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DECEMBER 15, 190
The Commoner.
HONOLULU NEWSPAPER COMMENT ON MR. BRYAN
Immediately prior to Mr, Bryan's arrival at
Honolulu the Pacific Commercial Advortiser
printed the following editorial:
"Mr. Bryan may hold certain views which are
not acceptable to a majority of his countrymen,
but the country recognizes him for what he is,
and for what he has done, and acknowledges the
part ho has played in promoting a better under
standing between the east and the west, by set
ting the nation so actively at work studying great
economic and social problems that petty and sec
tional differences have been, in a measure, for
gotten. "The country sees in him a man who believes
in a 'square deal' as firmly as does President
Roosevelt; aman who loves his followmen; a
man with a fine spirit, a large heart, a nature
simple and serene; a man who, with true west
ern ardor and enthusiasm, stands fearless, calm,
insistent, sometimes almost alone in opposing
the policy or traditions of his party, when such
opposition seemB to him right; a man who ac
cepts defeat in such a spirit that it seems like
victory.
"Mr. Bryan would have every democrat 'use
his influence to secure a clear, honest and straight
forward declaration of the party's position on
every question upon which the voters of the party
desire to speak.' This is his scheme for the re
organization of his party. He Is fully aware that
platforms are not made that way, and he could
appreciate the force of David B. Hill's remark at
the St. Louis convention last year, when he said:
'Platforms are like sausages; the more you know
about how they are made, the less respect you
have for them.'
"Who can suggest a truer foundation for the
platform of any party than Mr. Bryan has enun
ciated for the future conduct of the democratic
party?
"Whether as the 'peerless leader,' twice can
didate for the highest office within the gift of
the American people, and a factor to be reckoned
wlHi ,n all councils of his party, or, as the plain
citizen who is attempting, with all the force of
a strong mind, the pen of a ready writer, and an
unusual gift of oratory, to aid in the solution
of the problems that confront us as a nation, let
us welcome Mr. Bryan to Honolulu.
"The committee on arrangements should see
to it that the reception accorded Mr. Bryan is
planned on broad lines, and without regard to
party affiliations. The good will of the com
munity toward the distinguished guest may then
find expression in a manner that will be most
pleasing to him, and at the same time, productive
of that fellowship which should exist among all
good citizens."
After Mr. Bryan's arrival at Honolulu- the Pa
cific Commercial Advertiser printed the follow
ing editorial:
"Mr. Bryan made a fine impression in Hono
lulu. Since the days when he was the Boy Orator
of the Platte and vied with the populists In radi
calism, he has broadened into a statesman; and
if he ever becomes president he will probably be
glad that the office did not become his in early
life. Age, experience, study of men and travel
are doing for him what every publicist needs be
fore he undertakes the first responsibilities.
"It is only of recent years that the great pub
lic men of America have realized the value of
travel as a means -of political education. Many
American presidents were never beyond the sea
in their lives. Andrew Jackson, one of the first
of them, only knew a small part of his own
America. Abraham Lincoln was never out of
sight of land or in sight of the Rocky mountains.
President Grant only saw the world after he had
forever passed from office. Grover Cleveland
"MIGHT BE WORSE"
The St. Louis Globe Democrat says: "On the
whole, Secretary Shaw has a pleasant tale to
tell. The government's receipts for the fiscal
year 1905, which ended on June 30, were $C97,
000,000, and Its expenditures were $720,000,000.
This shows a deficit of $23,000,000 for the first
year, but it was much smaller than had been ex
pected some months earlier."
Of course, "nothing is so bad but it might be
worse," even under a republican administration.
JJJ
THE SUBSIDIZED PRESS
There is ono feature of the insurance inves
tigation that has not been prominently men-
never crossed an ocean, and wo believe, Mr. Mc
Klnley was a stranger to foreign lands. Of states
men below the rank of president who havo wan
dered far afield the number is now increasing;
and,ittl8.often 8aId tuat American legislation
would be far wiser than it is, if the stated pre
llminary to high office wore a trip around the
globe. Evidently from what Mr. Bryan said in
his speech yesterday ho realizos this advantage
and moans to make tho most of it, particularly
m Australia and New Zealand, the lands of
sociological experiment.
"Now that the eminent American has gono on
his way, local Interest will center on what he
shall write about us in The Commonor. It is
understood that ho will describe his journoy and
recount his observations in that paper. That the
latter will bo virile and acuto and tho former
vivid -and picturesque may be predictod of the
man."
The following editorial appeared in the Hono
lulu Evening Bulletin:
"William J. Bryan is a man among millions.
Hawaii is not alone to congratulate itself that
he has taken tho time for a trip to this part of
tho expanding American domain. The American
people will follow his movements and listen at
tentively to the conclusions resulting from his
observations. The nation should profit from his
tour. Hell do the wholo country good if by no
other means than Jetting the people know that
there Is another side of tho question, and It is
not as bad as sometimes represented.
