The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-05-16
Mr.. BRYAN SIZED UP.

graph IN a letter from AlaSSaCnu-
sets gentleman to the Springfield
Republican, in which he expresses
disappointment in Mr. Bryan as a
public speaker. He was prepared
to hear an eloquent speech, such
as Wendell Phillips or Charles
Summers of treasured memory
would have made, and he expect
ed Mr., Bryan to justify his sup
port Of him for President. The
Sun draws its readers close to the
canvas to scan its wonderfully cor
rect word picture of The Great
Commoner. "Mr. Bryan" says
the Sun, looked we'll and sound
ed well, but his diction was slip
shod and there was something
wanting in the great man. The
New England conscience was
troubled. Why did the real limp
so far behind the ideal? Seeking
to comprehend the slump in Pres
idential values, the Massachusetts,
man says in a candid letter to the
Springfield Republican," Per
haps 1t was, and l am still puz-
zling over it, little sense of in
adequacy-a fear that III dealing
with governmental problems he
he might not be able to work out
the right results, although he
states them with decision-a little
suspicion that he does not idealize
the common people enough, but
stoops to conquer The last part
of this analysis has nothing to do
with the first part and is besides
obscure, since the common people
are all eagles, none of them crows,
and every ballot marker a states
man and sovereign in his own right
i'll Mr.. Bryan's popular orations,
which is all the idealization that
can reasonably be required. But
the Massachusetts, man is very
warm, as the children say, when
he gropes after Mr.. Bryan's fitness
to administer the Government and
make reform a vital force. Mr..
Bryan has had no executive ex-
perience and has never given the
slightest proof that he is man of
affairs, His knowledge of the
structure and functions of the
American system of government is
not philosophical. Who ever heard
him argue to the heart of consti-
tutional question, or use any but
familiar naxims and trite phrases
in dealing with government policy?
No one would think of consult
ing Mr.. Bryan on international
law. AS member of Congress he
showed no aptitude for legislation.
He made orations on the tariff and
was melodious and snowy, but
was not on speaking terms with
schedules. He sounded we'll and
was good to look at. He has
never gone beneath the skin of
public question, although he has
talked more than any man of his
time. He never acquired the first
principles of finance, and probably
never digested statistical report.
Traditions, sentiment, party prin-
ciples, the obvious moralities and
policies borrowed from the Popu-
lists have been Mr.. Bryan's stock
in trade. He has originated moth
ing, Illuminated no problem, and
has not been intellectual. The
tolerance of Mr.. Bryan as leader,
teacher and prophet is not re-
Election upon the intelligence of
the American people, but a proof
of their inexhaustible good nature.
If would be a reflection upon Mr..
Bryan's intelligence to suppose
that he takes himself as seriously
as some of his admirers do. He
must often wonder why he is al
lowed to capitalize the common
place with out challenge, and de-
rive an unfailing income from it.
Mr.. Bryan is essentially a talker-
monograph full of the records of
universal and common thought
and not a solver of problems; a
facile promiser of reforms which
other men attempt to carry out in