Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-10-03
A GREAT CHANGE
In Mr.. BVan's Position Now and Fou
Years Ago.


speech that caused his nomination for
the presidency he posed as a crusader
on the silver question, and was fanati-
cal in his utterances. He made it ap-
pear as if he was from the everlasting
to everlasting about silver. To him
there were two eternities of silver 16
TO lone before and one behind. He
told of the awfulness of the free silver
conflict. saying
"In this conflict brother has been ar
rayed against brother and father
against son. The warmest ties of love
and acquaintance and association have
been disregarded. Old leaders have
been cast aside when they refused to
give expression to the sentiments of
those whom they would lead and new
leaders have sprung up to give direc-
ton to this cause of truth Thus has
the contest been waged. and we have
assembled here under as binding and
solemn instructions as were ever fas-
tened upon the representatives of a
people. We do not come as individ-
uals. Why, as individuals we might
have been glad to compliment the gen.
tleman from New York Senator Hill,
but we know that the people for whom
We speak would never be willing to
put him in a position where he could
thwart the will of the Democratic par
ty."
Behold how tremendous this para
mount principle was. The question
was like some tall rock that reared its
awful form-swelled from the vale and
midway cleft the storm. Though
round its breast the calling clouds
were spread eternal sunshine settled
on its head. The mighty west had
come forth to conquer-not individ-
uals-but that cause should win.
Presently Mr.. Bryan broke forth
that he was in favor of those who had
made the desert blossom as the rose
those pioneers away out there rearing
their children near to Natures heart
where they can mingle their voices
with the voices of the birds-out there
where they have erected school houses
for the education of their young, and
churches where they praise their Crea-
tor, and cemeteries where sleep the
ashes of their dead, are as deserving
OF the consideration of this party or
any people in this country.
Notice the vast Topping of the wings
Of the sublime orator-and still he
roared, his eagle eye glaring, flashing
back the sunlight This was an orator
who had left the earth far beneath.
and was circling in what the great
rhetoricians call the blue empyrean. "
The orator told that the school houses
and churches and graveyards were in
his mind He had to fight, and the
free silver party had to do it for lin
defense of our homes and families and
posterity." The battle was sounding,
the bugle was blowing, lifting the sac
red standards. This was, cf course.
to Mr. Bryan holy war. 1t could end
only in death or victory. He besame
pathetic He had heart break in his
Voice as he said: -. .-
I'VE have petitioned and our petit
tions have been scorned. We have en-
treated and our entreaties have been
disregarded. We have begged and
they have mocked, and our calamity
came We beg no longer; we entreat
no more; we petition no more. We
defy them"
Here the orator stamped his feet
stretched his arms toward the New
York delegation, threw up his eyes
and with lefty gesture bid thunder
and lightning defiance. The battle
was gained, of course. The trumpet
rang with silver notes. The orator
descended from defiance to pity. His
heart and voice softened as he thought
Of the Doom of his enemies.
Some one had been speaking of
RObespierre. Mr.. Bryan has himself
been likened to Robespierre. There
are Democrats who have been waiting
as they have said to see "RCbespierre' 5
head fall into the basket"-and then
the party would be set free. But Bry-
an is not that kind of a demagogue.
Robesp.erre was livId monster, small
and Of ghastly green complexion, but
man Of horrible sincerities.
Mr. Bryan thought he was a death
or victory" person about silver, but
ne was not He was beaten before the
people, and now he has several para
mount issues. Those who vote for
him can take their choice, He has
found new friends, Dick Croker fur
nishes the brains for the silyer-mOuth-
ed orator of the Platte, and Emilio
Aguinaldo provides the patriotism One
Is a gold bug and the other a silver
bug. One is a boss and the other a
sprinter and still the silver question:
fifty per cent reduction-will not be
thrust aside. On one side Bryan has
Croker to sustain him, on the other
guinaldo-CrOkeri the tiger Of Tam
many-Agninaldo is the mud adder Of