The sun., 1900-01-24

+ ANENr the visit OF William Jennings
Bryan to this city and State on next Fri
day discussion OF that individual and
apropos. No doubt large crowds will
eather at Smyrna and Wilmington on
Friday next to see and hear Bryan. His
is an engaging personality, and his
oratory is OF that pleasing character
which can be heard without effort and
followed without too severe tax. He
talks in a plain, matter-of-fact way,
without attempt, apparently, at cora
tory" and never scars above the heads
of his audience. An apt characterization
OF Mr.. Bryan would probably be that he
is highly dev loped order OF stump
speaker, as he is known in the South
and the West, where the orator on the
hustings is real political power.
In estimating the effect of Mr.. Bryan's
speeches, it is evident that he is being
led astray as he was four years ago. He
mistakes kindly greeting, curiosity to
see one who is heraded as the best cam
paigner of the day, and general liking
for man like himself who is free from
the arts of the politician, as agreement
with his views. Therefore, when he
sees people flock by the thousand to hear
him speak, when he hears them applaud
his witty sallies, he believes he is cap
turing votes. He puts down in his own
column the myrads who go to see and
to hear him just as they would any other
celebrity.
Mr.. Bryan is seemingly in no way put
out by the fact that he is meeting with a
notably cool reception from the Demo-
cratic leaders in the East, though We
should think this would strike him as
heing very significant. It means that
the shrewd politicians in his party be-
lieve he is making the wrong fight and
adopting the wrong methods. They
know what another election with free
L silver as one Of the important issues
means, yet in the speeches Mr.. Bryan
makes now it becomes more and more
II evident that he intends 10 keep the
II money question 10 Tie front. L looked
few weeks ago as il lie were willing Il
permit il 10 drop into tie background,
but the farther East he gets he more in
\ sistent he appears q be hat the Ch cago
| platform shall be the party creed, Eiis
silver argument is practically lLe sane
as L always was, except ihas he 61ng.
IN the recent panic and the disturbances
in the London money nlarkpt"u acnauni
oil Ehgl@h revtrsrs in Sruth Africa tr
a show w iuetiiciency OF tha g1d stan
ddrd, as i. gold money, II YER pioney,
p4psl money Or any Gti " farm cf cui.
Tency were proof against panic and Dc.
moralization III addition u the Chicagc
platf'hm lie has added t. the issues oI
the campaign trusts and inperalism on
which he will find many II agreement
with him
The "trip East is intended, If course, Il
cllnch Mr. Brvan's vote ia the Presdeu.
lal convention, aad it doubtless viii
succeed il that But that is not the eec
5oiat vote next November. What chance
has Mr. Bryan in any Of tile States ht
ost in lSQ6 except in Kentucky? OF the
States hc carried, Kansas, Wyoming
south Dakota and Washington have
wung back into the Repub lean column
probably to remain there. There is ne
Indication that lie is going to capture
lhis year any State he Lost in 1896. The
Fnicaso platform, which he champion,
boldly has lost rather than gained
. frength in the four years that have
assed since the popular verdict was de.
~ vered against it, and il ii is made one 81
be main issues ag g.in, as Mr.. Bryan
ishes it to be, there is every reason to
elieve that it will again be overwEelm-
gly repndiated.