The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-14
DEMOCRACY'S LEADER.

L
who again yesterday demonstrated the
hold he has on the esteem, confidence and
affection of our people is one of the
most remarkable in the history of a
country noted for remarkable careers
and sharp contrasts in mems lives.
1t may be doubted that ever, since
jefferson passed from the scene, any
mere private citizen has lived so largely
in the public eye Us has Mr.. Bryan
since 1896 He has not been permitted
to live in retirement, TO go the even
tenor of his way. either by his friends or
his enemies His enemies within and
without his own party have not allowed
the public to forget for one moment that
they held him an enemy: his friends
have shown that they trusted him to the
the great masses of the American people
than N. any time since he made his APP
pearancc i'll public life.
The years since 1896 have been years
of political turmoil. Problems undream-
cd of at the time when the Democratic
party in convention assembled ut Chica
go made the young Nebraskan its stand
ard bearer have been, injected into our
national life. At one time there was an
urgent call for Il new Interpretation Of
1o,,> al hpir. f.
application 20 new conditions: the emo
tional element of the country. swept off
its feet by the glamour of foreign con-
quest. and melted by those who would
serve their private ends at the country's
cost, were rapidly forcing the American
people into ways that We're untried and
dangerous. There was doubt, hesitation
and uncertainty everywhere. The need
for some one to speak out clearly, some
one who could reach the bed rock of
conservative good sense of the American.
people, was urgent.
About this time Mr. Bryan resigned
his commission in the volunteer forces.
when he was free to speak out. his first
public utterance affected the American
people. There was no doubt, no uncer-
tainty about il. The duty and the
danger of the American union alike stood
clear. More than Il year has elapsed
since that time yet every passing day
ha L,,t al IN i,Ie In
rightness Of the position Mr.. Bryan then
assumed 1t was the test of leadership:
Mr.. Bryan was not found wanting.
The unbounded enthusiasm with which
Mr.. Bryan was received here and else
where in this State is not to be wonder
men for the man who is really great 1t
is inevitable; it has always been SO; ii
will always be So Had Mr.. Bryan been
a small man Of great abilities merely. he
would have passed. by this. from the
public mind, now more tickle and var:a-
bic than at any time in the worlds his
been made and unmade since 1895, have
lived their brief day on the stage and
have made their final exit Mr.. Bryan
remains, now more than ever the trusted
leader Of the men of all parties who be-
lieve that Americanism means more than
enlarged opportunities for the cxploita-
ron of those who are not able to help
themselves.
1t is fortunate for Democracy that at
this time il has a leader who can State
its principles so clearly and so fearlessly;
it is fortunate for the country that it mas
Il statesman who can look beyond the
the hazards that wait upon any depar-
ture from those tenetS that are so essen.
tally part of our past national poli"y
that we are likely to overlook their very
existence.
The speech of Mr.. Bryan yesterday
afternoon, given elsewhere today, is
within itself platform upon which the
Democracy should be able to sweep the
country this fall. As declaration OF
principles it challenges the attention Of
every right thinking man; il lays bare
the evils that have attended the admins
tration Of affairs by the Republican
party. virtually the rule Of an unprincl-