The Topeka state journal., 1901-01-23
First Number Of The COmmOner
Appears Today.
The Editor InduIges in a SaIu-
tatOry Address.
HE PRESENTS REASONS
Which ImpelIed Him to Give It
the Name.
Rich Men Are Not Barred From
Ranks of Common People.

Lincoln. Neb.. Jan 23-The first num-
Der OF The Commoner." the weekly pa
per published by william r. Bryan. was
issued this afternoon. 1t is neat-ap-
pearing sheet. geographically. The fol-
lowing is the salutatory:
THE COMNONER
Webster defines a commoner as IONS
Of the common people" The name has
been selected for this paper because The
Commoner will endeavor to aid the COM
mon people in the protection Of their
rights. the advancement Of their inter-
ests and the realization Of their aspira-
tions.
1t IS 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 fell
lows Among the Greeks '.Edoi Pol
loi'' was used to describe the many.
while among the Romans the worl
''plebs" was employed for the same pu'-
pose. These appellations. like "the CON-
mon people, have been assumed with
pride by those to whom they were APP
Piled while they have been used as
terms of reproach by those who counted
themselves among the aristocratic class
es- Within recent years there has been
q growing tendency IN some quarters 10
denounce as demogogic any reference to.
or praise OF. the common people.
One editor in a late issue of his paper
takes exception to the phrase and says.
This expression is an ill-chosen onr
and should have no lodgment in the
vocabulary of an American patriot and
statesman. If we sought its origin. we
would look for it in that specious derl-
agogy which has evolved the profession
al politician. arrayed country against
town-the farmer and his sons and
daughters against the business and pro-
feSSiOnal men and their sons and daugh-
ters-capital against labor, and built un
against neighbors the impregnable bar
riors Of prejudice and bate"
3. This quotation is reproduced because
II fairly represents the views OF those
who criticize the expression 1t has.
however, an eminently respectable Or
igin. In the same chapter in which
Christ CONDENSED mans duty TO his fell
lows into the commandment. Thou shalt
love thy neighbOr as thyself: in the
same chapter in which he denounced
those who devOur widows houses and
for pretense make long prayers-in
this same chapter II is said OF Him
The common people heard Him gladly.
No higher compliment was ever paid
to any class.
The term the common people. ls
properly used 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-
recognize the ties which bind together
the mass Of the people who have q COM
mon lot and a common hope. Sometimes
they are called the middle classes" be-
cause paupers and criminals are ex-
cluded on the one hand. while on the
other hand some exclude themselves be-
cause of wealth or position or pride of
birth. The common people form the in
dustrious, intelligent and patriotic eie-
ment 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 Independent,
they ask Of government nothing but JUS
tice and will not be satisfied with less
They are not seeking to get their hands
into other peoples pockets. but are con-
tent if they can keep other people, hands
out of their pockets
The common people do not constitute an
exclusive society-they are not OF the
four hundred, anyone can become mem
or muscle to the nations strength and
greatness. Only those are barred-and
they are barred by their own choice-Who
imagine themselves made Of superior
kind Of clay and who deny the equality
of all before the law.
A rich man. who has honestly acquired
his wealth and who Is not afraid to in-
lows. can count himself among the COM
mon people. while q poor man Is really
not one Of them If he faWus before
plutocrat and has no higher ambition
than to be cOurtier or sycophaut.
The COmmoner viii be satisfied IT, by
fidelity to the common people. it proves ita
right to the name which II has chosen.