Evening star., 1925-07-27
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William jennings Bryan.

shocks the people OF the United
States. He was the impersonation OF
vigor, mental and physical, and
though his intimates knew that he
was not in perfect health there was
no indication of a breakdown or any
imnainence of danger.
Doubtless If he had chosen the time
and place Of his passing Mr.. Bryan
would have selected Dayton, Tenn.
and the days following the evolution
trial for his departure from this life
For he had just engaged in q work
which represented to him the maxi
mum of his belief. That work was
not finished. No man can foresee its
end.
Estimates Of the character and the
services of William Jennings Bryan
vary widely according to the view
point Of the individual. To many
Americans he was a champion of the
greatest of human rights. To others he
was political opportunist. To many
he was a shrewd investor in popular
dealings in specious economics.
Bryan had exceptional gifts. He
had first of all an oratorical power
rarely equaled in modern life. He
had a magnetic personality which
commanded attention and interest
and which carried conviction. He had
a dramatic quality that enabled him
to sway multitudes.
He was not a profound student, not
a deep thinker, not in the truest
sense a philosopher. He erred in his
Judgment, as in that pertaining TO
the economic issue of 1896 and later,
the issue OF free silver. But his
espousal Of the cause Of bimetalism
made him one of the outstanding fig.
ures in American history. He is and
will be always remembered as a cham
pion of free coinage when earlier and
older advocates Of that theory of
finance, such as Boies and Bland and
Weaver, have been completely for.
gotten.
It is a mooted question whether the
crown of thorns' speech at Chicago
in 1896 was deliberate bid for the
Democratic nomination. There is no
question, however, that 1t won the
nomination for the young Nebraskan.
It solved the problem of the Demo.
cratic party. divided in its allegiance
between veterans of bimetalism, and
lo6 " 70 "a
most unified front possible in the cam
paign under a leadership such as it
had not known since the days Of An.
drew Jackson.
Bryan's defeats for the presidency
were inevitable. No man could have
won the office as advocate of the
causes he espoused. But it was al
lotted to Bryan that he should lead
not only one, but two and three cam
paigns, establishing a record that
probably will remain unapproached
in our political history. A man who
could thus destroy precedent and re-
main in the front rank of his party
despite successive defeats was un.
The career of William Jennings
Bryan will be the subject Of research
and discussion by historians and po
litical analysts. The fact that in his
the religious arena will not confuse
judgments upon Bryan as a factor in
American partisanship and economic
history. AS to his part in the contest
of beliefs which so recently centered
at Dayton, judgment will be withheld
until that contest climaXeS in the ul-
innate legal decision.
1t is unfortunate that Mr.. Bryan
did not survive long enough to over.
come by subsequent deliverances and
expositions the unfavorable opinion
regarding him caused by his appear
ance on the witness stand in the Day.
ton trial. He had just begun a new
crusade and had remained at Dayton
to deliver one of his eloquent ad
dresses on Christian fundamentalism
He doubtless looked forward eagerly
TO the opportunity to speak to the
people of this country on this par.
ticular subject, as he had spoken
countless times in the past on a wide
range of topics.
So passes a remarkable man, with
sut an equal in American history for
versatility, for popularity, for sue
cess through failure. He has left a
deer impress upon the American
mind. In his personal life he has
been SHINING example Of upriglr.
ness and good citizenship. Whatever
his qualities, he has undoubtedly, dur.
ing the past thirty years, made Amer
ica think.