Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-09-25

all eyes. Nature has set her mark
upon him SO that tile whole world
may read This is the man. He
has assisted nature materially in his
development. He has been Il hard
student He has learned his lessons
well. In the choice of Il liir-partncr
he WAS particularly fortunate. Ills
wife i, u queen in the larger sense of
that word. The White House has
never contained her superior if it
has held her equal. She is withal
the most learned and cultured matrOn
we have ever known We have OBJ
served her in her nome as a Sacriiic-
ing daughter, a sympathetic and
helpful wife and Il proud and accom-
pliShrd mother.
MIR. Bryan is to-day the greatest
moral force in this republic; he is Il
just man and he believes that justice
viii do more toward civilizing the
human race than powder and ball.
He has more confidence in righteous
ness than he has in armies and navies,
and yet he believes in war as last
resort when human rights are at
stake and peaceful methods fail He
is not only a teacher by prccept, but
he is a teacher by example. He asks
no man to be better than he can, but
he expects every man to render to
society the best returns of which he
is capable. and he, himself. sets an eX-
ample it would be well to follow.
The election of Mr.. Bryan is de-
manded by every State in this I'm
ion. Wherever men are endowed
with sympathy; wherever the weak
are oppressed; wherever men toll
without just recompense; wherever
business is suffering the unjust
competition of the trust; wherever
legitimate trade is at the mercy of
predatory wealth; wherever good
impulses dominate the conduct of
men, there is demand for the elec-
tion of William Jennings Bryan.
This fact was apparent at the re-
cent great National Convention of
the Democratic party at Denver.
Forty-tive of the fifty standards rep
resented in that convention, from
every land over which the flag floats,
flocked around the standard of Ne
braska that had offered to the nation
the services of her most distinguished
adopted son. 1t was the greatest
gathering of representative men in
the entire history of the party. 1t
is true the NebraSkan had nothing
to give them. 1t is true he had no
big stick to compel the support of
the delegates. 1t is true he had no
Federal ot1ice-holderS to make Il show
of force and enthusiasm. 1t is true
he had no administration behind
him to threaten and intimidate, but
he Swayed that convention from his
home at Lincoln and the two demon
StrationS of over one hour each were
the vocal expressions of the love and
devotion and fidelity of the common
people who had " heard him gladly" 3"
What is the use to talk of another
man for President? In all that is
good, America deserves the best.
She ought to show to the world that
she appreciates great man when
she has one She ought to recog-
nize merit when it is so palpably ap-
parent She now has chance to
recognize her greatest production
and the world is looking on to see if
she will be equal to the emergency.
Is it not the fact that every State
wanted Bryan nominated sufficient
to Justify his election? Is not the
fact that no State wanted Taft nomi-
mated sufficient to justify his defeat? ?
DO the people want a man who stands
upon his own merit or do they want
an echo of another? Have we reached
the stage of degeneracy where we, u
sovereign people, will permit a PreSi
dent to name his successor or have
we retained enough vitality to assert
our right of free choice? These queS-
tionS are big with interest and de-
mand an answer in this campaign.
OF course, Mr.. Bryan cannot please
everybody Lincoln had bitter enc
mics. Washington was abused by
foes. Christ was crucitied No man
who does something for his fellows
can expect to escape the censure of
the jealous and corrupt in heart
Bryan has been the victim of more
abuse than any man now living. and
paradoXical as it may seem, he is the
most beloved. He has u world grasp
on affairs of state, a clearly defined
policy on all problems of discretion,
and if the American people do not
elect him to the office of President
the loss will be irreparable 1t will
not be his loss, but theirs. Bryan
has survived two defeats and is
greater to-day because of them. He
can survive another or q dozen; but
it is doubtful whether the republic
can fare as well.
When the hot blast of prejudice
dries up the brain of its victim an
oasis becomes a desert. Nothing
can grow in territory so afflicted
Prejudice defeated Bryan before.
Will it do SO again? 1t is the fate of
good men to be misunderstood. Bad
men are sometimes forgiven, but
good men pay the penalty. This is
Hrong, but it is true. Mr.. Bryan
has paid the penalty OF goodness. Be
cause he was as true as the needle to
the pole he was Inundated. Because
he was faithful to the cause of the
people he was defeated. Because be
would do something for his fellow
man he was denied the opportunity.
Because he stands four squares to all
the winds that blow he is accused of
shifting. Because he is inhexible as
fate he is called a radical. Because
he is absolutely just he is branded as
dangerous.
The facts are that Mr.. Bryan has
in him the material for the greatest
President this nation has ever seen
He has the capacity for illuminating
| the history of this country as NJ