The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-24
BRYAN'S PAPER OUT.
The First Number of The Commoner
Makes Its Appearance. ss
SALUTATORY BY ITS EDITOR.
He Gives the Reasons That Led Him
to Select the Title by which
the Paper VIII BE
known.

Lincoln. Neb, Jan. 23.-The first num-
her Of The Commoner, the weekly paper
published by William J. Bryan. has just
been issued. II Is neat appearing sheet
geographically. The following is the sa-
lutatory:
Webster defines commoner as zone
OF the common people," The name has
been selected for this paper because The
Commoncr will endeavor to aid the COM
mon people in the protection Of their
rights. the advancement of their interests
and the realization of their aspirations
Ii 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 'Hoi polloi"
was used TO describe the many, while
among the Romans the word ''plebs"
was employed for the same purpose.
These appclations. like "the common peo-
pie" have been assumed with pride by
those 10 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 quarters to denounce as dema-
gogic any reference to or praise of the
common people.
One editor in late issue of his paper
takes exception TO the phrase and says:
'Ths expression is an i'll chosen one
and should have no lodgment in the vo-
cabulary of an American patriot and
statesman. If we sought its origin. we
would look for it in that specious dcma-
gogy which has evolved the professional
politician, arrayed country against town
the farmer and his sons and daughters
against the business and professional
men and their sons and daughters-capi-
tai against labor, aud built up against
neishhors the inipregnable barriers of
prejudice and hate
Its Origin.
This quotation is reproduced because it
fairly represents the views Of those who
criticise the expression. 1t has, however.
an emin"utly respectable origin. In the
same chapter in which Christ condensed
mans diiy 10 his fellows into the com
mandmcni. Thou shalt love thy neigh
Dor rs myself: in the same chapter in
which hc icno,incrd those who deyour
widows houses aud for prctense make
Ion. prayers III this same chapter it is
said Of hiut THE common people heard
him gladly.'
10 higher compliment was ever paid to
any class.
The term ''the common people" is prop
erly used to describe the large majority
Of the people those who earn their living
and Give II society fair return for the
benefits bestowed by society, those who
in their daily lives recognize the tics
which bttd together the mass Of the
people. WllO have common lot and a
common hope. Sometimes they are called
the ''mitldlc hi~Scs'' because paupers
and criminals are excluded on the one
hand, while on the other hand some ex-
clude themselves 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 pence and fight the nations battles in
time OF war. They are self reliant and
Independent. They ask of government
nothing but justice and will not be salts
fed with less. They are not seeking TO
got their hands into other peoples peck
cts. but are content if they can keep
other peoples hands out of their pockets.
The common people do not constitute
m exclusive society. They are not of the
-Four Hundred Any one can become a
member if he is willing TO contribute By
brain or muscle 10 the nations strength
and greatness. Only those are barred
and they are barred by their own choice
who imagine themselves made Of sll.