Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-11-03
BRYAN, THE APOSTLE
OF CALAMITY.

Let happiness go into eclipse and
prosperity hide it's diminished head
for the chief apostle of disaster is
among us once again. He has come
to the rescue of beleagured and sore
pressed Democracy which is now max
ing its last stand in Colorado. Like
another jeremiah he comes to wall
his lamentations. Wailing and prop
hecy for many years has been his
chief stock in trade. For six years
he has been chief waller and chief
prophet of disaster for the whole
United States and all of our far-away
| possessions. In his professional ca
pacity prosperity is a crime and an
offense against nature; in his private
capacity he cheerfully takes whatever
measure of prosperity comes to him
or gets within his reach.
To his professional vision the world
is always topsyturvy. Whatever is
shouldn't be: whatever tends toward
prosperity is a mistake or an optical
delusion which he promptly explains
away with his fluent diction and his
remorseless logic. Six years ago he
told us of the complicated calamities
which would befall unless he were
elected president; many of us saw
with his eyes. We felt that II Will
liam Jeremiah Bryan lost momentum
this happy world of ours would go
5hrieking back into its original chaos
We were going to the dogs. we We're
drifting on the breakers; we were
lost at sea without compass or steer
ing apparatus, and the bread was run
ming low in the flour barrel. There
was only one hope of salvation, that
was in him. He was strong and reso-
would do 1t even though the heavens
fell. We felt reassured as we looked
at him and rejoiced as we heard and
read of him. Many of us did nothing
else. We, too. were in the country
saving business; we thought, talked
and dreamt calamities. We could
and would see nothing else. Smiling
nature was an abomination and smil-
ing face backed by contented mind
was a personal insult to be iiercely re-
sented We would not be happy. if
we could. What we wanted was to
be submerged in perfect ocean Of
woe. Unlike Shakespeare character
who craved hot blood we craved mis-
ery-downright. uncompromising and
copous misery-and Bryan its apos-
tie and exemplar, suited us down to
the ground.
When that dull November election
day came and Billy Bryan. the young
Nebraska lion, was defeated many of
us felt as though we had reached the
jumping off place. The outlook was
absolutely hopeless; there was no.
where a ray of sunshine. Some de
iectedly talked of moving to a foreign
country. for they couldn't stand to see
their beloved land go TO ruin while
they stood idly by helpless to save it.
Nevertheless. all of us stayed, some
because we had to, others to enjoy
the melancholy satisfaction of say
ing, 81 told you so when everything
turned out bad, just as was foreseen
and predicted. 1t took many people
long time to be able to sit up and
notice things. Much to their sur
prise, perhaps not a little to their
chagrln, things went on in pretty
much the same old way when Nc
Kinley took his seat Some of the
promised disasters proved blessings
in disguise; other undisguised bless
ings appeared or were forced to ap-
pear. One began to hear of wages
voluntarily raised to get a glimpse OF
real money, and more work myster-
iously hove in sight until at length
the most woe-begone commenced to
wipe away his tears. get a fresh grip
on himself. take more interest in
every day business affairs and less in
the arduous duties of craftsmanship
Strange to say the whole country
seemed to acquire a fresh momentum.
about the same time There was
more public confidence than you could
| shake a stick at. Factories reopen
ed, business increased prosperity was
diffused, loose money, like a magic
wand. vitalized the trade and stimu-
lated the development of the country.
Then came the Spanish war. In
| few months we stood confessed the
greatest martial nation on the globe,
Meantime We were going forward by
leaps and bounds, commercially speak
ing. The history of the world shows
no adequate parallel. The Jeremiahs.
big and little, shrieked for the brakes,
but there was no letup. The finan-
cial center of the world was trans
| ferred from London to New York, our
commerce and enterprises. dazzling
and daring as they were, spread over
all seas. and Europe looked to us, not
we to it, for the initiative. In these
good days the nations of the earth
raise their hats when your Uncle Sam
uel passes by.
But Mr.. Bryan still continues doing
business at the old stand In the
midst Of abou1ding happiness he is
still the apostle Of gloom. To him
the whole world is still out of joint
and calamities are treading on the
heels of calamity. But we still love
/ to hear Mr. Bryan. He is unctuous
/ and his tones are mellifluous He
| is past master in the art of grief and
no man could take more comfort out
Of IT, There are not so many of us
as formerly who cultivate grief for
griers sake-not so many, who would