The Commoner
WILLIAn J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR,
Vol. 2. No. 9.
Lincoln, Nebraska, March 21, 1902.
Whole No. 61
THE DEATH OF
JOHN P. ALTGELD.
The death of Hon. John P. Altgeld removes
from political life one of the most distinguished
and influential of America's private citizens. As
he was concluding an eloquent plea for the Boers,
in a speech delivered at Joliet, 111., Tuesday
night, March 11, he was overcome by a stroke ofc
paralysis and died early next morning. Tho sor
row manifested at his demise was deep and wide
spread. His body lay in state in the hall of the
public library at Chicago and during Saturday and
tho forenoon of Sunday many thousands passed
by the flower-covered casket that contained his re
mains. Brief funeral services were conducted at
his residence by Rev. Frank Crane, followed by an
address, by his law partner, Mr. Clarence Darrow.
At 11 o'clock Sunday the body was conveyed to
Graceland cemetery, attended by Governor Yates,
the city and county officials, the Cook County
Democratic club, a number of labor organizations
and a large escort of honorary pall-bearers.
A German society of some two hundred and
fifty furnished appropriate music and ex-Senator
Charles A, Towne-and Mi. Bryan spoke briefly at
the grave. The following is the substance pf .the'
latter's remarks:
"The occasion which brings" us here calls forth
both sorrow and gratitude sorrow that such a
life has been taken from us and gratitude that such
a man has lived among us. In this material ago
when so many are seeking to absorb as much of
good as they can, it is inspiring to find one who
was ambitious to scatter as much of good as possi
ble among his fellow-men. He verified in his life
the truth of tho saying that it is more blessed to
give than to receive. He will be remembered not
for what others did for him, but for what he did
for others. Not his accumulations, but his distri
butions made him great. What little of property
he left will descend to those who were related to
him, but what he left of greatest value will not go
to those of his blood or even to those who were
intimately associated with him, but rather to all
the world, and the world is better for the life of
one whose love was boundless and whose heart
.was large enough to take in every human being.
It was fitting that he should die as he had lived
pleading the cause of the oppressed. It is written
that the things which are seen are temporal, but
that the things which ure unseen are eternal. This
is our consolation today. This occasion sad as it
is would be infinitely more sad if we were con
signing to the earth all that there was of our de
parted friend, but the better part of him whom we
knew as Altgeld survives the grave. As the bird
escaping from its cage enters a larger world, so
tho influence of the deceased is broadened rather
than narrowed by his spirit's flight from its earth
ly tenement. The seemingly endless procession of
friends who passed beside his bier and looked upon
the face they had learned to love showed how
many were touched by contact with his life, and
each one whom he influenced will bear that in
fluence onward so that the circle of his usefulness
will ever widen. He -has proved how great are
the possibilities under our institutions. Born in
another land he has' demonstrated what one can do
unaided if he has high ideals and a lofty purpose.
His was not the prowess of the body no one con
sidered his physical strength. His was the prowess
of the mind and heart. He was clear in reason
ing and sound in logic; believing that truth la
self-evident and irresistible he tried to present tho
naked truth and it was through this that ho in
fluenced the minds of others. But his heart was
his master: it responded to every appeal for help
and his sympathy wont out to all who suffered or
sorrowed. Ho tried to make the world better and
his efforts will bear fruit. Tho waters that run
murmuring down the mountain side and then help
to form the river's majestic current at last make
their contribution to the sea that washes every
coast and add their voice to the ocean's mighty
roar. So the thoughts and words of this dead pa
triot have contributed and still contribute to that
public opinion which moulds human action and
shapes the destiny of the race.
"We pay our tribute of respect at his grave,
but we are sustained and encouraged by the
thought that that which attracted us to Mr. Alt
geld still lives and still incites to worthy deeds."
JJJ
THE MISSISSIPPI RES
OLUTION WITHDRAWN.
