The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-23
WEATHER FOR SALT LAKE.
Rain or snow
WHY THEY FOLLOW BRYAN.


Observing the enthusiasm with which
Kansas falls into line for Mr.. Bryan.
noting that no state which has had on
portunity 10 express its choice even in
directly. has pronounced against him.
it seems almost self-evident that his
will be the only name mentioned for
the presidential nomination at the Den
yer convention. Even eastern Demo-
Gratis who We're wont TO regard him as
sort of combination of John the Ban
fist and Johann Most begin to concede
his possession of the great qualities
honesty, aggressive organizing faculty
and complete sincerity in public as well
as private character.
Why the change in this attitude
toward Bryan among men who used to
think him a dangerous demagogue. a
foe TO property rights, a dangerous the
orist? Is il that the conscience of the
American people has aroused to the
truth of Bryan's gospel or that Bryan
has modified his views more nearly to
the standard Of the average man?
A careful review of the Nebraskan's
most recent utterances, his speech to
the New York bankers his remarkable
address at the Washington dinner.
forces the conviction that he has abated
no jot of his primary principles. There
is. however. a noteworthy broadening
OF his opinions. an evident tolerance of
others opinions which was lacking in
the fiery orator and crusader of 1896
Without a word to indicate the aban-
Comment of any fixed principle. his ut
terances show what one New York writ
er denominates a mellowing of the
mans nature. Better .stiH. he sees in
the moral awakening Of the nation rea-
son for the optimisto faith in the peo-
Piles righteousness which has always
been one of his nOblest traits.
On the other hand, there is every evil
dence that the people themselves rec
ognize in him the exponent of the re-
forms in national government they
most earnestly desire. They know now.
what they could not perceive in 1906 or
in 1900, that Bryan's absolute SINGER
ity is fundamental and not pose; that
his sense of justice is ample safeguard
against any abuse OF authority should
he be given authority; that he is a type
of the man to whom all turn in great
national emergencies as fnstinctively as
life seeks the light.
In his own party. Mr.. Bryan repre-
sents that democratic principle which
believes i'm the ultimate triumph of the
people as against oppression. however
strongly the oppressors may be in
trenched in special privilege. He was
relegated 10 the rear in 1904 by inhu-
ences which sought to win an election
by trimming. by waving essential par
" beliefs. By resort TO expediency
rather than by an appeal to the convic-
tons of the electorate. The reaction
within the party was Inevitable be-
cause the things for which Mr. Bryan
stands are foremost in the hearts of
the thoughtful citizens today. His po-
sition suggests forcibly that episode of
Iincoln's life in his battle with Doug
las. when the great man refused to be
silent oG the slavery question or toI
minimize his own convictions, although
he was assured Of certain defeat if he
spoke out the thing that was in him.
Through successive defeats, through
the temptation that must have been
presented 10 temporiZe and evade,
through derision and scorn, Bryan has
kept faith with himself and his fol-
lowers He has mellowed, il is true,
he has grown more charitable. broader
in his views of men and events, but hei