The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-21

ne w sung tou AOHb' WhtCh - ANc-
publican in politics, pays the following
handsome tribute to the character Of
VIM. j. Bryan es a man, a citizen and
party leader;
Mr.. Bryan is the one Democrat alive
who can develop the party's utmost
strength this year. No, only do Dem
ocrats give him their unreserved re-
spect and confidence; they now recog-
nize his Atsolute honesty and his mag
nihcent. answering courage. With
him as the leader all is not harmony.
but without him the Democratic party
would be an incoherent and hetero-
genous mob. He does not, like Nc
Kinley, appeal to the sentimental side
of men. He does not, again like his
distinguished antagonist, win personal
affection. He is strenuous, dominant,
compelling. He does not consult or
seek advice or lean upon another. He
is a captain, a commander, a law unto
himself. Four years ago he leaped
from comparative obscurity to the
leadership of a party which Cleveland
had practically wrecked. In the eyes
Of the country at large he seemed an
accident-the grotesque fruit of divid.
ed counsels the product of despair :;
the caprice of an idle and hope
less mood. He was young; his
political experience had been very
brief his record hinted at no
special briliancy, and his achievements
warranted but very modest expects
tion for thehfuture. Nevertheless, he
magnetized ten thousand mer assem-
bled in the Chicago convention hall as
surely, no similar audience was ever
magnetized before, and he did this less
by any gift of rhetoric or trick of elo-
quence than by the overwhelming
pas sion of his earnestness and the ir-
resistible force of his convictions. He
was not the evolution of deep-lsid
scheme. He was not the result of a
carefully contrived conspiracy. He
was the spontaneous choice of every
Democrat within hearing of his ring
ing words-within the influence of his
tremendous personality. The astound.
ing campaign which he conducted
subsequently, has no parallel in the
chronicle cf American politics. AL
most unknown, backed by no party
organization worthy of serious ap-
praisement; without money; abandon
by the Cleveland fraction: ridiculed
and misrepresented; fighting against
the most desperate odds, including the
Democratic administration and all its
hirelings and benefciaries, this YOUTH
full stranger from the west brought out
nearly million votes more than
Cleveland, with all his eastern mil
lionaires behind him, had been able to
summon to the polls four years before,
and forced the Republican party to
levy on every Gad's Hill in the land
for its salvation.
No one today affects to hold Mr..
Bryan in contempt. No man at once
intelligent and honest ventures to dis
miss him from the equation of 1900 as
a factor of small consequence. Even
the New York Sun, perhaps the most
ardent and eager Republican organ in
the country, felt called upon, some
weeks ago to pay tribute to the mans
consistency and courage. Indeed, Mr.
Bryan stands upon his own feet, q
perfect specimen OF physical, intellect
ual and moral strength. He is nc
trimmer. He does not go the people
for assurance and encouragement. He
draws them TO him and holds them by
his unaided power. His face reveals
his character. 1t is a face without
softness and equally without cruelty
1t is the face of a man who does no
yield, who cannot be tempted or ca
joled-the face of one who believes
absolutely in himself-the face of al
enthusiast, fanatic, If you will. bu
of leader and giant among men.