American newspapers in the flip
pant and disparaginE way in which
they not infrequently treat the preach
ers of new isms. often give the public
an impression of the personalities of
such leaders. that is not wholly in
are frequently amazed, when brought
in contact with people of this class, 20
find how erroneous have been their
pre-conceived judgments. 1t startles
them to find that sockless Jerry Simp-
son is recognized as one of the bright
est members of the national House of
Representatives: that Belva A. Lock-
wood is a brilliant and accomplished
lady; that Baby Bailey is one of the
strongest members of his party in
Congress. man of scholarly attain
mentS, and an orator of exceptional
come. indeed we believe it is already
coming. when the newspaper portraits
of public personalities will be more ac-
curate-when the extravaganza praise
of friends by party organs shall not
wholly hide the fact that they are
possessed in some degree of the frail-
tiles of man. and when the denuncia-
ton of opponents shall not so enlarge
upon their shortcomings as to wholly
|
come when all these matters will be
dealt with in a greater spirit of candor.
Probably no leader has been more a
target for newspaper quips and hui
mors than Mrs. Lease. Her erratic
career, her rugged masculinity. and her
intense and vigorous aggessiveness
have all combined to make her a IA
vorite target of the enemy. And still
those who imagine that she is without
misconceived her. We confess that we
have never been Il believer in any of
the various isms espoused by Mrs.
Lease nor have we ever been able to
discover any particular depth or
strength in her philosophy. We be-
lieve that she has been enlisted under
false banners. For all that we have
recognized in her a woman of many
remarkable and brilliant gifts, with
wonderful power to sway popular
audiences. The cause of Populism,
now in the last stages of quick con-
sumption, owed more of its early
strength to her than to all of its other
field workers combined. To her re-
markable campaigning in period of
agricultural depression, was largely
ulism in Kansas. 1t was a party
whose corner stone was calamity, and
it was only natural that it should
rapidly disintegrate with the return of
Republican prosperity. Nevertheless
the leader who could bring about the
results achieved by Mrs. Lease. even in
an era of Democratic hard times, must
have had exceptional qualities of per-
sonal magnetism and power. 1t is
probably true that Mrs. Lease has been
entirely honest in her convictions. 1t
is certain that in the last campaign
she made more speeches and travelled
more miles than any other campaign
orator in the country, with the single
exception of Bryan himself, and doubt
| less was one of the most potent factors
| in promoting his cause. When such
friends of the inner Bryan circle desert
and condemn him. it is evident that
the outlook for the boy orator of the
| Platte is far from rosy.
OF course Mrs. Lease was inter-
viewed during her stay in Boston, and
what she had to say upon the political
situation was full of significance.
William Jennings Bryan" she de-
clared lis a selfish demagogue. l was
his friend. but now l would not make
another speech for him if it would save
his neck. He was afraid to defend the
government ownership of railroads.
He has no other cry, no other purpose,
| than '16 to l.
I'm conversation with him only few
months ago, said: sH
Mr.. Bryan, don't you feel as