Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-05-14
THURSDAY, MAY IA, 1908.
PREACHER AND POLITICIAN.


Preacher and Politician. The article
Is written by Charles Moreau Harger.
and the opening paragraph states a re-
cent utterance of Mr.. Bryan, as fol-
lows:
When 1 started out in politics. I
used to think all good was condensed in
my party and all evil in the other: but
as have become better acquainted l
nave found so many bad Democrats and
so many good Republicans that 1 have
become more charitable
In another part of the Outlook"
there IS an editorial on Mr.. BRYAN. in
which the editor discusses the moral
qualities and political characteristics of
the noted Nebraskan. This writer re-
CARDS Mr.. Bryan as a human phenome-
non' but unsuccessful politician and
commonplace author. The editor how
ever, declares that: Next to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, he is unquestionablv
the most widely known living Ameri-
can The writer then accepts the
Judgment of Mr.. Harger as to the cor
rect solution of the question as to what
mas given Mr.. Bryan so much notorietv
and influence with the people. and that
IS that he Is a moral teacher and
preacher of exceptional force. Mr..
Harger assumes that the role which
Mr.. Bryan is performing as a moralist
and preacher is not political trick. but
says; ITO Mr.. Bryan the promulra-
ton of his political faith is an art"
Just so, Mr.. Bryan is a political ar
tlst' an actor, superb fakir in his line.
and called by the Richmond Times-Dis-
patch hypnotist. 1t is not what he
says, but the way he says it that at
tracts the curious and wins the applause
and support of the emotionalist.
Mr.. Bryan's amiability is also treated
by this writer as being most pronounc-
eL According to Mr.. Harger the
Preacher and Politician" smiles a
broad smile at all criticisms that are
hurled at him, except when he is called
demagog, which he resents with great
warmth. There is an old saying that
the truth hurts; and Mr.. Bryan's case
may be proof of the saying.
Mr.. Harger also says: I'm Mr.. Brv-
ans character there never was the
steel that impales an enemy" This
would seem to imply that he never holds
or expresses any bitterness for his per-
sonal and political foes. But this is not
true. How about the harsh and bitter
things he has said about Mr.. Cleveland.
Mr.. Hill, Judge Parker, Judge GRAY.
and all those leaders in the Democratic
party who refused to support him when
he was a candidate for the Presidency?
These targets for his caustic tongue
might well say, "a man may smile, and
smile ana, yet, be villain"
One might infer from Mr.. Brvan's
declaration, since he has become better
acquainted he has discovered that there
are many bad Democrats and manv
good Republicans, that he has learned To
avoid the bad and associate only with the
good. But the trouble with him ia that
he does not use the right kind of meas
urement or test in determining who are I
good and who are bad. In his jude-
ment all Democrats are bad who do not I.
follow him and only the Republicans are ,
good who seem to agree with him in GER '
tain of his fad doctrines. That this ia q t
legitimate estimate of Mr.. Bryan's DO 7
itical ethics is shown by his recent af-
citations. How long has it been since (;
he was hurting anathemas st Roger O
Sullivan, the Democratic leader of ILL c
lois? He vehemently announced that 3
he would give no countenance to the
Democracy of that State so long as It :
vas led by such corrupt man as SulIi- t
an Now he is cheek by jowl with s
his same Sullivan, and the latter has s
urned Bryanite and is heading the ILL .
ois delegation to the Denver Conven- q
ion, which he had instructed for BRYAN. il
The Preacher and Politician is not o.
recticing what he breaches. We find g
i'm not only reconciled to Sullivan, but
full fellowship with Tom Taggart, v,
he blackIeg National Chairman of the ic