The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-12-04
BRYAN's LOGIC.

No man living can say such stirring
things in words SO free from passion
as William Jennings Bryan. He is
equally a master of rhetoric and of
logic. He is as modest and unassum-
ing as he is inspiring and convincing.
II 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 1T now seems abso-
lutely certain that he will-his fame
as one of the Ct eatest 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 acunea.
His speech at Indianapolis was
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 a 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 seciusion 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,
d
more" the flag Of Washington, of
Jackson, of Lincoln, and of Grant, has
no glory or meaning in its 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 Commercial asset" is
Iv,o IN ha Id he
cause of the glowing story and hopeful
significance which Bryan waves into
it's folds. With plumber instead of
patrio ISM as their aim they would
make it, as General Halpine wrote in
the New York Tribune in slavery days,
''robber rag" like other imperialistic
bunting. and IL it cannot be so used
but Haunting lie."
Mr.. Bryan touched on several
things, but briefly, at Topeka, which
he passed over at Indianapolis. In
referring to the currency question the
Republican party, he says, denies the
necessity for more real money, while
it permits national banks to expend
the volume of paper promises to pay
money. 1t is now committed to a cur
rency system which necessitates a
perpetual debt, while the Populist
finds himself in agreement with the
Democrats who believe in paying off
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 interstate
commerce act. and the creation of
labor bureau at Washington with
cabinet officer at its 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 tx 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 I'M
answerable arguments in a 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 nag the
hope of their own deliverance and,
whether they are bleeding upon the
battlefield or grooming beneath a ty-
rants lash. win raise their eyes to-
wards heaven and breathe a fervent
prayer for tie safety of our republic"
WHY HE CHANGED.