The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-21
ABSALOM OF THE PLATTE.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The Journal was unusually unfair with
Mr.. Bryan the other day in its comments
upon mis- illusions to Absalo..i. The meat
of that Absalom story is in the resemblance
between Mr.. Bryan and his distinguished
prototype; the absolute reproduction of the
original in the life and character of the
copy, Notwithstanding the lapse of 5000
years and the changed conditions of So
ciety, so alike that Mr. Bryans name
might almost be substituted for Mr.. ABB
salom's in most cases, making allowance
for the new conditions.
In the first place, Absalom was good
looking young man and a glib talker There
are few better looking young men than Mr..
Bryan, and as to fluency of speech he has
no superior In America and few equals, and
he is equally at home on Scripture topics
and the latest paramount issue in kaleido-
scopic Democratic politics. Herein the re-
production is complete. Then, Absalom
was ambitious and wanted to be at the
head of affairs; he was ready to take any
side of any question that promised success,
and ready to make new issue whenever
the hope of success required il. Here again
the reproduction is complete and the type
corresponds with the prototype to L.
Again, Absalom was opposed to govern
ment by injunction. Whenever anybody
proposed to appeal to court for relief or
protection he told him 1t was folly; that
the court was corrupt; the best thing was
to fall in with him ana fight Ii out and
put him at the head of affairs, and few
were silly enough to accept his counsel, but
old soldiers and statesmen would none of
him. So far as developed that seems to be
another parallel; not many but the chronic
faultiinders seem TO be accepting his invi-
tation. Again, he was an anti-expansionist.
The current administration had not only
kept things level and prosperous at home,
but had carried on several wars which had
resulted in the acquisition of much terri
tory and had incontinentiy taken charge
of 1t and governed ii without asking
any further consent of the people, just as
all previous administrations had done when
they could. Here again the parallelism is
complete. Our Nation has done little else
than expand from the year one. with the
happiest of results; and now comes this
modern Absalom begging everybody to stop
it here and now But will they? / trow
not He is the first candidate for the presi-
dency that ever had the temerity to put
himself in the path Of progress to stop the
march of destiny.
Absalom was opposed to militarism and
imperialism and everything else that he
thought was in the way of his ambition.
Herein, again, the parallelism is complete.
Well, what became of all this in the case
of the elder Absalom? Why the admins
| tration just kept right along expanding
while giving proper attention to prosperity
| and peace at home. until the election came
| when AbSalomS followers were left out by
| a large majority, and he. Absalom, was
| left with not bit of earth to stand on
| That in a general way. the second Absa-
| Ions party will be scattered. peeled and
| torn about as the first Absalom's party
| was, is the present outlook, while 1T Is
hoped his modern double will not person.
ally fare like the original. He may have
many years of usefulness yet before him
| IL he filings away ambition and gives at.
tention to his law practice
| There is bit of the personal history OF
| the original Absalom that may be studied
/ with profit. He was the oldest OF a large
| family, mostly boys. Very early he devel
i oped tendency 10 be naughty and some
/ times real bad, whereupon the father would
1 essay TO administer the standard cor
| receive. but when the boy cried out, he IL
| the mistaken tenderness of his heart, would
| let up before the job was well done, anC
| this devilment of his after life was the re
| suit. This led younger brother, Solomon
1 many years after, TO say that withhoidins
| the rod because the child cries is not tn,
| right thing to do. am not prepared to say
| how much of our modern Absalom's va
| carries might have been saved by proper
| home discipline in childhood. nor is IL ma
| terial to the story. / only wish TO correc
the Journals misapprehension OF the tru,
inwardness of that Absalom story Mr.
| Bryan gives u. l.. SEE.
l I'D ,olf