The Democratic advocate., 1908-09-04
MIR. BRYAN IN 1900.
What the ''Sun" Then Thought of the
Man 1t Now Opposes.

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After his defeat in 1900, the Balti-
more Sun paid the following glowing
tribute to William Jennings Bryan
THE Hon. William Jennings Bryan
finished the campaign with nothing
to regret. In September Mr.. Bryan
told the Sun that he was contending
for cause with as little~regard as
possible for his own personal associ-
alton with it. If he won, it would be
remarkable victory. If he lost, he
would be sustained by the knowledge
that he had done his best. And in
doing his best he has conducted the
most remarkable campaign in the his
tory of the country. At it's close he
has the confidence, the esteem and
the affection of as large portion of
his fellow citizens as any American
has ever enjoyed since the days OF
Andrew Jackson. The contest against
him was waged with certain degree
of violence but through it all he main
tained calm dignity, a serenity and
courtesy of manner which should be
an example to all candidates. Not
once did he yield to the temptation
to make any personal assault upon
those who attacked him. He was
sheltered behind a shield of faith,
which protected him from a host of
assailants In every live issue in the
campaign he was on the side of con-
servatism against radicalism and rev.
olution. He planted his feet upon the
Constitution and stood where the faith
ers of the Republic stood before him.
He advocated the great cause which
the democratic, the conservative peo-
pie of the land had committed to him,
as their leader, with an ability and
elouuence which attracted more men
to see and to hear him than ever be-
fore gathered around public man in
this country. His physical endurance
seemed scarcely less than miraculous.
'It has been and still is the fashion
of bitter partiSans to denounce Mr..
Bryan as a demagogue, as an eXtrem-
list, as snowy, but without depth or
breadth of intellect. In every posi-
ton which he assumed in this cam
paign and in every policy he advocat-
ed he can give Jefferson, Jackson and
other great Democrats as prece-
dents. If in the cause he maintained
in this campaign he was a dema-
gogue, then Jefferson was a dema-
gogue. If in his opposition to the
money power he is arraying class
against class what shall be said of
Jackson and Taney in their campaigns
against the banks?
"Those persons who deny the ability
of Mr. Bryan should consider his ca
reer. He started life with no greater
opportunities than come to the aver
age American boy, and less, perhaps,
than have been enjoyed by his critics.
At all early age he entered the House
of Representatives the greatest arena
in the world, and there attracted the
attention of the country by a speech
on the tariff which ranked with the
best ever delivered IN that chamber.
Although subjected to a crushing de-
feat in 1896, his denomination from
the day after that election was never
in doubt He commanded it by the
hold he had upon the confidence and
the place he had in the affections of
the people. His has not been the ca
reer of an ordinary man. A dema-
gogue could not have attained to the
place he has reached. Nor could mere
eloquence have commanded it. There
must be more than this, and there is
more.
Mr. Bryan is beloved by the Ameri-
can people because he is a patriot and
man of blamless life. In these re-
spects he is pattern for American
youth at a time when the love of
money, with many, takes the place of
love of country. If, having failed to
reach the Presidency, his State should
send Mr.. Bryan to serve his country
in the Senate, he would still be in a
position to avert from the Republic
some of the evils with which it is
now threatened