In the last issue of The Commoner reference
was made to the resolution introduced in the Mis
sissippi legislature by Mr. McAllister and reported
passed. Tho eastern papers contained long edi
torials rejoicing over the "redemption" of Missis
sippi and the reorganizers were jubilant over what
they regarded as a great victory for "conservat
ism." Later reports show that the resolution was
called up just at the close of the day and was de
clared carried by the speaker. A division was
demanded and before final action was taken the
legislature adjourned. . The matter was taken up
next morning and the opposition was so strong
that Mr. McAllister asked and received permission
to withdraw the resolution.
Mississippi is still sound and the eastern pa
pers owe it to their readers to withdraw their con
gratulations. Will they make tho correction or
will they allow the misrepresentation to stand?
The editor of The Commoner felt sure that
the resolution did not express the real sentiment
of Mississippi democrats and is glad to learn that
it did not in fact receive the indorsement of Mis
sissippi legislators.
JJJ
John S. Murphy.
In the death of John S. Murphy, of the Du
buque (la.) Telegraph-Herald, the journalistic fra
ternity of Iowa and the west has lost an able,
honest and loyal member. He was a democrat in
principle and for principle, and the party in his
state will sadly miss his trenchant pen. The edi
tor of The Commoner has appreciated Mr. Mur
uhy's devotion to the cause of the people and
shares in the universal regret felt at this early end
ing of a bright and useful career.
MR. CLEVELAND'S
"DREADFUL DREAMS."
The following letter, written by exPrealdent
Cleveland to a Mississippi editor, appeared in tho
press dispatches a few days ago:
Princeton, Feb. 26, 1902. F. M. Runnels,
Editor Star. My Dear Sir: I desire to thank
you for sending mo a recent editorial from
your paper, and for tho pleasant lottor accom
panying it. I would not be frank if I failed to
oxpress my gratification with the evidence tfie
editorial furnishes that my fellow-democrats In
tho south are beginning to know me better
and to understand that the course I have felt
constrained to pursue under the mandate of
true democracy is not tainted with disloyalty
to party obligations. I can truly say, how-
ever, that this gratification is as nothing com
pared with the joy of believing that tho time
is fast approaching when our grand old party
will shake off tho dreadful droams that have
afflicted it, and flght again, as of old, the
glorious battles of pure democracy.
My prayer is that I may live to see those
happy days. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The letter is interesting, first, because of the
gleeful tone which pervades it. Tho venerable ex
presidqnt fears that- some of his countrymen h'aye
been looking at him through-"a'glass darkly'" andt""y
lie is happy in the belief that they are beginning
to dise'ern'a halo where they once saw only a finan
cial ring.- It is interesting to know that during his
intimate association with the enemies of tho
democratic party ho has cherished the delusion
that he is the sole and only embodiment of "true
democracy." But more entertaining still is Mr.
Cleveland's prediction that "the time is fast ap
proaching when our grand old party will shake
off the dreadful dreams which have afflicted it,
and flght again, as of old, the glorious battles "
pure democracy."
This is certainly a roseate prospect, but the
Sago of Princeton is as usual long on language and
short on lucidity. To understand what he consid
ers "dreadful dreams" and what he regards as
"pure democracy" we must recall his last admin
istration. For four years he stood betveen the
people and reform; for four years he made the
White house the rendezvous of cunning and
crafty representatives of predatory wealth; for
four years the corporations and syndicates con
trolled his administration and forced him to veto
democratic measures and sign republican meas
ures. He refused to give his sanction to the most
important measure supported by the democrats
and bent all his energies toward securing legisla
tion desired by the republicans, even when he
knew that he would divide his party by doing so.
He loaded tariff reform down with the blame
that should have been borne by the gold' standard,
and not only did nothing for the country himself,
but left a record that lias hung like a millstone
about the neck of the party ever since. It is to this
kind of "pure democracy" that he invites th3
party to return.
And what were the "dreadful dreams" night
mares that disturbed his sleep? Well, there were
not many of them, there was just one the repudia
tion of his administration by an indignant dem
ocracy and this was not a dream, it was a living
reality. He was charged with a betrayal of his