Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-03-09
CT EAR. CRISP AND CLEAN
A GOOD AMERICAN

EVERYTHING that is best in the
n, American citizen is represented by
Ia William Jennings Bryan. He is
decent, respectable and God-fearing
Therefore the decent, respectable God
fearing, church. going American may
follow his banner without fear of being
misled. He is high principled and con-
scientious. Therefore every high-prin-
cipled, conscientious citizen would in
his leadership find an appeal to which
he could respond willingly. He be-
lieves in morals as well as in customs
and manners, therefore he is constantly
surrounded by that peculiarly refining
influence called moral atmosphere,
which in every human being invites the
association of all who are pledged 20
whatsoever things are lovely, true and
of good report. A man who has lived
such a life and who thinks such
thoughts that he has this atmospheric
environment will attract the good and
repel the bad without conscious effort
on his part.
Mr. Bryan's personality is command
ing, predominating and forceful. Even
make him the subject of cartoons or of
jokes. Was ever plain American, not
the holder of one of the highest offices,
so familiar to the newspaper and maya
zine readers of his country? His face
is as we'll known as the presidents.
The rugged features of Abraham Lin
coin are not more familiar to the people
of this land than the honest sincere,
frank, thoughtful face OF Bryan. Was
ever a man in political life who was not
an eminent office holder as we'll known
to the public as he is today? His name
is as familiar as household word. His
pictured face is like a family portrait.
He is entitled to be called the Great
Commoner." If he can be compared
with any one he may be compared with
Gladstone When that great states
man was out of office he was such a
predominating leader of thought, such
an inspiring and righteous force for the
British party of privilege" and of high
tariff to reckon with that even Disraeli,
leader of that temporarily triumphant
party, was wont to refer to Gladstone
as the Header of her majesty's oppo-
sition"-that is to say, a leader out of
official place and deprived of official
power. but welding a distinctly appre-
ciable influence, which affected the
policies of the government in power.
Pursuing the parallel we ask, Have
not the policies of the great commoner
of America affected the plans and pro-
grams of the party in power. even as
the policies of the great oommoner of
Britain affected the plans and policies
of his antagonists"
Mr.. Bryan's influence, which has been
for the benefit of the country even
when exercised only in a restricted way
and through the medium of opponents
who have demonstrated their apprecia-
ton of him by the imitation that is the
sincerest fiattery, will be for the better
ment and benefit of the United States
if exercised directly. Whether in Of
flee or out OF it, William Jennings Bry-
an will always be great as we'll as
a good American. But when he is de-
prived of an opportunity of exercis-
ing directly his reasoning faculties for
the good of his fellow citizens and the
advancement of their best interests, 1t
is obvious that his personal deprlva-
ton means for the country deprivation
of the result of his activities. Even If
his policies are appropriated by the
party In power we do not. in justice
either to him or ourselves see why we
should be compelled to accept vicarious
Organism" when the champion of its
doctrines is himself able to put them
into effect. When we say Organism we
defer to popular custom, originated
with the Republicans. We are well
aware that Organism stands for Amer
icanism and for Jeffersonian Democ-
racy.