The Irish standard., 1899-07-01

have achieved imperishable fame with
out being president These you can
count upon the fingers Of your two
hands without counting twice, but who
ever is missing from that goodly COM
pany Bland will stand there immortal
This man was OF the stuff out OF which
martyrs are made, and in his unosten-
tatious way he would have gone I'M
dauntedly and un1esitatingly to the
block, the gbbet or the stake for what
ne considered right. I regard it as a
blessed privilege to have known him
and to have been counted among his
friends I l1umbly and fcrvently thank
God for such noble and unselhsh life,
for say with Owen Meredith that
No life
Can be pure in its purpose and strong in
its strife
And all life not made stronger and purer
thereby.
have said that Bland was not an ora
tor, but in the days to come his speeches
will be analysed and studied as the main
spring OF great political revolution.
II Bland ever took any thought OF
fame-whch am persuaded he did not
he would have chosen to rest his repu-
tation as public speaker upon the great
speech known as "The Parting OF the
Ways" speech, delivered in August,
1898, on the repeal of the purchasing
clause OF the Sherman law. 1t was an
epoch marker and rendered possible the
Chicago platform OF 1896 and the
astounding campaign which Bryan made
upon it. In effect it was like Patrick
Henry's great lyric speech before the
Virginia house OF burgesses, precipitat-
ing the Revolution, which still stirs the
heart like strains of martial music. That
day Bland faced hostile audience and
defied the mighty power OF an unfriendly
administration with serene courage,
dlrectness OF utterance. demonstration
of candor that forced round after round
OF applause from his most steadfast op-
ponents. When with a face glowing
with intensity of feeling and with lions
roar he shouted. I'VE have come to the
parting OF the ways" men knew that it
was war, bitter war, among the Demo-
Gratis until BANDS principles became his
party's creed He secured only IoI
votes, but lie had set in motion forces
which have tri1lmphcd in the party and
which, under God, will triumph in the
country and throughout the world. |
have often regretted that the portrait OF
the Grand Old Man could not have been
painted by master hand as he appeared
that day-thc greatest day OF his life,
day big with the fate OF Cato and OF
Rome. Such picture would deserve to
rank with the greatest historical paint
ings OF the world
From that day to this | have loved
and reverenccd the man, and will love
and reverence his memory always.
Though intimately associated with
Bland, | never heard him mention that
speech. From that and other facts, am
inclined to believe that he never had
any clear conception of what colossal
historic parsonage he was and greatly
underrated the influence which he had
exerted on the destinies of his country
and his kind.
1t was persistcntly asserted in certain
quarters that Bland was not big enough
for president. That was all bosl1. ANY
man who could serve in congress ?,
years, growing constantly, and hoe as
big a row as Bland did is big enough to
be president.
The little girl was philosopher who
put an obstacle in the pathway OF the
astronomer who was always gazing sky
ward, and, when he barked his shins and
angrily asked her why she did it, re-
Piled Look close about you, and you
will find beauties nearer home" I COM
mend her wisdom to BANDS detractors.
Campbel's Pleasures of Hope" is the
greatest long poem in our vernacuar.
1t contains one couplet that has always
chung to my memory like bur:
'Tis distance lends enchantment to the
view
And robes the mountains in their azure
hue.
And distance performs precisely the
same Office for public men. l can give
an accurate rule for measuring them
Statesmen are great exactly in proper
ton to the square of the distance you
are away from them. Few, very few,
can stand the severe test OF personal
contact and close inspection. Many OF
them shrink and shrivel into repulsive
nothingness, like Rider Haggard's
"She." For SO years any man who hap
peiled to be elected governor of New
York, Ohio or Indiana at once assumed
presidential proportions AS a grower
Jonall's' gourd wasn't marker to any
Of them.
1 have read and studied and thought
somewhat about American presidents
and have endeavored with unprecedented
mind to ascertain the causes OF their
eminence, their mental strength and