Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-08-06
Bryan Back to School.

Mr.. Bryan must be more or less of
trial to the Wilson administra.
ton, but that does not prevent the
office OF secretary Of state from being
of the highest benefit to Mr.. Bryan.
He ought to be learning something
every day, that is, if the convolutions
of his brain have not become case
hardened by the perennial production
OF Chautauqua platitudes
This pampered child Of the hastings
has learned, among other things, that
the dear people will condemn in an
important Office holder the things it
tolerates in a popular office. seeker.
He has learned that the peculiar
public sympathy which has permitted
him to accumulate a fortune in
fifteen years, through the exercise of
his vocal chords, does not extend to
the continuation of those efforts as
secretary of state with SIP, 900
| salary.
Awakenings like this are rude to
men like Mr.. Bryan whose faith in
the people is largely measured by
what the people does for them: but
these awakenings are salutary and
should make a better citizen Of the
-npinionated somnambulist, pro-
vided, of course, that he is a good
and we'll meaning man like Mr.
Bryan
But this lesson is slight compared
with what Mr.. Bryan is learning Of
international relations. A brief span
Of years ago and imperialism was to
him reputation of American princi-
pies, betrayal of helpless peoples
Today, the erstwhile nti-imperialist
is advocating the serious entrance of
this government into the protectorate
game, and that largely for selfish rea.
sons.
Until few weeks ago, Mr. Bryan's
recipe for dealing with saucy and
otherwise offensive nations was clearly
that Of the soft answer He has
even given the impression that the
practice of turning the other cheek"
would be preferable to war.
Yet, miIabiIe dictu, there now is
sue from the department of state such
demands upon the government of
Mexico that their only alternative is
the business bellicose,
Of course, the good old peddler
of panaceas. did not pen them, but
they had to receive his o. K. ana
whether necessity or conviction CON-
PEELED that, the effect cannot be lost
on William Jennings Bryan.
It's pretty hard to be compelled TO
take to the primer again in middle
life, to be compelled, perforce, to
wrench the fixed mental attitudes and
processes of a lifetime. No wonder,
truly, that the secretary regards the
purveyal of Chautauqua paregoric as
a recreation, to which he gladly fees
from the practical problems Of his
office.
But while good citizens will re-
joiCe, and even chuckle, that the
doctor has at last been put to
school where brains are cultivated
and not the gift of CAB, and that the
pedagogue turned pupil is really
making some progress with his A. B.
Cs., that citizen may charitably feel
the dirt of pity at his plight.
AS if the curtailments of his
pleasant task of sailing down the
pence were not sufficient grievance,
Mr.. Bryans higher education and
the activity it entails may actually
result in his reinforcement as the idol
of the assemblies and camp meetings.
For Bryan, the imperialist; BRYAN,
the lord protector Bryan, the brand
Usher Of the barbed bludgeon, can no
longer wax rheumy- eyed over the de-
lights of ideal democracy and peace.
The lectures that have lined his Golfers
must to the shelf, and what can he
consistently devise in their place TO
lull the shattered illusions of the
populace ?-Milwaukee Free Press.