The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-24

Total Observation-Disclosures. -'O'-
Daily average Sunday. 1850, excepted 4ooo'
Mess of PottnEe.
Mr.. Bryan said in his speech to the
farmers of Syracuse, New York:
..The Republicans want the farmer to sell his
birthrisht for a mess of pottage. and then they
will not give him a chance to look at 'he
pottage.'
This illustration is a peculiarly happy
one, not altogether because the audience
to which the Democratic candidate was
then speaking was probably familiar with
the Scriptures and could appreciate the
full force of it. but because the story OF
Esau and Jacob is especially instructive
in the present situation. All great ora
tors and writer's have found figures OF
speech taken from Bible history to be the
most telling. The Old Testament is the
collected wisdom. in legend, poetry. pro-
verb. and story, of an ancient people PCS
sessing a firm grasp upon the realities oil
life. Their energies did not run to paint
ins. sculpture, or architecture. They pro-
duced no great monuments. no wonderful
cities, no magnificent pictures: they were
mot fertile in mechanical devices. like the
Chinese: their genius lay in the keen ger
ception and fitting expression Of the rela-
lions of human life. There is moth ng In
Homer like this story of Jacob and Esau.
The Biblical stories have a broader ap-
plication, deeper meaning, Tran the
folklore of other primitive peoples. The
Hebrews perceived more clearly the es-
sential necessities of human Relationship.
and of the service of man to man. AID
hence their literature has an eth cal and
social value all its own. Whether one be-
Heves it inspired or not, it is impossible
TO deny it's applicability to modern con-
ditions, and with the instinct of great
orator and true thinker. Bryan made the
application in this case.
In spite of all the artificial reasons fer
reverence that theologians have given. II
is not easy for the average man to ad-
mire Jacob very much AS ccntrasted
with his brother Esau, he was brain
against heart, cunning against strength,
the civilized man against the savage. The
two men were twins; they lived side by
side. in close human relationship. even
as their prototypes do today. In The
same family may often be found Jacob
and an Esau, and the Jacob generally
comes out best, SO far as worldly advan-
tage is concerned. The Jacob and the
Esau in our national life are now arrayei
tod i,,ct
plays the part of Isaac. 1t remains to he
seen whether, as in the Biblical story,
Jacob will hoodwink the judge into be-
lievins him Esau, and whether Esau will
accept. in his necessity, the mess of pot
tage which is offered in exchange for 8
birthright. History does not always re-
peat itself. The Struggle is eternal: the
outcome varies with circumstances.
One may go back to the Oldest human
relationships and find two different kinds
Of leaders, and discover the Esau story
in a dozen different forms. Jacob won
his cause by appealing to the primitive
need of sustenance and desire for palat-
able food. For the moment the demand
of hunger was SO imperative as to cause
the hunter to forget everything but the
fact that food was at hand. The hunter
type is the primitive man at the extreme.
The first occupation of man, after he rose
TO the dignity Of walking on two feet.
was a continuation of that which had
been his in all his previous history
hunting the lower animals. An. occupa-
ton persisted in through so many genera
lions has developed some of the noblest
traits of mankind. The hunter must be
brave, daring, full of endurance, and of
fortitude; he must be capable Of living for
days, IL necessary, without food, and 1t
il his habit to undergo on every long ex-
pedition, severe strains which could not
he borne by the ordinary man. Nothing
but a strong animal nature Joined to the
primitive virtues can fit a man for such a
life. He must be ready to take risks, to
suffer. to give generously. to trust his fell
lows, and these very virtues make him
unfit for dealing with man more cau-
tious, crafty. and timid than himself.
The savage, in all time. has come TO grief
too often through trusting the civilized
man. II is one OF the paradoxical trag-
civilization often go corruption and
double dealing Yet the primitive virtues
are not suffered to be lost; they possess
IN inexhaustible vitality. and over-civil-
lied cunning overreaches itself and dies
OF its OWE rottcnness. while leaving as
;nh no be-,
uuickness of brain developed through self
ishness. Far back in the dawn of his
tory, then, we find two leaders, the man
who gains the respect and admiration of
the tribe through strength and courage.
who rules. roughly indeed, but with a GER
tain rude Justice, and that other leader
who is wise in counsel and intrigue.
Among savages the shrewd and subtle
man is both feared and despised. Among
civilized men IL is the same. An aristoc-
racy lives only SO longfas its members
are brave, strong, and high in ideals.
When they begin to rely on hoodwinking
the people into accepting their rule. their
decline has begun. Men respect strong
sovereign, though he be wicked: they
have contempt mixed with fear for the
ruler who is not brave or honest, but
only cunning. They instinctively feel that
his cunning is turned against themselves
as well as the enemies OF the State. 1t
is not for nothing that man Instructive
ly and hotiy resepts being deceived and
made a fool OF. His resentment is an in
stinctiye feeling that the foundations of
society are weakened when men cannot
trust each other. II is as true and whole