New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-19
A REBUKE TO BRYAN.
a REBUKE 10 BRIAN.
CRITICISM OF HIS SPEECH AT THE oNE-DoLLAR
DINNER.

CRITICISM OF HIS SPEECH AT THE ONE-DOLLAR
DINNER
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The editorial in this mornings Tribune on
Mr. Bryan's speech at the Jefferson dinner Is both
pertinent and thoroughly truthful. The speech was
dignifed in delivery, clear in enuncaton magnetic
we'll pronounced (he did not say 'Guvermunt" or
philippians as did some Of the other speakers),
but 1t lacked responsiveness and strength
I'm 1896 I carried nearly every State did not
speak In and lost every State visited" was In
tended to be joke on himself and thrust at the
President. but In that sentence he struck the
secret OF his failure to make votes by his public
utterances.
Mr. Bryan has a superb voice, a fine presence and
manner that might be called captivating but he
lacks the chief requisites Of the Wendell Phillips
type OF oratory-persuasiveness and the ability to
convince
When he said: Il would not abstract from the
Chicago platform a single plank TO get back every
man who left II" he showed his inability to see
that in the East silver is dead ISSUE and mis-
took concet for courage. Silver is Mr.. Bryan's
hobby He is riding 1t to death. He can't get OFF.
During this portion Of the speech we were re-
nina of Mr.. Lincolns lone traveller. Who losing
his way on the prairie during terrific thunder
storm. said, after awful peal OF thunder had
brought him 10 his knees: "Oh, Lord IL It's all the
same to you. give poor fellow little more light
and little less noise"
On the money question Mr.. organs ut'erahces
lack lucdity and illuminat ton.
A Democratic paper said some days ago that the
young orator of the West showed 70 much better
advantage in his attacks on imperialism than In
his dissertations finance. because his new SUD-
ject afforded much better opportunity for nysteri'
cal treatment This hits off the truth exactly re-
specting the speech at the dollar dinner last eatu1'
day evening When Mr. Bryan said What will is
cost us to tear down the ideals Of hundred years
and go forth bully to strike down weaker
nations?" he received a storm OF applause from an
audience which was far above the average OF i's
size In demeanor and intelligence. but the sehu-
rnent was false its assumption and vicious IN us
suggestiyeness .
Underneath all that Mr.. Bryan said on imper'AA-
ism, there was a vein of caustic criticism OF tho
President whom believe unbiased historians VIII
pronounce one OF the most discreet, far-signted'
self-contained. dignhed road-minded catnonc-
spirited Christian statesmen OF the nineteenth cent
ury. there is aught OF the spirit OF ane ,bny ~
this generation TO SOW the seeds OF so
between the North and the South: IN the man MO
almost. against mighty people camoring LOT "a az
in the man who is now simply seeking 10 save tnc
there be aught of the spirit of the bully in Wilam
Mckinley, IL will take the eagle eye OF oeiea'eu
competitor for his high Office to diseSver our
have become more prosperous. the wages OF mil mn
ion Dsvsr be ssye IN he same Of Time
In the respect of the nations OF the oIder VOLT.
We have become naval power OF me nf nj bs ost
Militant and picturesque in the history OF America,
and il cannot probably be paraleled IN human
In his discussion of the silver question MT Bryan
is raking Of your contemporaries says s,sat
ment OF the Philippine question he is, as are inc
philippine Islands themselvse JAMES ga " oTHEAeER
~s-..o, NJ " Anrt, II 1899