University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1916-06-29
Is HE PASSING!

in the same month. More than
score of years one of the most promi-
nent citizens of the United States. A
score of years a dominating leader
of his party. Is Mr.. Bryan. today
passing off the stage of American pol
itics and public life?
No one man ever had greater con-
troll over the Democratic party than
he. Others may have been as power
full but none more so. He began his
rule by the force of one statement in
a single speech: You shall not press
down upon the brow of labor this
crown of thorns: you shall not cruel
fy mankind upon a cross of gold"
That sentence fixed the position of
the Democratic party upon the coin
age question in 1896 and determined
the very phraseology of the plank OF
the platform upon the issue. 1t beat
aSilver Dick" Bland for the nomi-
nation and raised a courageous
young man from an obscure position
to where he took rank with the first
citizens of the land.
In 1900 Mr.. Bryan would not per-
nit the Democratic party to recede
from the position in which he had put
it four years before While the hum
dreds of delegates sat in the nominat-
ing convention, a committee was wait
ing upon Mr.. Bryan at his home in
Lincoln, Neb., and pleading with him
to allow the adoption of a modified
plank on the coinage question. He or
dered that the convention reaffirm the
principles for which the party fought
in 1896, and his order was obeyed.
Stepping aside in 1904, that others
who thought they knew the demands
of the American people might direct
the campaign, Mr.. Bryan remained
the same dominant figure as before.
and the people gave him more heed
than they gave to the man from the
East whom they made party nominee.
As Warwick to our present presi-
dent, Mr.. Bryan was strongest as par
ty dictator in 1912. Making his fight
upon Tammany Hall. he announced
his opposition to every candidate ia
vored by that organization. Mis-
souri's favorite son, high in the coun
ellis of the party. was also a favorite
with the convention, but Tammany
was supporting him. and, on one of
the few occasions when the Tiger
has been beaten, the Nebraskan was
the victor.
And now these be tumultuous times
for parties and party leaders. With
out a voice in the convention, save as
the fearless friend of the common
people, Mr.. BRYAN is not the czar of
the party But who shall say he is
not less a prophet to whom the people
may again turn? His principles have
always been those things which will
help the people. In the beginning he
opposed the exploitation of the masses
by the so-called captains of indus
try" and that same exploitation con-
tinued until many of those captains
were caught redhanded. He an
nounced his belief in government ow-
nership at a time when the hue and
cry of his opponents was most eff
fective. but gradually the people are
coming TO see the correctness of his
belief. He announced his belief in
peace. a practical peace at that. at
time when the world could only see
red.
Let calm consideration be given
to the works and ways of the great
Commoner. and condemnation will
not be so sure TO follow. Instead. the
more thoughtful will see that he may
Vet come into his own and lead the
people into the paths of a Govern
ment for the people and by the people