The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-11-01
IN SORROW, NOT IN ANGER

Proffers of friendship were made by
the mayor TO Mr.. Bryan, and now the
democracy of Nebraska is united
Miami Metropolis.
II will be seen from the above that
proffers of friendship and handshak-
ing proceeded not from Mr.. Bryan,
but from Mr.. Dahlman.
II is said in sorrow, not in anger,
that Mr. Bryan must always be pla-
caded
For many long years-perhaps long
er and more sincerely than any other
man in this country-the editor Of
this paper worshipped at his shrine
Mr. Bryan was his political idol, and
he was joined to him like a second
Ephraim.
He persistently and steadfastly
shut his eyes to his shortcomings.
He refused to see any blemish in
him
On being told that Mr.. Bryan, when
member Of congress, refused to vote
for Mr. Charles F. Crisp, in the dem
ocratic caucus, for speaker of the
house OF representatives because he
was a southern man, and in sympathy
with the Confederate brigadiers." he
would not and could not believe it,
and framed excuses in extenuation Of
his vote.
When he was told that he sent his
children to mixed schools from pref
erence, because he believed in the So
cial equality of the races, he could
not and would not believe it,
When he was told that he bolted
the democratic nomination in 1892
and voted for Weaver instead Of
Cleveland. he could not and would
not believe it, and again framed ex-
cuses for his vote.
But Dahlman had been his lifelong
friend; he, the same as the editor of
this paper, had worshipped at his
shrine with answering fidelity for
years, so when Dahlman received the
democratic nomination for governor
of Nebraska. and MI Bryan bolted
the nomination under the pretense
mat Mr.. Dahlman was under the dom
ination of the liquor interests, our
faith in his political integrity began
to waver, and we began to see our
idol shattered.
When he disobeyed his primary in
structions and betrayed Champ Clark
at the Baltimore convention under the
pretense that Speaker Clark was
dominated by the interests" Mr.
Bryan having bur recently given him
2 certificate Of good character be
cause of his fidelity to the people, our
idol became more and more shatter-
ed.
We had been told previous to this
episode that Mr.. Bryan strongly OPP
posed the appointment Of Mr. Under
wood because he was a southern man
and had protested against his ap-
pointment as chairman of the ways
and means committee and floor leader
of the house of representatives, and
refused to forgive the speaker for do
ing SO
When Mr. Bryan introduced his ia
nous resolution in the Baltimore
convention without submitting it to
the committee on platform and reso
lutions, of which he was a member,
our idol became still more shattered,
and we could not believe him sincere
Others have the right the same as
we have to believe as their conscience
dictates in this matter, and we do
not blame them in the least. If they
feel that Mr. Bryan is entitled to it
they not only have the right, but it
is their duty, to crown him with a
laurel wreath and decorate his brow
with the most fragrant flowers, but
with all the political cement and plas-
ter of Paris at our command, we can
never patch up our idol to make him
appear as he once did in our sight,
nor will he ever possess the same
halo of glory as he did when We so
unfalteringly bowed down at his
shrine as chief of his worshippers.
We may be wrong, we may be do
ing Mr.. Bryan a very grave injustice,
but there are things we cannot con-
troll; when one opens his eyes he can
not help from seeing objects before
them. so, upon opening our eyes and
seeing things we have made the dis
covery. at least to our own consci-
ence, not gladly, but regretfully, that
Mr. Bryan is made of only common
clay, and it seems impossible for us
to go about to repair the damage and
restore our idol to his original purity
Respectfully Tom Moores verse re-
ours to us:
"Oh, ever thus from childhOod's hour,
I've seen my fondest hopes decay;