The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-09-13
POPULARITY OF BRYAN.
Interesting View of z. A. K. Published
in Baltimore Sun august 29.

ter, was for many years the Washing
ton correspondent of the Baltimore
Sun. andIis we'll known in this county.
EDITOR.
ATLANTIC CITY, y. J., Aug. 2S.-The
Sun in its editorial on the revival of
Mr.. Bryan's popularity has this to say
at has grown up in night like Jonah's
gourd. Whether it will wither in a day
remains to be seen" | think it will.
But perhaps, after all, this is not really
any revival of Mr. Bryan's popularity.
The people of this country may take an
absorbing interest in what Mr.. Bryan
says and what he does, but is it safe to
infer from that that they are ready to
put him in charge of the affairs of the
nation?
No man ever on the stump in the
United States drew such crowds as Mr..
Bryan in 1896 and 1900, or was gratifed
with such laundering acclaim. But
countless thousands of those who threw
up their hats and shouted hoarse plaudits
at him did not vote to make him Presi-
dent He if attractive in manner. form,
feature and gesture. He has all the
tricks and charms Of oratory. He
abounds in metaphor end figure. He
racks his fertile brain for striking
phrases, and he exhausts his magma
ton for the imarey which captives and
enthralls. He has been in foreign lands
for many months, yet with that shewd-
ness and calculation which is peculiarly
his own constant touch with his fellow
citizens at home, both through his
letters and his never failing 20 seize the
| opportunity to make public addresses.
No one doubts his strict public hon
esty and his u1fiinching personal recti-
tIde. All men are pleased to hear him
and to read about him. Estimating bin
by his record Of the past, the people
know that when he comes home he is
bound to say something that will excite
attention and command wide comment.
What wonder that men from the East
and the West, from the North and the
South, are flocking to greet him on his
arrival! What wonder will it be if the
thunders Of applause rise and fall and
rise and fall again in mighty volumes?
The American people, like the Romans,
love-but they love excitement and
glamour and dash a7d personal maggie
tism. Why, yes, Mr.. Bryan is widely
popular for all this. But the doubt viii
not, cannot down whether, as in 1895
and 1900, this popularity is not OF the
stage. Thinking men men not carried
away by excitement, by hopes, by pre-
JUDGES, by the theories of doctrinaires,
men who have played practical parts in
the great business life Of this republic
will debate with themselves as they
did in 1896 and 1900; and is it not likely
to be with the same conviction?
1t seems to be written in the stars
that Mr. Bryan win for the third time
be the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent. Well, if so, he must look to it
that disastrous fall
The corporations, the trusts 50 call
ed, are apparently, if not actually, ~
ing the present Congressional campaign.
But they will sleep on their arms in
1903. In this class, as generally indi-
Gated, there are many men, it is no
more than just to say, who do not profit
by the tariff; who do not enter into
combinations to exact extortionate
/ prices, but who have substance and in
! iuence and heavy stake in business
stability and confidence. They dread
/ the tinkering by theorists with public
affairs. No man can be elected
/ President if the business interests are
against him, and no man should be. 1t
is freely andslightly affirmed that Theo-
dore Roosevelt has stolen the IDEAS Of
Mr.. Bryan, and that he is even more
radical Be this as it may, there is no
getting away from the fact that there
never be the same apprehension OF
Theodore Roosevelt as Of William J.
Bryan. Deep in the public heart and
mind is the conviction that the balance
wheel in the make up Of Roosevelt runs
too steady for him to essay acts which
might be attempted by the other.
As for popular idoIitry, Bryan is not
in it with Roosevelt, and no amount Of
denial can be convincing that there may
BE- contingencies in which the President
will run again as the candidate Of his
party. Rooseveltis just as fond Of be
in the public eye as Bryan, and the lat
ter can give MIN no points in he line.
Here he is jumping into the arena Just
as Bryan is to make his advent. What
more well-advised selection Of topic to
concentrate attention upon himself than
the spelling reform? twill be the talk
of America and Europe long after the
Bryan reception. has faded out of sight.
Before it dies out you may rely upon it
our president will spring another sensa-
ton, and he will keep it going right up
to the time of the next national conven-
ton. You remember that Horatio Sev-
mour presided over the National Demo-
| cratic Convention in 1888 H. .oid