Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-07
It ashln9toa Standard
0uNNPIA. WASH.
fElDAY MORNING, SEPIENEEE (, 1906.
Malevolent Criticism.

Malevolent Criticism
1t was to have been expected that
the pie-counter" politicians would
make the occasion Of the grand Ova-
ton OF the American people. irrespec.
tive Of acct or party, to Mr.. Bryan on
his home coming, the occasion for
opening up campaign of SANDER and
abuse of one whose only offending is
that he il the means most to be dread
ed for summary removal from place
and power class that have grown to
look upon Office holding and salary
drawing rs q perquisite of their own.
But it ia, withal, a matter of some
surprise that we find the Oregonian
which, under Mr.. Scott, was fair and
honest in its specific expressions OF
opinion, joining in this hue-and.cry,
for il is we'll known to the readers OF
that paper there are some points on
which Mr.. Bryan and its whilom editor
agree, and we have always regarded
Mr.. Scott as a man of too exalted
character and breadth OF mind TO adopt
invidious comparisons as q means OF
creating prejudice against anybody
for mere partisan objects.
1t will be noted, however, that this
locam tenens of the man whose iden-
tity is so firmly impressed upon the
Oregonian that its sentiments have
come to be regarded as his personal
expressions OF opinion, selects such
eminent men as Edmund Burke, the
British philosopher and statesman dis
tinguished over all men Of his time
for his eloquence and foresight, and OF
our own countrymau, Henry Clay,
equally famous in this country as a
leader OF enlightened public senti.
ment, for comparison, and it will be
noted also in connection with the
claim that Mr.. Clay was "incompar.
ably the greatest orator America ever
produced" that this critic of Mr.. Bry.
an assumes to have as accurate means
for determining the cumulative quality
Of mental endowments as were pos.
sessed by the grand academy Of La.
gado.
Burke, be it noted, is accredited by
this presumptuous writer with pro-
ducing" the greatest speeches in Eng
lish," only in print, for according to
the Oregonian, "his oratory was dull,
and Irskine. himself . great orator,
declared Of Burke's efforts in the
House OF Commons, that nobody would
remain to listen to him; but when his
speeches were printed, readers thumbed
them into rags" Still it is related of
Burke that he talked four days in his
celebrated speech, ON opening of the
trial OF Warren Hastings, an India
General ON impeachment
proceedings for despotic treatment of
the natives OF Bengal, under the abso.
lutte power accorded him. That this
trial dragged over seven yeare, and was
dismissed after nine days speech by
Burke, is probably intended a. an il.
lustration of the futility of speech, at
times, when people have lost interest
in the subject. What . spectacle Mr..
Burke must have presented (if it be
true) talking to empty seats in his
four-dsy and nine.day efforts!
But . parallel does not exist. Mr..
Bryan never tires audiences; he never
speaks except by appointment or on
request of the people, and that his sen.
timents are as we'll appreciated in print
as on oral delivery, is shown by the
fact that the demand for bis Com.
moner Condensed" Q republication, in
book form, Of the leading articles Of
Lincoln Comnaoner, il in constant,
steady and increasing demand, as fur.
nishing the political history, trend Of
opinion and intelligent comment there.
ton of the whole country. And in this
connection, it may be said, that the
series Of articles of bis worlds tour
have contained more information and
comprehensive comment, in brief form,
than any others ever published.
Still the Oregonian scribe pronounces
William Jennings Bryan - shallow
and superficial man." . stalker who
entertaius his audience, and never
says anything" and that he "gets
great audiences, for the reason that
those who hear him are relieved Of the
necessity Of thinking" What . com.
pliment that is to his auditors! The
millions OF people who have shouted
his praises to the echo, are incompe.
tent judges Of oratory; they are simply
humbugged by iuggler in words-by
the skill of . pedant who makes it a
trade to play upon the passions of the
people!
Then again. the comparison with
Henry Clay can likewise only find
point in the fact that with all his com.
manding ability and nobility Of char.
aeter, hs Was never intrusted with the
first Office within the gift Of the PEG.
pie, the Presidency of the United
States; from the fact that the Whie
party split upon several matters oil
sectional interest while he was in the
zenith OF his popularity. Clay, too
who the critic admits, Was, with oil
his wealth of words, "incomparably
the best orator that America ever pro
duced," stultifies that opinion by fol
lowing it up with the assertion tina
he said nothing. hia enoocho. nm