The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-11
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ARTHUR ROPES. General Rditor
William j. Bryan.

bhh w ldlAiy lAAO pAONSoeAANNiSh Va W a.
liam j. Bryan for that office. Not even
the sensational projection OF Admiral
Dewey's name into the Democratic
canvass for the presidency last spring
was able to relax for an instant Bryan's
firm grip on the supreme direction of
his party.
Mr.. Bryan is an engaging type of q
man. He is a captivating speaker, and
he hes way of spinning political soph-
istries and of putting in juxtaposition
things that have no possible connec-
ton that appeals to the fancy and rea-
son-or lack of reason--of unthinking
readers or hearers. Out from under
the sway of pleasing personality and
the Establishments of an agreeable ora
tory, fancy may cool and reason resume
its control, but these qualities have,
nevertheless, served MIR. Bryan we'll
in enabling him to maintain his su.
premacy in his party, par ticularly in the
west and south.
Beyond the lines of thick and thin
party men, of the politicians who find
in him the one party leader with the
largest and most enthusiastic following,
the man with the best ability to make
the worse appear the better cause, and
therefore supplying the chief requisite
of leader of the Democracy of the
present times, Mr.. Bryan has not won
the confidence of the great body of the
thinking, sober-minded American peo-
pie. They do not trust him. They did
not trust him four years ago and he
has done nothing in four years to win
their confidence, or enhance their re-
spect, or increase their desire to make
him President. This is not simply the
opinion of men opposed to Mr.. Bryan
politically; it is the judgment, also, of
conservative men in his own party,
men who do not suffer craftsmanship to
blind their eyes, or cloud their judg
ment, or eclipse their reason. A good
representative of this sort of Democrats,
in whom still abide the principles and
beliefs Of the truer Democracy that dis
tinguished the party in former gener-
alton, is the New York Times. Writ
ing of the two candidates for the presi-
dency the Times presents this view of
the man:
Mr.. Mckinley we know, and we know
Mr.. Bryan. 1t would not be easy to tell the
people anything new about either, 30 we'll
are their characters and tempersments un-
derstood. Mr.. Mckinley has been quar-
ter OF century in politics and public life,
Mr.. Bryan decade. He has nowhere
gained a firm footing, and bis political ideas
are 30 shifty that he has appealed success
fully to the Populists and Democrats, two
parties whose original principles are wholly
Incompatible. They can dwell together
only under the roof that the supple Bryan
has patched up for them out of the odds
and ends OF old creeds and new. Men long
ago reached the conclusion that the Nebras-
kan is more actor than statesman. He
easily learns new parts and plays them
with fervor. Witness his zeal for the new
ly chosen issues of the trusts and imperial
ism. Those nearest to him appear to look
upon his political beliefs as things that he
can assume or lay aside at will and with
ease. Some OF them are now importuning
him to abandon the issue OF free silver
coinage, which stands for nine tenths of the
whole body OF doctrine, and is the only for
mulated and reasoned.out principle he DOS
sesses.
nsteadiness Is the besetting sin of Bry.
an. Governor Flower described him as
ambitious, unsteady, unsafe" and no one
ever described him better. Upon close ex-
animation it will be discovered by all stu
dents OF the career Of the man that the
principles he processes have been chosen
because Of their supposed power to make
him popular and to get votes for him.
Demagogy is the animating motive.
Bryan has an extraordinarily keen eye for
popular fads and fancies, and is one Of the
best judges the world ever saw OF the di-
rections in which the multitude is willing
to be moved A demagogue-and we would
not apply this term 20 Mr.. Bryan In it's
most offensive sense, but merely az denot-
ing his skill in reading the minds OF the
populace-may upon occasion do the State
some service, but you never know what he
is going to do next or where he is going to
stand. The American people like 10 have
some assurance where their Presidents are
going to stand
That assurance they find in the we'll
poised character OF Nj. Mckinley. II is
impossible for anybody TO get enthusiastic
over William Mckinley, and the great con-
serVative mass OF American citizens like
him the better and trust him the more for
that They prefer safe President to
great President. MI Mckinley is preemi.
nently safe man. lie is product OF
American inheritance and environment.
He was bred in the quiet, orderly, serious,
religious life OF an average American citi-
zen in community where brilianoy or any
wide departure from the accepted standards
OF belief or behavior would have caused
man to be regarded with distrust
This, be it remembered, is the judy