The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-14

dence and affection than did this man
whose enemies have "a monopoly Of
the hatred" 1 should like to read it.
have met Mr.. Bryan on several oc-
casions and have heard him speak
from various platforms as have thou
sands OF Americans everywhere. But
Mr.. Bryan on the lecture platform and
Mr.. Bryan in the forum of politics are
like two separate and distinct persons.
The Bryan Of the Chautauqua circuit
is quiet companionable, eloquent
gentleman. always entertaining hut
rarely offending, preaching higher
ideals but seldom attacking The
Bryan Of the political forum Is action
personifed, terrific in his verbal on
slaughts. incorporating in his ad-
vocacy Of principle, unfiinching and
small or great-on the one hand an
Ajax defying the lightning; on the
other Jove hurting his thunderholts
into the embattled hosts OF the enemy.
Adversaries, admitting his strength.
may question his motive. Little minds.
incapable Of understanding a great nm
selhsh devotion to principle may de-
preciate his leadership and his power.
But millions OF men, all over this coun-
try and in foreign lands today attest
their devotion to the man and their
confidence in him and In the princi-
pies he represents.
NO private citizen travelling around
the globe ever received the attention
accorded this great American. The
crowned heads of the old world came
down from their thrones to greet him.
Philosophers. reformers, statesmen
sought him for advice and counsel.
He dominated the great world peace
the members OF the English parlia-
ment
For sixteen years, the leader OF the
American Democracy, he has reformed
not only his own, but the Republican
party as well. Every Progressive
policy for which either stands today,
every Progressive law placed upon the
statute books since 1895, was advo-
Gated by VIM. ]. Bryan before II was
adopted. Every good thing OF which
Theodore Roosevelt is an advocate now
was championed by Bryan long before
Roosevelt learned that reform was
popular.
No man In the history Of the world
has had so many strictly personal fol-
lowers as has Mr.. Bryan today. No
private citizen anywhere possesses the
influence and power that this one
American exerts over those who be-
lieve in him. Without office, without
organization, without the power OF
money, he has but to speak and mil
lions hang upon his words. From the
crusader Of 30 he has grown into tho
statesman Of 1912 Three times the
standard bearer Of his party he led as
no leader had ever done before and as
none is likely to do again. Defeated
at st. Louis eight years ago I'm his eff
forts to save the party from the domi-
nation Of Wall street, he lived to see
the candidate whom the Interests had
nominated, ruthlessly abandoned and
slaughtered by the very men who gave
him, over BTyan's protest, the nomina-
ton. Victorious at Baltimore eight
years later ne contemplates today. as
the result Of his leadership, a party
purged Of those interests whose object
and record Ia to control or betray.
Great?-Bryan looms on the political
horizon like a mountain peak rising
over the foot hills that border the
plain. At Baltimore He lowered
above his fellows like giant amongst
pigmies; in the presence Of his de-
farmers and detractors, a lion with a
pack Of jaclyals at his heels. His was
the one puissant, dominant figure OF
the occasion, the master mind that
moulded the convention to his will,
and rescued his party from the treach-
erous grip and lecherous influence Of
predatory wealth whose paid represen-
tatives had been sent there to contre4
it.
There has been no such bold, vigor-
Gus. and eloquent leader as Bryan in
the annals Of American politics, and
his part in the Baltimore convention
viii give him an even higher place In
history than he could otherwise have
occupied.