Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-02-01
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
THE "ooMMo ER's' UNCOMMON sALu-
TATORY,

TATORY.
William j Bryan's long heralded and
widely advertised journal, "The Common
err" made its appearance recently ana
the common newspapers of the country
have been kindly furnished through their
news associations with advance copies OF
the sa lutatory of the new mouthpiece of
democracy, showing that its editor and
publisher fully appreciates the value OF
printers ink for any commodity one has
to sell to the public, not excluding poll
teal organ.
In the course of his salutatory Mr.. Bry-
an dwels at considerable length upon the
origin and pertinence of the tame select
ed for bis paper with the apparent pur-
pose of defending a fiercely assaulted posi-
ton, but il does not require keen penetra
ton to see through this assumed mask.
Mr.. Bryan had as much right To give bis
paper its present title as he would have
had to call it the Democrat, the star; the
Blizzard or any other name more common
than the Commoner. The names Of Jour
nails have largely lost their significance
for the public. There are sheets like the
lobe-Democrat of St. Louis which are
like the Pittsburgh Republican whose
political complexion is strongly Demo-
cratic. SO far as newspaper nomencla-
ture is concerned there is less in name
than even Shakespeare imagined when
he made his famous inquiry on the sub
iect.
Mr.. Bryan's salutatorv to the public in
his new capacity shows plainly that the
name was selected because he could east
~ play upon the word in appe ling to
the common people whose champion he
processes to be. Here again the presi-
dental editor Or the editorial candidate
need have considered no apologies neces-
sary. Any man has a right to undertake
what the COmmOner proposes to do, to
"aid the common people in the protec-
ton of their rights, the advancement of
their interests aud the realization of their
aspirations" This in itself is glorious
right rs well as common privilege.
which the CommOner will hardly succeed
in mOuopOlzng.
But in eXpatiating at length upon the
name and mission of bis paper. as in
champiouing certain interests rs a prc-i-
dental candidate, Mr.. Bryan speciously
CONVEYS the impression that he is the
only one who will venture to 90 to the
necessary length "a accomplish that end.
He does not say that he is the only advo.
cate of the people. but after listening to
his utterances one cannot avoid that con-
clusion. This is the true significance of
the name of his paper; this is the grist of
all that he has to say about "hOi polloi,"
i a.. l..
Great are the people, and the Commoner
is their journalistic prophet
While it is true. as Lincoln said, that
you cannot fool all the people all the
time, William j. Bryan has demonstrate
ed conclusively that he can fool very
respectable minority of the people
throughout two presidential campaigns,
as well as during the interim; and iudg-
ing from the statements ofhis circulation
editor he will continue 10 play to "A large
audience for a considerable period to
come.
In the mean time host of journals
throughout the country will continue to
champion individual tights; to oppose
the entertainments Of gras ping monopo-
lies 70 wage war upon crime and immO-
idill ' . ~ DIUiulAt Ia NJ anu uIutIs Ghpl
government and public morals to battle
for the right, and to aid every worthy
cause.
If the Commoncr lives up 10 ijs high
calling it will not be alone except in its
name, for the field which it has marked
out is already we'll covered. Whether its
name is to be as sounding brass, or to
stand for genuine journalistic merit and
efficiency and tue zeal for the welfare
of the Republic, Is Il matter to be deter
mined not by professions in salutatories,
but by persistence in we'll doing; not by
appeals TO class prejudice and hatred, but
by seeking in every legitimate way to
promote the common weal.---Burlil gton
Free Press.
GROWING BUDGETS OF THE BIG NATIONS.
1t is interesting to speculate on what
the annual expenditures of the leading
civilized nations will be at the end or
even at the middle of the present centuI V
if they keep on increasing at the pace
set by the nineteenth
Great Britain's imp rial government is
now spending money, not including
Boer war expenses, at the rate of over
$500 900 600 year. That is an increase
of 400 per cent for the last century and
of 81 per cent since 1871.
France under the great Napoleon and
when he was carrying on his stupendous
wars was spending total of S225.
100000 year. For 1900 her expend-
lures, in time Of peace, were almost
four times as great. Her population has
increased less than 30 per cent since