The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-07-23
"a. RRYAN,s WAX PoINT.

Mr.. RRYAN's WEAK POINT.
The Pittsburg Dispatch is noted for
It's independent views in politics and
what it says for or against a man car.
rfes weight because of its well known
policies. The following editorial con-
corning the recent Bryan boom Tor
the Presidency is well worth careful
and thoughtful reading:
The effort to reconstttute the Bryan
boom has gone far enough to warrant
those who are responsible tor it in. rec
ognizfng that If they should go on and
succeed in securing him the Demo
cratic nomination the Characteristics
and record of the man would foreor-
dain a repetition of the results of
1896 and 1900.
In the first place as a general prin-
ciple the nomination Of any public man
to the Presidency brings before the
people his whole record aud invites
Judgment on 1t. Everyone whose mem
org includes the political events Of the
past 1G years knows that the salient
feature Of Mr.. Bryan's career haS been
that while he was an early opponent of
corporate abuses he threw that issue.
overheard in 1896 to take up the sill.
yer craze, which contained not the
slightest remedy for corporate evils,
He supported that by the most remark
able mixture of easily exposed soph-
istry and arrant demagoGy that has
been; exhibited in this country during
the present generation. Every allega.
ton made on the silver side has been
disproved by subsequent experience,
and while 1t would be unfair to ignore
MI. Bryan's good qualities in many re-
spects it is indisDutable that he ex-
posed himself more conspicuously
than any other living man as lacking
the clear, sober and Conscientious
judgment required in the Presidential
oRce.
The impossibility of keeping this
vital Characteristic out of sight was
demonstrated at that London dinrer
the other day. 1t may be doubted
whether it was in the best taste for
Mr.. Reid to bring in what was a polft-
n issue ten years ago, but Mr.. Bry-
ans incurable mudd1e on the silver
question is shown by his reply that III
the country has made such progress
walking on one leg wonder what 1t
would have done with two legs"
Everyone who keeps the silver de-
bate of 1896 in memory knows that
the proposition for which Mr. Bryan
stood In that year was not the two
monetary legs, but the single silver
leg. And he supported that PROPOSE
ton with such ineffab1e mixtures OF
irrelevance and b1asphemy as the per
grafton about the Gross of gold and
crown OF thorns."
The stumbling block Mr.. Bryan's
path as Presidential candidate Will
always be that having ranked himself
on the right side against railroad ia
voritism and trusts he deserted that
real isue for the quack remedy of free
silver. Democratic success is not to
be attained by the recrudescence OF 9
candidate with that handicap. 1t is
worth remembering that there are
EsHll two years during which new men
and new issues may arise. AT the
present outlook, however, the candi-
date with which the Democracy Is
most likely to rally Its full strength
4 must be of the type Of Folk, Jerome
IL he can remove the unfavorable inn
preston produced In the Insurance
and possibly. though not probably,
Bailey of Texas
Creditor So you've cYne around al
last to pay me what you owe me, have
you?
j Debtor Not At adjust the con
y traTy. Ypn made ID tate1ne1t at The q
i club list ligtt that owed you SOC
\ As q matter Of the ac
> connt show only owe Won $50 I'VE
come a4ouna p collect The baience
of tos-Fliegende BIatter