Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-01-31
BRYAEs FIRST PAPEa OUT.
The Commoner Issued With q Char
acteristie SalVtatory.

LINCOLN, NER., Jan. 2.-Tb irst
number Of the Commorer, the weekly
paper published by William ]. Bryan,
was issued this afternoon. II is a neat
appearing sheet geographically. The
following is the %salutat9ry:
Webster defines commoner as zone
Of the common people" The name
has been selected for this paper be-
aus the Commoner win endeayor to
aid the common people in the protec-
ton az their rights the Advancement
Of their interests and the realization Of
their aspirations
1t is not necessary to apologize for
the use Of a term which distinguishes
the grand hJdy of population from the
comparatively few, who, for n rea-
son or another, withdraw themselves
from sympathetic connection with
their fellows. Among the Greeks
"Hoi p0llOiH was used TO describe the
many, while among the Romans the
word 'plebs' was employed for the
same purpose. These appellationS,
like the common people, have been
assumed with pride by those to whom
they we're applied, while they have
been used as terms Of reproach by
| those who counted themselves among
the aristOcratic classes. Within re-
cent wears there has been a growing
tendency in some quarters todenounce
as demagogic any reference to, or
praise of, the common people.
one editor. in a late issue OF his pa
Der. takes exception to the phrase
and says:
This expression san ill-chosen one,
and should have no Judgment in the
vocabulary Of an American patriot
and statesmen. If We sought its
origin we would look for it in that
specious demagogy 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-capital
against labor, aud built up against
neighbors the i~mpregnable barriers 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
origin. In the same chapter in which
Christ condensed mans duty to his
| fellows into the commandment: Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as myself; in
the same chapter in which he de-
nounced those who deyour widows
houses and for a pretense make long
prayeB-in this same chapter it is said
Of him: The common people heard
him gladly.
No higher compliment was yer
paid { oany class.
The term, the common people, is
properly used to describe the large
majority OF the people-those who
earn their living and give to society
a fair return for the benefits bestowed
by society-those who in their daily
lives recognize the ties which bind to-
gether the a Of the people who
have a common lot and a common
hope. Sometimes they are called 1.-THE
middle classes because paupers and
criminals are excluded on the one
hand, while on the other hand some
exclude themselves because Of wealth
or position OF pride Of birth. The
common people form the industrious,
intelligent and patriotic element Of
our population; they produce the ma
tons wealth in time Of peace an
fight the nations battles in time Of
war. They are self-Feliant and indie
dent; 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 a member if he is willing to con-
tribute by brain OF muscle to the ma
TONS strength and greatness Only
p those are barred-and they are barred
by their own choice-who imagine
themselves made Of a superior kind Of
clay, and who deny the equality Of all
before the law.
A rich man, who has honestly ac-
quired bis wealth and is not afraid IL
intrust its care to laws made by his
fellows, can count himself among the
Icommon people, while a poor ma is
not really one Of them II he fawns be.
fore a plutocrat and has no higher am.
bition than 10 be a courtier or a syco.
phant.
The ComHi0Ier vii be satisfied If, by
fidelity to the common people, it proves
. its right TO the nam which has been
lchpaap