The Leon reporter., 1900-09-13
BRY ANS LOGIC.

field (Mass.) Republican-Indepen
BRYAN's LOGIC.
No man living can say such stirring
things in words so free from passion
as William Jennings Bryan. He is
equally master of rhetoric and OF
logic. He is as modest and unassum-
ing as he is inspiring and convincing.
If he has an equal among publicists
of the day he is easily FIRST among
equals'-primus inter pares. He will
take place in American history with
Jefferson and Lincoln. and whether
chair or not-and it now seems abso-
lutely certain that he will-his fame
as one of the greatest interpreters Of
true democracy and Americanism is
assured. He grows in stature with the
days, and every speech he makes
gives new proof of his fearless candor
and intellectual thought and acumen.
His speech at Indianapolis was a
mastery exposition Of American gov
ernmental ideals. and his acceptance
of the Populist nomination at Topeka,
Kansas, on Thursday last, was less
great only because it was less exhaust
i've. Truly it can be said that "only
himself can be his parallel" in ex-
pounding the great fundamental
truths on which our national existence
is based, in words as common as they
are comprehensive.
In accepting it's presidential nomi-
nation Bryan paid the Populist party.
in his opening sentences high and
just compliment for the educational
work it has done in arousing the peo-
pie to study of economic and indus
trial questions, for, as he says, truth
grows not in seclusion but in the
open field. and it thrives best in the
sunshine Of full and free debate" 1t
is this free and full discussion that
McKinleyism-the bastard Republi-
canism Of the day-most breads. The
men who are striving to make the
stars and stripes what Cecil Rhodes
called the Union Jack in Africa. a
commercial asset" want no debate
| With no more feeling or sentiment
than Wordsworth's peasant, to whom
the pretty flower on the rivers brink,
"a yellow primrose was and nothing
more,' the flag of Washington, of
Jackson, of Lincoln, and of Grant, has
no glory or meaning in it's folds to
those greedy and vulgar plotters of
force. treason and imperialism. "Old
Glory" in Porto Rico. Cuba, the Phil
ippines, and at home, unless they can
make it a commercial asset is a
thing to be furled and especially be-
cause of the glowing story and hopeful
significance which Bryan waves into
its folds. With plunder instead of
patriotism as their aim they would
make it, as General Halpine wrote in
the New York Tribune in slavery days
a "robber rag" like other imperialstic
why, then, in their eyes it is nothing
but Haunting lie.'
Mr.. Bryan touched on severa,
things, but briefly, at Topeka, who,
he passed over at Indianapolis : i
referring to the currency question ths
Republican party, he says, denies the
necessity for more real money, while
it permits national banks to expenG
the volume of paper promises to pay
money. 1t is now committed to cur.
rency system which necessitates {
perpetual debt, while the Populist
finds himself in agreement with the
| Democrats, who believe in paying of
the national debt as rapidly as pos
sible. In sentences few, but clear, he
advocates an income tax the princi-
pies of direct legislation. the enlarge
ment of the scope of the intersta. e
commerce act, and the creation of a
| labor bureau at Washington with a
cabinet officer at it's head. He favors
the exclusion OF Chinese and other
oriental labor from the United States,
and in some trenchant sentences
shows the rascality of the trusts. If, =
he says, "a private monopoly can sus-
pend production and fix the price Of
the finished product, the farmer pow
erless to protect himself when he sells
is plundered when he purchases.
Mr.. Bryan's treatment of the pros
perity'' argument, of the war and its
cost to the taxpayer, of Imperialism
and other issues, leaving nothing to
be desired in the way of putting un-
answerable arguments in terse, pithy
and original manner. Every true
citizen will wish with him in his clos
| ing words that "the oppressed OF
every land will see in our flag the
| hope of their own deliverance and
whether they are bleeding upon the
| battlefield or groaning beneath ty-
rants lash, will raise their eyes to
wards heaven and breathe a fervent
prayer for the safety of our republic. y
WHY HE CHANGED.