The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-24
.BRYAN'S new PAPER|
SalutatOry of The CommOner
Which Appeared Yesterday
The COmmOner viii Aid the Common People 10
Protecting Their Rights and Advance
ing Their Interests.

Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 23-The first num-
Der of THE Commoner" the weekly
published by Willard ]. Bryan, was
issued this afternoon. 1t is neat-ap-
pe~ring sheet, geographically. The
following is the salutatory:
THE COMMONER.
Webster defines a commoner as ''one
of the common people The name has
been selected for this paper because
The Commoner will endeavOr to aid
the common people in the protection
of their rights, the aaVancemnt of their
interests ano the realization of their
aspirations.
1t is not necessary to apologize for
the use of a term which distinguishes
the great bo3y of the population from
the comparatively Jew, who, for one
reason or ar other, withdraw them
selves from sympathetic connection
with their fellows.
Among the Greeks ''HOi POlloi' was
used to describe the many, while
among the Romans the word ''plebs'
was employee! for tht same purpose.
These appellations, Ike 1.-The common
people," have been assumed with pride
by those to whom they were applied,
while they have been used as terms
of reproach by those who counted
themselves among the aristocratlc
classes. Within recent years there has
been a growing tendency in some quar-
ters to denomrce as demogogic any ref
erence to, or praise of, the common
people.
One editor n a late issue of his paper
takes exception to the phrase and says
This expression is an ill-chosen one
and should have no Judgment in the
vocabulary or sn American patriot and
statesman. II we sought it's origin, we
would look fol it in uiat specious dem
agogy which has evolved the profess
sional polit', ian, arrayed country
against towE-the farmer and his sons
and daughters against the business
and professional men and their sons
and capital against labor,
and built up against neighbors the inn
pregnable berriors of prejudice and
hate"
This quotation is reproduced because
it fairly represents the views of those
who criticise the expression. 1t has.
however, an eminently respectable ORR
gin. In the same chapter in which
Christ condensed mans duty to his fell
shalt love thy neightor as myself; in
the same chapter in which he denounced
those who davour Widows houses and
for a pretense make long prayers-in
this same chapter it is said OF Him:
The common people heard Him gladly
No higher compliment was ever paid
to any class.
The term, the common people. is
properly usel to describe the large ma
jOrity of the people--thOse who earn
their living and give to society a fair
return for the' benefits bestowed by So
ciety-those who in their daily lives
recognize the ties which bind together
the mass of the people who have a com
mon lot and a common hope. Some
times they are called the middle
classes because paupers and criminals
are excluded on the one hand while on
the other hand some exclude them
selves because of wealth or position
or pride of birth. The common people
form the industrious, intelligent and
patriotic element of our population;
they produce the nations wealth in
time of peace, and fight the nations
battles in time of war. They are self
reliant and independents; they ask of
Government nothing but justice and
will not be satisfied with less. They
are not seeking to get their hands into
other peoples pockets, but are content
if they can keep other peoples hands
out of their pockets.
The common people do not consti-
tute an exclusive sOciety-they are not
of the four hundred, any one can be-
come member if he is willing to con-
tribute by brain or muscle to the ma
TONS strength and greatness. Only
those are barred-and they are barred
by their own cholce-who imagine
themselves made of superior kind of
clay and who denyE the equality of all
before the law.
rich man, who has honestly acquir-
ed his wealth, and who is not afraid
to intrust it's care to laws made by his
fellows, can count himself among the
common people, while poor man is not |
really one of them if he fawns be- |
fore plutocrat and has no higher am
bition than 10 be a counter or a syco- |
phant.
The Commoner will be satisfied if, by |
fidelity to the common people, it proves |
its right to the name which it has |
chosen.