Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-01-17
THE sun AND COLONEL BRYAN.

' ''SN HND tcioNEI BRYAN.
Iho Now York Sun in its issue OF
The 10th inst, deals with Hon. Wi.
liam j. Bryan and President Woodrow
wilson in manner that will not on.
~ cause amusement but admiration
FOR the mastery use of the English
language in dealing with the polit1--
cal situation Of today. Under the can
ton of "The Greatest of Come Backs"
it says:
Sluggish indeed must be the imagt-
nation that is not stirred by the in
cldent of Mr.. Bryan's return to n no
sition OF commanding and perhaps de-
tormfninG influence in the councils
OF his party.
Ihrlcc defeated for President, rs
the Democratic nominee in 1896, In
1900 and in 1908 and crowded aside
IN 1904 he was nevertheless able in
l9l2 TO dictate and procure the nomi
nation OF Woodrow Wilson; and In
President Wilson's Cabinet Mr.. Bry
an accordingly became the Secretary
OF State.
After Two years in that relation
Mr.. Bryan underwent an experience
not hlcommon in the case of those
VINO have been politically or person-
ally useful to the present Executive.
lie was more or less politely crowded
cut Of the Wilson Cabinet, or So treat
nf
~ imrclled him to resign; and he
parted company with his former bene
liclarE and illustrious principal utter
ing Inc historic words SO characters
tic Of his unfailing good nature, God
bless you, Mr.. President"
For more than four years Mr..
Bryan has been q political nonentity
PEI hapS by his own choice. When he
has not been ignored he has been de
rldcd. Ii seemed rs If no great fig
urc long prominent in the political
life OF the country had ever been more
irrcvocably committed to dcsuetude
Suddenly he rcappcars at Washing
tor and i'll the lurid light of the Jack
son Day festivities only two great fie
urcs are seen. All others dwindle iii
comparison to the insignificance OF
mere political bric-a-brac.
One OF the two great figures is tho
h!csscr; the other the blessed Wheth
CT the blessed or the blcsser is to be
the greater factor the days ahead on
the calendar alone can tell.
.-s..e>><.,.. '>S,' % y
Whether the blcsser or the bless
ed is good. 1t continues its obscrva-
tons under the caption Of Col. Bry--
ans Dinner Friends" il says:
Colonel Bryan's frank and startling
"reminiscences Of dinner parties he
had attended, delivered at 1870 o'clock
yesterday morning IN the Willard Io
tel in Washington were cpitomiZed
thus by our ncighbor the World:
Former banqucts, he said had
divided into three parts. The first
was devoted to eating and drinking
mostly drinking. The second part TO
speaking by those who still remained
able to speak and the Bird to 'mopping
up This was the part where the fel
lows who were sober pulled the ones
who were drunk from under the tab
les and sorted them out
81 am thankful tonight he said
that wo have got rid OF the buns
and replaced them at our banquets
with the women as members of the
party"
We shall not attempt to contradict
Colonel Bryan as an authority on the
behavior OF Democrats at the ban
nuet tables under which he has stuck
his knees. but we feel we owe to The
Suns Democratic friends who have
entertained it at dinner In the days
OF dampness which meant more
than umbrellas and goloshes to say
that no such disgusting excuses as
those he describes took place at the
Democratic gatherings we have at
tended
Colonel Bryan apparently has been
very unfortunate In his hosts and fol
low guests.
But what Ia the use of QUOTING
further? When 1t comes to Transcend
! ent ability and biting sarcasm. you
will find both to your liking in the
editorial columns Of the New Yorf
Sun.
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THE POITTlCAL SITUATION.