The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-17

FWill some one please stand up
and explain this man Bryan-the
Phoenix who arises from the ashes OF
defeat, stronger better loved than
ever?" This question was asked by
Ia Pittsburg, Pa, man In letter
printed in the Christian Union Her
aid This man had seen Ito use his
own language) "a wonderful thing
come to pass" He had seen William
]. Bryan rfouted by us easterners as
a wild-eyed disturber OF the peace"
entering Pittsburg, "a city WHICH
gave the biggest comparative majority
against him of all cities in the ma
tion and greeted by an enormous
crowd with an attention and enthusi-
asm that passeth description, holding
them under spell of his marvellous elo-
ouence for more than two long NOR
tai hours and sending them away
Icheering-and thinking
Gan this, mark you" said the
Pittsburg man, "in the city of Pitts
Iburg-intensely Republican, 'conserv-
ative, tmiff-lovlng Plttsburg!-'the
stronghold and center alike of his
democratic and Republican enemies!
lIf this can occur in Pittsburg, what
must be his hold upon the people In
Communities where the what-is-right
doctrine is not revered as here!"
From these scenes the Pitsburg
man turned and I'm utter perplexity
asked, ''What is the explanation OF
Bryan?"
what is the explanation or Bry-
an?" asked the Pittsburg man and
, then added "A magazine writer at
tempted recently to explain him, but
when the article was finished all he
had proved was that Bryan has made
a few honest dollars out of his polit-
ical career, though the writer did not
sufficiently emphasize the phenome-
non that a political career has at last
resulted in an honest II comparatively
small fortune. Bigger fortunes than
Pryanis have been made through
political careers before now, but We
are never tempted to describe them
' as honest.
"What is the explanation OF Bry-
an?" asked the Pittsburg man. "Is
1t honesty? There are many honest
men in the nation who have not his
wonderful hold on the hearts of the
people. Is It his intellect. His Is
not the most powerful intellect in the
nation, strong though 1t is.
| "Is II his eloquence? We are still
under the spell Of bis Incompatible
voice, cutting wit and forceful SEN
Itences, but we know that his elo-
,quence does not explain him.
as II the romantic quality of the
career that began when the editor
Ijust returned fromIr reporting tht
convention which nominated mis-
lopponent, selling the dramatic, crit
heal moment, thrilled several hundred
linen int onominating an obscure law
yer and writer to the highest office
lin the land? Hardly"
Nor In the opinion of this Pitts
burger is the explanation ao be
of the suggested explanations-hon
esty, intellect, eloquence and thu
romantic quality of career. For, IL
the opinion OF this writer, "The com
bination could never have broush
labout the event described above II
IScotch+Irish, conservative Pittsburg
We have watched and studied Pitts
Iburg's political audiences for severa
Years and we have never seen th'
like OF that which greeted Bryan
No rabble, but a fine body OF repre-
sentative, thoughtful men; not mere
lly curious, but attentive, with al
earnest attention that was not dis
turbed by the magnetic attraction o
his personality. They listened a
linen listen who have confidence II
their speaker, In his sincerity and II
his knowledge and in his truthful
mess"
Sometimes the things for which VI
dig are to be found upon the sur
fbdek When lthe 1tltrsbung man
said that his nelgnbors listened T.
lMr. Bryan "as men listen who hav
confidence In their speaker, In hi
sincerity and in his knowledge an
in his truthfulness," he may hay
given the answer to mis- own ques
tion.
III, however, the Pittsburg write
yet finds 1t difficult to understan
f'what Is the explanation OF Bryan
he might approach the solution OF Tn
problem with higher hopes for re
suits II he freed himself from som
: lof the newspaper made misconceI
Itions concerning Mr.. Bryans caree
Ii Is hardly fair to say that whe
! lAIr. Bryan was nominated for IN
/ presidency In 1896 he was IAN OF
j Icure lawyer and writer" Six yeaI
{ before his nomination for the pres
Idency he had been nominated by III
, democrats as candidate for COZ
2 lgree In what seemed to pe hops
Ilessly Republican district. In lSs
1.-THE Republican candidate had carrie
, THAT district by large pluralit.
In 1890 Mr.. Bryan carried that di
ltrict by 6,700 plurality. although !
had a pOpulist opponent who receive