New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-09-23
CHARACTERISTICS OF WILLIAM J.
BRYAN.
BY JAMES CREELMAN.

Mr. Bryan is one of the least i'm
pulsive men in America. Th'
common idea of him is that he il
governed in all things by his emo
tions. Nothing could be further
from the truth His habit of mint
is orderly and deliberate, and he is
usually desperately slow in making
decisions. OF all the leaders OF
the Democratic party as it exists
to-day he is, perhaps, more labori
Gus and careful, more studious
and more suspicious of issues that
originate in popular clamor than
any other.
This statement may surprise
men who look upon Mr.. Bryan as
mere passionate 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 to-day.
He is conservative rather than
radical, fundamental rather than
practical.
Since his nomination in 1896
Mr.. Bryan has grown graver,
broader, deeper. He has lost what
there was in him of sectional feel
ing, and looks to the swarming
East to help the South and West
in it's struggle against the abuses
of corporate wealth in politics.
He is more national in his point of
view. To-day he seems to under
stand that man may disagree
with him on the currency question
and yet be a sincere Democrat,
accepting the party creed as a
whole.
Although | have not been a sup
porter of Mr.. Bryan, | am con
vinced by personal contact with
him and by my knowledge Of what
he has accomplished and is accom-
plishing now that three years have
changed him from sectional lead
er inspired but enthralled by sin
gle idea into many sided, respon-
sible statesman. His patent tact,
his courageous devotion to princi-
pie and his power of compelling
confidence in his honesty are grad
ually reuniting the Democratic
party.
Let no one be deluded by the
idea that Mr.. Bryan does not un-
derstand party politics in all it's
ramifications. | 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, without power
or place, hold the attention Of the
entire nation, speak boldly and
without reserve on every public
issue in time of constant and
fierce excitement, and yet not make
a single political blunder; in these
three years he has become more
moderate in speech and less rheto-
rical. He is reasonable rather than
dictatorial.
l speak of him as profound and
masterful politician, because that
is the side of his character not gen.
orally understood. Neither Sen
ator Hanna, President Mckinley,
David B. Hill, Arthur P. German
nor Richard Croker is in the same
grade with him as a party polite
ian. He seems to rule without
threats, without promises and with
out money. He is building up an
that will compare in
completeness with any that has ex-
lsted since the civil war. He is
determined that his party shall not
90 into the next campaign in a fluid
If Mr.. Bryan has a
serious fault as a politician it is his $
to yield, or seem to yield. {
His personality is something 6
phenomenal. He dominates every !;
hing about him. In this respect /
le unfortunately resembles Mr.. t
Cleveland, but, unlike Mr.. Cleve- q
and, he trusts the common sense :
# the people. Mr.. Bryan's deep |
eligious convictions control him in t
lis attitude toward the masses. a
1e firmly believes that the hand of Q
Tod is always present in the affairs
f men, and that it is a part of the
Divine plan to work out every good \
hing through the average mind;
n other words, through the ma 4
ority. G
No unprejudiced man can travel F
trough the various States to-day G
1ithout recognizing the fact that h
1r. Bryan is much stronger and
1uch more firmly intrenched in the 4
Of the multitude than he
'as at any time during the last d
residential campaign. He is the b
upreme, unchallenged leader of o
is party. But what has most i'm b.
ressed: me is the large and con- ei
tantly increasing following he has re
mong business men now. cl
His refusal to engage in personal 9,
ttacks on the President, his decent
nd digniied manner of speech and
is opposition to a national policy =,
foreign adventure seem to have =
roken down the prevailing distrust u
mong legitimate business men. IL
he truth is that Mr. Bryan is to- nj
ay the great barrier against State "
,cialism in America. Were it not !,
'r his unceasing labors, his open -
nd real sympathy for the millions
he suffer in the shadow of re- r.
lorseless corporate greed, and his an
over of convincing the desperate
nd despairing that their cause can
. won without overturning the it
resent order Of government, State d'