The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-02
BRYAN AND ROOSEVELT
Great Americans--A- Comparison and a Con-
trast Between Our Two Most
Distinguished Citizens.
written for The virginian.)

Of the onnosne narty or of the people generally But
in certain ether respects these two men are as
well could be imagined-as far removed the one
from the other as the spirit of Bayard, the knight
without fear and without reproacn' from tnat Or
j. j. Jehries we Will say.
Take the men themselves, their respective per-
temperaments and characteristics; take their
basis political principles their methods ana means Oh
Bryan is, in very truth. the great Commoner; from
the foundation up, and through and through. the
for the masses the constant and consistent
champion the diggers and delivers OF the day pc
himself rooted and grounded IN the principles
of Jeftersons immortal maxim, Equal rights Tor ALL
special privileges to none" And this, too. though
Bryan, like Jefferson, comes of respectable family
aristocratc Virginia In the truest, most FUN
damental of the word, Bryan Is democrat mis-
own heart and soul voicing the keynote OF his 100
campaign Shall the people rule? This 1908 slogan
furnishes the his whole career; this, am
tbs answering. able advocacy of the peoples rights
loved and the worst hated democrat his pattern
and prototype, Thomas Jefferson
with Bryan, all real reform must come. not only
from the people themselves. the sovereigns, but by
and through the people. They shall have as direct
a voice In managing their own affairs as their num-
bers and distribution will permit his Is
nearly directly by the masses as possible,
hewiug close to a pure democracy as defined by
political economists Roosevelt is at most a repup-
ican in its original sense---a believer in the rule OF
the people perhaps but not directly by the people
themselves. but far possible, through repre-
sentatives. He Is sort of made-over Federaist ad-
as may be. self-chosen and seif-perpetuating. ana
themselves to decide for the people what are the
ment dislike this strenuous reformer for the Con-
stitution and institutions of the new and progressive
state of Oklahoma admitted during his presidency
his opinion of which Constitution he said was 'un-
printable; though 1t is to be remembered that the
new State came in strongly democratic, rough-ridlng
the advice of Roosevelts genial secretary OF war
TO wait little WHILE" and Senator Gore. of Okla
homa, remarked that good many OF the Presidents
opinions unprntable.
Hence Bryan stands for seif-rule. alone In the
affairs of the whole confederated republic Gas Wash
ngton styled the United States but In those of each
State. each community the historic democratic prn-
eipe OF local sef-government Roosevelt stands. in
a1iSr,a
at the centerfor encroaehments by the Federal gov
eminent the reserved rights of the States for
authority even In the face of the tenth amendment
to the Federal Constitution. Yet true to primitive
Federalism this Federais stretch local
authority literally to the breaking point when per-
sona partisan exigency demands; as. when he
sister republic peace with government.
when, Governor of New York he openly nune
that Federal Constitution he was sworn to obey. ar
refused to surrender. upon demand of sister State
a fugitive from Justice who happened to belong to
Mr. Roosevets own political party
Likewise, Bryan is the friend of foreign peoples
struggling for independence and is loved and reverec
as such by the Cuban the Boer the Filipino tthougn
In the latter he, like a loyal American. when
in the Philippines. refused commit himself
welt believe processes to he for the ultimate
pendence of such peoples that Is. when the stronger
nation exploiting them shall in Its wisdom ultimately
decide that its proege VI ct armis is ready to pass
from the pundered class in the happy family of
tons to plundertng. And So under Roosevelts sys-
tenn. their ultimate independence bids fair to
like his friend Lodges ultimate consumer, myth, a
Look at the pictures of Coils. Bryan and Roosevelt
and compare them.
In Bryan you a strong man, yet kindly.
cut features fearless, direct gaze transformed at
close range in the living man. into eyes startling
ALL thinker; hardly the dreamer of his unfriendy
critics but through and through the idealis he is
known to be-
Roosevelts photograph shows solidy bullt man.
barely escaping the stocky; bullet head. neck,
dog teeth; wide-awake aggressive individual, with
plenty of sense, doubtless but certainly OF tower
Ing intellect The face ITSELF in life, bears x
preston of marked guinness II not indeed suriness
not pleasant to see to one who cherishes even in
reforming cavalier the milk of human kindness.
eyes have not that intensely frank look Nigh
expect In an impulsve. strenuousy honest militant
reformers but rather squirting in appearance-tns
possibly due to his reputed near-sightedness Roose-
welt prociaims himself practical man. he certainly
seems to be-as in the Hartman incident where it
plainly appears that with this reformer nice sent-
ment or ethics are not to be permitted to stand In the
way OF desired end. Nor. when some of his 'prac
ucaf scheming are exposed, does any instructive
generosity, or even common honor between confed-
crates. deter him moment from utilizing his high
position to unload all the odium the little fellow
IN the deal indeed. magnanimity-the square deal
as between man and man-in Roosevelt the pott'
elan or public officer. is vocal by its absence just
go over his myriad controversies while In the White
House, and judge for yourself
And there you get the sum and substance of the
TWO men IN their heart and mind makeup: Bryan. tho
idealist; Roosevelt. the opportunist.
Mr. Bryan thinks that theft theft wherever found
and 80 he assails robber tariff. not alone when
Rugged to its shelterng bosom by the republican
ganzaton as its own pet and darling. but alike when
coddle by recalctrant members OF his party
Roosevelt. the student writer. condemns the
protective" principle vicious in theory and harm
full in practice. but Roosevelt the politician
full to leave undisturbed, during his ear-iong
augean task his party's historic floral emblem, tt
sacred tonch-me-not of protection" Bryan. not
contentng himself with glittering generaltties ana
rliabie plahudes honesty and popular rights evil
IDENTITY hits bulls-eye with his concrete remedies
proposed. for he into a campaign for election
with all the great nenecares OF the industria' abuses
of the day lined up seiidly against him. Roosevelt
vehement in his denunciation wealthy malefaeters
yet corrais into his partys grooming Golfers those
malefactors millions In the fight Here. IT appears,
hunters transformed
deeds Verify. ne heeds the Scripturai Injunction
TO make friends of the mammon of unrtghteousness,
and occasions converts his square deal a rare
steal for some, when making himself
parcel or the Illegal steel trust mergerthat steel Cor
steaD monopoly which this practical leader
coed trusts"
3ryan the ideaist may at times as a practical
pontcan Thus, judging others by himself. he at the
close OF the war with Spain. overestmated the mora
up. and hoped sweep the country on the too es-
Fentally just and sensible platform OF anti-impe-
rlasn OF according to the far-o Filipino that
orr az mr. nrN-