The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-31
o. E. HULL. Publisher.
Suhsoription Rates:
BRYAN's sALUTATORY.

HeURtxOW0 sFOst0VtCo
BRYhN'S SALUTATORY.
VIM. ]. Bryan's new weekly paper,
Tho Commoner, made its appearance
last week. The following is the saluta-
tory:
Webster defines commoner as s.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 advancement Of their
Interests and the realization of their
aspirations.
Il 10 not necessary to apologize for
the use of . term which distinguishes
the great body Of the population from
the comparatively few, who, for one
reason or another, withdraw themselves
from sympathetic connection with their
fellows. Among the Greeks .tHoii Ex.
polli" was used to describe the many,
while among the Romans the word
.plobs" was employed for the same
purpose. These appellations, like 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 aristocratic
classes- Within recent years there has
been growing tendency in some quart
ers to denounce as demagogic any refer
ence to. or praise Of, the common peo-
Pile. One editor in late issue of his
paper takes exception to the phrase and
says.
This expression is an ill.chosen one
and should have no lodgment IN the
vocabulary Of an American patriot and
statesman. II we sought its origin,
we would look for it in that specious
g,demagogy which has evolved the pro-
ifessional politician, arrayed country
:sgainstt tttoWn- the farmer and his SONS
and daugh ghters against the business and
! prot essioual men and their sons and
las ainst labor, and
snf bors t6e inpteg-;
iisss ~ pfs5 indlice and hate.
This Quotati Hon is reproduced because
IL Ssdriy represents the views Of those
who ctiticise the expression. 1t has,
+ however, an eminently respectable
origin. In the same chapter in which
Christ condensed mans duty to his fel.
lows into the commandment: Thou
sholt love thy neighbor as thyself; in
the same chapter in which he denounced
those who devour widows houses and
for aSpre tense make long prayers-iu
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. il
properly used to describe the large ma
jority Of the people-those who carr
their living and give to society fan
return for the benefits bestowed by
society-those who in their daily ivel
recognize the ties which bind together
1.-THE mass of the people who have .
common lot and common hope
Sometimes they are called the "middl,
classes" because paupers and criminal
are excluded on the one hand, while Of
the other hand they exclude themselve
4 because Of wealth or position or pride o
birth. The common people form th'
industrious, intelligent and patrioti
element Of our population; they produc
the nations wealth in time Of peace ant
fight the nations battles in time OF wal
They are self-reliant and Independent
they ash Of government nothing bu
justice and viii not be satisfied with les.
They are not seeking to get their hand
into!other peoples pockets, but are cor
tsntK they can keep other people
hands out Of their pockets.
The common people do not consti
tute an exclusive society-they are no
Of tie four hundred; any one can bt
come . member il he 10 willing to COZ
tribute By brain or muscle to the nj
tion's strength and greatness. Onl
those are barred and they are barre
BY their own choice who imagine then
selves made5of superior kind Of ella
andswho deny the equality Of all befo'
the1aw.
"a rich man, who has honestly acqui
"a his wealth and who is not afraid
( tt.la IL q 4 r..