The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-07-30
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
The nation mourns today.


It nnourns a man, whom it three times refus-
ed to elect as it's leader but than whom there
was on one more beloved in the nationwide
liam Jennings Bryan. His death marks the
end of most colorful career and one which,
though it failed as it's goal, left deep I'M
preston upon the history of his times.
He was a typical great American, In that
he rose from family hitherto unknown in ma
tional affairs to become national hgure IN
many lines of endeavour. Stories of his lie,
which will be read far and wide today, tell how
he, farmer boy, became thrice the standard
bearer of great political party, how ne, when
the hour of triumph for that party did come
was instrumental in choosing great leader
for it, and how, after he had forsaken politics,
he gave himself to other lines of activity for
the development of the country.
The names which he had been given, some of
them in derision, pay tribute to his varied life
"The Commoner," "The Peerless Leader"
"The Boy Orator from the Platte and
Grape Juice Bryan" all reflect wildly out
standing characteristics of the man whom the
nation mourns today. His natural abilities
and personality marked him as the commoner
and peerless leader, who, though defeated
could still retain his hold upon his followers
Grape Juice Bryan" and other names such as
Sixteen to One," though put upon him by his
enemies, emphasize his most outstanding char
acteristic and the one which endeared hin to
his many followers, namely, that he was true
to his convictions no matter what the cost.
From every angle of his career stands out
this fact-he was true to his trust. In political
life though he was repudiated by the vote OF
the country; he came out Consequently for
those issues which he believed were right. He
was never on the fence. Some of his political
issues were unpopular; some have since been
written into the law of the land but in the sup
port of each and every one he gave the best
he had to advance what he believed was for the
best interests of his country.
This same principle guided him when he
was Secretary of State under President Will
son. For years he had advocated international
peace and even when war threatened he stood
true to this principle.
More recently he came into the limelight in
the religious world. With the same courage of
his convictions that he had shown in political
and diplomatic life, he stood forth as the de-
fender of the faith of his fathers, as he saw
it.. Many may disagree with him but none
can but admit his devotion to conviction and
duty. He followed the MAXIM
"This first to thine own self be true,
And it must follow as the night the day,
Thou can'st not then be false to any man"
Several years ago William Jennings Bryan
issued public statement in which he gave up
his Efe's hope of becoming President of the
United States. At the same time he wrote
most interesting commentary on his own life
saying: Il shall never be President but I would
rather go to my grave with the consciousness
that have done right and that have done all
in my power to give to my country the best
possible form of government than to be Presi-
dent" a@
No better epitaph could be written.