The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-02
MIR. BRYAN-HIs FUTURE.

MIR. BRYAN-HIS FUTURE.
The latest speech of Mr. Bryan brings
that gentleman once more into a post
election prominence which is not likely
TO survive long. Mr. Bryan's career is
near its close. if it has not already reach
ed that close. He says in his last
speech that the question of his future
candidacy for office must be determined
by events To this he appenGs the
thought. however that thine may prove
that my work is to advocate rather than
to execute
This latter expression might Indicate
that Mr.. Bryan has decided at last that
the dream of becoming the chief execu-
tive officer of the general government
has grown somewhat DINNER than it was
at any time within the past five years
up to within a couple OF months. Mr..
Bryan is a strong advocate, if not an
effective one. No one will deny him
that But newspaper men at least who
are familiar with his work on the World
Herald of Omaha, would be quite well
satisfied, even if they had not experience
of his rare powers as an orator when at
his best, that he is not fated to shine at
his brightest as an advocate, in the news
paper line. Had he an influential daily
newspaper at his command, he might ac-
complish something for himself, If not
for his ideas. But as editor of weekly
paper, and one that is published in a
tenth-rate Western town-the thought is
preposterous! AS a man of action. Mr..
Bryan is failure at least in politics.
AS a thinker and writer, seeking his
audience through the columns of
weekly paper, he will not survive beyond
scriptions.
It is undeniable that Mr.. Bryan's
friends have been not only disappointed
but greatly surprised by the course Of
life adopted by him. He owes something
to his friends and supporters. so that his
taking up the career of editor of a
weekly paper in Lincoln is not purely a
personal matter with him. When he fails
in making anything out of that weekly
paper either for himself or his ideas, he
will sink into obscurity. Taking up his
abode at some point of central interest,
and resuming the practice of the law,
keeping silent on public issues for a
considerable period, the possibilities of a
successful career for Mr. Bryan might
easily be regarded as exceptional, in poll
tics and out
At the opening of the New Year there
must be for those Democrats who look
forward to their party once more be-
coming a serious factor in the progress
of national affairs, much encouragement
in the fact that Mr. Bryan has thus vir-
tuaIly declared that he will in the flu
ture not play any particularly active
part in political affairs. The possibility
outlined In the suggestion of his Lincoln
speech, that he may assume entirely the
character of an advocate. combined with
his starting his weekly. offer sufficient as
surance that the party will be permitted
to struggle along without his dictatfon
or control in the immediate future He
may indeed decide that his real career
is in the Populst or Social Labor
or the Social Democratic party Alb
stract studies often produce strange men,
tai results. His membership in the Popu-
list party is not forgotten But If he
should decide to adhere to the Demo-
cratic party and to be bound by its acts
and declarations during the next few
years, it is still certain that career OF
much public usefulness remains open to
Mr.. Bryan Notwithstanding his submer-
sion in the waters of weekly Journalism.
MRS. NATIONS TRUE COURSE.
Mrs. Nation of Wichita, Kansas, has
succeeded in attracting truly national
attention. Whether she has any other
or better purposes it would be hard to
say. She is evidently a zealot, and the
notoriety which has come to her in her
present predicament is no doubt of the
breath OF her nostrils
Mrs. Nation is a law unto herself. In
deed she Is, so to speak, an entire code of