The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-19

Ihe following splendid tribute to
William j. Bryan is from that we'll
known writer, Prof. James c. Monog-
han. who held a prominent position
under President Roosevelt. but who
resigned to take up literary work. He
says:
IT. is now twelve years since Bryan's
cross of gold" speech in Chicago.
The echo of that speech still lives.
Why? Like all true eloquence. like
The Grafton for the crown. and the
PhiIippics Of Demosthenes. 1t had in 1t
the ring of sincerity. Bryan rings
true. In religion, in morals. in politics.
In every pathway Of life. the great Ne
braskan rings true. This 1t is that
endeared him to the hearts of our
people; and It is this that has helped
him to hold them, in spite Of all kinds
of adverse efforts Of his enemies down
to the present day. Never, in all our
history. has a party been so loyal IT,
a. man as the Democratic marty has
been to Bryan. Neither Webster. nor
Clay, Blaine nor Mckinley. could boast
Of such loyalty and love. 1t is a mis-
take to date, the rise of Bryan from
the Chicago convention of '96. He was
in Congress in 1892. He was active
then, energetic and aggressive His
work in Congress gave great promise.
No speech on the tariff was as bold.
clear, fearless and far-reachng. 1t lis
to be regretted that Mr.. Bryan did not
remain in Congress-. That was the
place for him. His Gross of gold"
speech was the worst mistake he ever
made. II was the mistake of his life
1t led him from the thorny path Of
constructive craftsmanship to the
f1ower-filled path Of the popular ora.
tor. The nation had no great need
of Chautauquans; it had them in hun
dreds. It. did need great constructive
statesmen. II hasn't had but one or
two In 25 years, and not five in fifty.
The first time l met Bryan he re-
minded me of Cicero. I said, "S,
must the young Cicero have appeared"
did not think of Caesar then;
never think OF Caesar now, when / see,
hear of. or read after, Mr. Bryan.
Even the mature man is suggestive.
but no longer of Cicero.
Is Bryan a radical? If So. is he
dangerous? Tho dangerous men in
this Republic are the men who think
William Jennings Bryan is dangerous.
or that he would be dangerous Pres.
ident. Bryan believes in law, he be-
lieves In order. His whole life is full
Of facts, as we'll as words. to prove H.
He is no more dreamer than I am,
than are hundreds Of his countrymen.
] hope. as would to God that every
man who ever knelt at a. mothers
knee in this broad land, that he is ar
idealist. that he has high ideals. God
only knows what the nation would be
now had it not had its idealists. its
Hancocks and Henrys. it's Otises. and
its Lincolns and Lees. But, say some,
Bryan is to bring in Government
ownership of railroads, socialism, an
archy." Nobody is in any doubt about
the dangerous men in this Republic.
Some are even to be found in railroad
offices. They are the interruptions
men who would run up the freight
rates or run down the wage scale to
pay dividends for sublimely watered
stock. Against these. Bryan is iron or
brass. No! Mr.. Bryan is not dan
gerous. That is the last thing to think
of in connection with his candidacy
for the Presidency.
Is he fit? Bryan, bred in the brawn
and brain breeding West. will bring to
Washington not only what he went
with, in the early nineties, but the rip
ened result of fifteen years of careful
plowing, hoeing. reaping and harvest