The Washington times., 1916-06-14

, fury. There was, ] thought, Just a little
more OF the suggestion OF the fanatic
that we used to see In his face wher
specials back In SO, again in 90. and
once more In 0s. That suggestion wns
always there: the man believed himself
Inspired; designated to a great work
| destined at last to Its achievement; ant
that work could eliminate only In the
master Accomplishments that he would
effect when he should come into His
Own, in the White House.
Is the dream yet entirely dissipated?
One must doubt II. who sees the as.
, surance with which he sticks at his
post. From the forum to the farm, from
the Commoner office to the Chautauuua
stage, from the political stump to the
seats of the mighty as Secretary OF
State in a time OF world travail that he
couIu not understand-what n career has
been his!
Yet through It all he has steadily
OF the public. His honesty Is recog.
ii,ed: the privilege of his resentments
and revengcs IL accorded as to one whose
disappointments must have earned sucn
trusting him with the Great Office
that IL, every year farther from the
MIR. Bryan came to Chicago as a
newspaper syndicate writer, setting
down his impressions of the passing
show.
lie wrote some very good Bryanic edi-
torals: to tell the simple news OF daily
dolngs as other and Lesser newspaper
men are expected to do was. of course,
not his stint.
And Mr.. Bryan in print has never
been deeply impressive. He needs the
platform. the inspiration of an audience,
the chance TO play with that marvellous
voice upon the sympathies OF his near
ers. A man who had heard Gladstone
n w nj No.
studied the oratcry OF the pittJ aud Fox
and Burke, who even advocated a con-
fident theory as to the. source OF De-
mosthenes' power. once assured re that
the eloquence OF Bryan would have
overturned any other set OF human m
situations save only this stolid Ameri-
can scheme OF checks and Salangea
with all this potentiality for good
and he has done much ~ it-and for
harm-of which he has achieved not n
llttle-Mr. Bryan has run n long race
and never reached his goal. He will
not reach It. Lesser men have been
Presidents, and successful ones: but
none who was at once so great and so
small.
In the House of His Friends.
Mr.. Bryan came to st. Louis, again,
newspaper writer. But he was IN the
house OF his friends: at least OF his
familiars. He is a dangerous person.,
even In the humblest capacity. Il was
recalled that In 1896 he went to the Chi
cago convention as a newspaper report
er. and. incidentally. as a contestant
for a delegates seat; but n his inside
pocket he carried the manuscript Of that
dynamic cross-of-gold speech, and in
his heart the firm conviction that II he
could, get the platform he would sweep
himself into n nomination.
He did 1t. and he has left M Demo-
cratic convention, from that dn' 20 this.
pass by without putting on !: lie domi-
mating stamp OF his purpose and intent.
Will he. breaking in with a proxy, once
more mount the platform and astound
the nation with one more display of his
capabilities?
The day OF the stampede would seem
to be past. Republican conventions have
not been Its ready victims. end II must
be doubted whether even Bryan can
again play with the Democratic council:
yet II is possible.
They were both great bosses, Bryan
and Barnes; very unlike. bu; both real
powers. II may safely be GUESSED that
neither Will come back. Between the
things that they represent the nation
has chosen middle course. and from
1t will hardly be turned aside.