The Delawarean., 1901-01-26
Tho Commoner."

-~----N~~ON
"A despatch from Lincoln, Nebraska,
on wednesday nigh, gives the folp.w-
ing description OF the first number of
The Commoner," William jennings
Bryan's new paper:
llne leading editorial in Mr.. Bryan's 5
paper, ON sale to-day, is devoted to an
explanation of why the Commoner was
Sslected as The name of the paper. 1t
is stared that a commoner lis ONE of
tne common people, and Scripture S
quoted to prove that no higher csm-
pliment can be paid 10 any class. The
common people, the editor says, aa
NOT exclusive. Amy one who lis willing
to contribute by brain or muscle to the
nations strength amid greatness can BIS
come member. He concluded:
"A rich man, who has honestly az
quired his wealth and is not afraid %
intrust its care to laws made by MS
fellows, cam COUNT himself among the
common people, while a poor man s
NOT really one of them if he fawns be-
! fore plutocrat and has mo higher
/ ambition than 10 be courtier or a
/ sycophant, the Commoner will be salts
fled if, by fidelity to the common peo-
pie, i, proves its right to the name
which has been chosen"
Under the heading, "A Living Foun-
tain" Mr.. Bryan deprecates the tend
, ency of the people to turn toward the
''onre discarded dloerine of empire. "
, He says: when the people are recog-
nized as the source of power the Gov
ernmeni is perpetual, because the peo-
pie endure forever. The Government
then responds ito their desires and con-
forms to their character; it can be
made as good as they deserve to have,
and they are satisfied with it because
it is their own handiwork If it has
evils, those evils are endured because
the people recognize that they them
selves are to blame and that it is with
in their power to apply any needed
remedy.
"A Government resting ON force is,
on the other hand, ever unstable, be-
cause it eXcites hatred rather than
affection and is continually at war
with human nature; it is in constant
antagonism Ito that universal senti-
ment which is defined as the love of
liberty"
One whole page is devoted to edi-
torial paragraphs of the snappy char
acter. These are very good examples
of the Bryan style of campaign
repartee.
Under the head of Questionable
Appointments, Editor Bryan severely
crit.c;s5s the President He character
ICES the appointment of the sons of
Justices Harlan and McKenna as "di-
rect blows at the dignity and indie
pendence of the court. and the silence
observed by members of the dominant
party shows how imperialism and
commercialism are paralyzing the con-
science of the Republican leaders"
Another editorial is devoted to point
ing out that liberal pensions are not
possible in a country with a large
military establishment
The silver question receives the dig
nifty of column editorial directed at
what is referred to as Secretary
Cages endless chain,'' presented to his
recommendation for redemption of
silver dollars in gold ON demand. He
looks upon this as the first step toward
the retirement of the silver dollar on
the plea that lit can be used to drain
ehe Treasury of gold.
Mr.. Bryan takes palms to explain
that the Commoner lis mot a rival of
the local weekly papers, NOR is it i'm
tended ito take the place of the Nation
al Watchman. The reader is urged to
take some paper that is published at
home and that paper which supports
the policies he believes in.
THE Commoner will not enter the
field of general news" it is stated,
"hut as an exponent of Democratic
sentiment and as a defender of Jeffer-
sonian principles it hopes to make
itself useful If the reader does mot
find in the Commoner everything he
wants, it is hoped that he will find
enough ito Justify him lin welcoming
it to his home"