The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-08-04

The political situation has greatly changed
since 1896. Mr. Bryan was then young
man Just entered upon mis- thirty-sIxth year.
He was unknown to the country, except
through his flights of oratory, and the plat
form upon which he was nominated contained
some doctrines that were new to the people
of the East By many Mr.. Bryan was re-
garded as "A young man, with not sufhcIent
experience TO be at the head OF affairs, and the
chief issue he thrust forward was considered
subyersiye of financial stability and threaten
inc to business He made wonderful canvas,
however. and with little financial aid and
with large part of his party in open revolt,
six and a half millions Of voters rallied to his
standard Mr.. Bryan, in the memorable cam
paign he made; in the brilliant and able man
ner in which he laid the issue before the peo-
nile. showed that he was a thinker, and not
mere orator, who knew how to captvate his
audiences with enhancing phrases. HIS ora
tory was superb, it is true, but he put before
the people many solid facts and sound rea-
sonine. 1t will be remembered, too, that the
opposition did not undertake to relute his
arguments. They did not put principle
against principle, facts against facts, and logic
against logic A wild and unreasoning howl
was set up about financial heresy, national
disbonor. reputation and anarchy. A STAN
pede was started among the business world,
salaried men were panic-stricken and labor
was frightened for fear Of decrease IN the
purchasing power of wages. The most g.
gantic campaign and corruption fund ever
raised supplemented all this Juror, and yet
Mr.. BRYAN polled nearly half the votes of the
people and received l76 electoral votes.
Since 1896 Mr. Bryan has become better
known. In calmer moments the people have
paused to consider the merits of this young
leader from the West. They have found him
strong of intellect, patriotic and honest. As
has been well said, they found that Bryan has
the wisdom and patriotism of Washington and
the stern convictions and courage OF jackson,
coupled with the eloquence of Webster, and
charming personality. In the intervening
time since 1896 Mr.. Bryan has won the re-
spect and admiration of thousands that fled
from him four years ago. The moneyed
classes. the manufacturers, the business men
and the toilers no longer regard him with
distrust; no longer charge him with purpose
to plunge the country into financial and bust
ness disaster; no longer belidve that he is I'M
safe and dangerous. Men who were heavy
contributors to the Mckinley campaign fund,
are now with him. Many Independent papers
that were most severe upon him now sup
porting him. Prominent Republicans, who
took the stump against him, are now writing
or speaking for him. The pendulum that
swung away from him in 1896 is now swing
ing toward him. He is growing in strength
daily and the indications point 10 an over
whelming victory in November.
Not only has Mr.. Bryan grown in public
esteem and regard, but the issues have
changed. Imperialism and militarism stand
as the paramount questions of the day, and
nearly of equal importance is that of Trusts.
Upon these issues Mr.. Bryan is The natural
leader of all who oppose the erection of an
empire upon the ruins of the republic and
would restrain trusts from restricting compe-
titon and exactng exorbitant profits from
the people. His whole life has been a battle
against special privileges and for the people,
and his patriotism and abiding faith in a re-
publican form of government make him the
foremost champion in the contest of Republic
We Epnira