The Farmington times., 1916-02-18
Mr.. Bryan

dct III fcSlRnl1g Jne IOIIlpilo VI otdtc
was timely, well-advised and pow
erful demonstration which has virtu-
ally availed to keep us out Of this
l foreign war.
This inestimable service not alone
to our country but to humanity at
large, may well compensate Mr.. Bry-
an for the abuse of section of the
press and the depreciation of the fat
headed. He has been long Injured to
the one and he is wise enough to
lightly regard the other:-for neither
interested malice nor public inepti-
tude will have the smallest weight in
determining the final judgment of
the nation upon the course it pur-
sued.
l am not blind follower of Mr..
Bryan, and with certain pet theories
Of his-as to prohibition, for exam
ple-I find myself in radical disa-
greement. But l rate him the fore
most exponent of true democracy in
our country today-the greatest liv-
ing personal force in holding this Re-
public to its just traditions.
And so regarding the man, ! think
his resignation was the biggest act of
his career, as it was assuredly the
bravest in view of the obloquy sure
to be encountered. 1t signalized the
bold intuitive genius of the man
and that absolute devotion to princi-
pie which has illumined his entire
public life. The attempt of his en-
emies to show a petty or unworthy
motive for it has reacted with dis
grace upon their own heads.
He saw the war tide rising and
threatening to carry the Administra-
J ton with it. He measured the pow
erful influences that were seeking to
push us into the abyss of war. He es-
timated the clamor of stupid oil
sinister press pretending to voice the
sentiment of the whole people. He
knew that the conventions of Office
held him to a certain subordinatior
as we'll as silence. He realized thai
, he must meet this great public dan
ger in the open as free man, with
| out party or official trammels. HI
3 acted accordingly and perhaps W.
. shall never fully know how mucl
reason we have to be glad of his de
cision. l think there is one persor
who entirely realizes 1.-THE Presi
q dent of the United States
n Mr.. Bryan flung himself into tn
n breach with characteristic yet sagac
e ious daring, and instantly, effectivel
S organized the counter revolution
r against war, that has dashed tn
d hopes and foiled the plans of the jim
r goes. It was brilliant, mastery
t an incompatible piece of work. show
0 ing Bryan the patriot and the tacti
n clan at his best; and as public serv
n ice | believe it cannot well be over
e estimated.
e Always hated by the press of NeN
o York, which has failed to write hiI
i down in twenty years of pervers
S and outrageous depreciation, SOUND
= ing the full gamut from caricatur
to calumny-the rancor of these hor
est editors, in view of their latest dis
comfiture at the hands of the Con
moner, is scarcely to be realizet
A, The Sun and the Times, for exampl
j. are almost Sadistic in their freshl
IS exacerbated spleen against their ol
/ enemy; they clearly extract vo
It uptuous pleasure from it; nay, the
y will never have done showing I'll
ID ugly sore and squirting the pus ;
1t their readers! The meanness, til
i malice the littleness of the exhib
re ton go to prove that American jou
" nalism has not bettered remarkab
Mt in character since it was stigmatize
e. by Dickens according to it's just d
n serts.
as Mr.. Bryan can afford to be maj
Ie unanimous, to smile on these embi
is tered pressmen-nay, even to pit
th them. For indeed some of these pei
IN of privilege merely write the though
lie of their employers, and the write
n. themselves hold very different view
RS The glory of having done much
n avert the horrors of war from tn
country by an act of supreme cou
age and patriotism, will dcubtle
reconcile Mr.. Bryan to these min
irritations. And the deep praise of
m grateful nation, of which no mali
an can deprive him, may well drown
1T his ear the insect chorus of the m
to lignant press.--By Michael Monah'
to in The Phoenix.
ne - .
h. "Cncle" Joe KershaW of few mil