The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-04
I'm analysis OF
Bryan's 0ratory

william NJ. Nccdy, IN tic ST. LOUIS Mirror.
THE PEOPLE have curiosity to see Mr.
Bryan. They have a curiosity to hear
L him, because lie has the reputation OF an
orator. They do not care for what he
says, SO much as for how he says it. They
like the man. There is no denying that they
have an affection for the Bryan personality, for
the physical charm of him, for some pleasant
memory or instinct or subtle prepossession he
arouscs in them And they care for him, un.
less l am wrong. as they care for a popular
actor or preacher who has a fine delivery.
They care for his personality, for his sensuous,
emotional effect upon them more than they are
concerned with his character. They do not re-
gard him great, as they did in 1896. They
like him. In a general way they agree with
him; they love to hear him assail the things
which are. They would like to believe that
things could be different, but they seem to feel
and know, somehow, that what he promises is 4
pretty dream-like the new Jerusalem of the
preacher on the Phaeacia Of the poets of old
time.
The interest in Mr. Bryan is a manifestation
Of Il popular phase of aesthetics. He is sort
OF troubadour singing men songs that make them
sorry for themselves, picturing them the pos
sibilities of transforming the world into a place
where their ideals will be realized. But they
know that the ideal is not realizablc, at least
not here, in this world. They delight to hear
him assail those who are mighty and in high
places, to see him fighting dragons or octopi,
but. somehow. in dim sort of way they
realize that the mighty and the strong in high
plcaes arc only made orres and cruesome giants
by his fancy, while the dragons or the octopi
are in reality harmless against spell of the
popular will that will protect the people. The
people say lie fights a gallant battle, but it is
battle likt that of heroes in novels and poems
and pluys The stage il fixed for the hero to
win. The villains are not villains after all.
rrl,o,, ava no;ptoI 90 c,,nh 70 tbrou for,v,rd
hero.
o.
I should rank Mr. BRYAN with John Drew,
Hackct, Faversham Henry Miller. Mr.. Bryan
is the manifestation Of the romantic school in
politics In another way Colonel Roosevelt is
a manifestation of the same thing, but Colonel
Roosevelt has a strong flavor of the practical.
erost. but lie is not so much A theorist He
lacks MFR. Bryan's blandness OF idealism. because
he has rubbed up harder against the realities
and has had n somewhat disilh,sonizinr. though
not cyncizipg familiarity with history. The
world is all new to Mr.. Bryan. To Colonel
Roosevelt it is an old, old world but still fair
and growing fairer in its old old way and by
virtue of the yery processes which seem to Mr.
Rrvan al, owl, Mr. Rrvan Ia sort ~ mora,
evangelist tcIlinp us of tho millennium as HI,
would have II. but without n practical nlan for
bringing II to mass. Mr.. Brvan ia more like
william Norris than like lincoln. Mr. Rryan
is n ponulor hero Inf hc. somehow. seems to
The people to be fighting with ghosts and orres
and di;nns ~ his own coniurinr Mr. Brvan
annoals 70 tho cmotions of mon and ,nlifts them
tcmnorariIv when bc obandons his manuscript
Bnt when tho evening is over he leaves no much
moro monument effect in tho minds Of those who
heard him than they might have carried away
s.. A.. .a.a.,.,.,., - =. -. H..