"Every public man of our country who visits
this territory and the possessions In the orient
furnishes a valuable leading string to draw tho
attention of our mainland fellows to tho really
vital national problems that must be approached
in a broad American spirit if the prestige of our
country is to be maintained.
"We have been honored with secretaries and
governors and congressmen and senators. It is
probable that Mr. Bryan will exercise- as much
influence as any one of the"m in shaping public
opinion. Ho is one of those men, unusual In
the history of the world, who can be killed off
politically every other day by his enemies but
just as frequently comes to the front again In
a manner that proves that ho has the steadfast
confidence of a large body of the people. Though
tho majority has been against him in the great
national political battles ho has fought, Mr.
Bryan has proved that a man can bear no more
distinguishing title than Mister and still exer
cise a power with the people, second only to that
of the highest officer.
"The time was when it was said that Bryan
could not change his mind. Experience has also
shown that it isn't safe to believe all that his op
ponents have said of him. He has made a much
greater success of keeping in touch with the
spirit of the people than his special opponents
within the ranks of his own party. Mr. Bryan
did not enthuse over the annexation of Hawaii.
Thus far he has seen little virtue in the reten
tion of the Philippines. In dealing with Hawaii
it is not probable however that Mr. Bryan will
support any other plan than a well rounded
scheme of American development. Ho cannot
fail to be pleased with much that he sees hero
during even a brief stay. He will have an op
portunity to see for himself that Americanism in
Hawaii does not necessarily represent degener
acy for Hawaii or Americanism, and seeing, ho
cannot fail to be inspired with a desiro to put
his American shoulder to the wheel and help the
thing along.
"Mr. Bryan will doubtless encounter condi
tions here that will grate on hi3 Nebraskan-Amer-ican
nerves. The oriental and the semi-feudal
conditions on largo plantation properties some
times nrouso a spirit of revolt in tho mlnda of,
men fresh from tho mainland. T1i!b condition '
la ono not built up undor tho American oystom
of government. It cannot bo revolutionized In a
day or possibly a decado. Tho assistance of such
men as Bryan Is needed to aid In promoting
changes In n manner that will not destroy the
industrial structure during tho reformation
period. Hawaii wants him on Its list of workors,
not for selfish reasons only hut becauso America's
position In tho Pacific must bo maintained and
Hawaii Is tho groat outpost of poaco and war.
"There are lines of oporatlons that call for
Americanism before partisanship. Hawaii is tho
first station along that lino In this part of tho
American world. Mr. Bryan has novor shlrkod
any responsibilities placed upon him &a an Ameri
can citizen. That Is why Hawaii anticipates his
active friendship."
Tho Hawaiian Star printed the following odl
torlal :
"Honolulu today entortalns ono of tho fore
most Americans of his time William Jennings
Bryan. Mr. Bryan occupies and has occuplod a
somewhat unique position. Tho only high offlco
ho has ever held has been that of congressman,
and ho hold that boforo ho had come Into national
prominence. Ho has twlco boon a candidate for
president of tho Unltod Statos, and though twice
defeated It was only after campaigns unoxamplod
In tho suprome effort made by tho marshalled olo
monts and Interests which through varied and
sometimes contradictory influences, had been ar
rayed against him. Aftor each defeat ho stood
forth a larger figure In public estimation. His do
foats wero In no sense personal, except as a groat
leader Invests any causo ho champions, with his
personality, and every great cause Invests the
personality of Its leader with somo of its own
importance and distinction. Ho has been not
only tho leader of a groat party, but a great
leader of men. By tho magic of a slnglo speech
on a great occasion, ho sprang at once Into leader
ship, not only of his party but of another great
party, and he is one of tho few men who havo
ever boon tho enthusiastically supported candi
date of two great national parties.
"As tho years havo passed tho asporltles and
tho prejudices of bittor campaigns havo softened,
and William Jennings Bryan has secured a deeper
and stronger hold on tho respect and admiration
of the American peoplo as a great American.
"Mr. Bryan Is now on a tour of tho world,
studying political and economic problems as he
goes. Wo havo much in Hawaii that would be
of Interest to him, aside from our climate and our
scenery, If ho had time to examine It In detail.
But even In tho hurried way In which he must
see things during his short stay and tho effort
of his entertainers to enable him to sec as much
as possible, he will get Ideas and conceptions
that will aid him In giving proper proportion
and perspective to what he may learn hereafter
from varying sources and In more academic way
about us. His visit here wo trust will give him
pleasure and do him good. It certainly can not
fall to do us good. It Is a good thing to havo
visits from tho men who Influence tho world. There
Is a vitalizing Influence about It. They get to
know us In that personal way that means so much.
Subjectively and objectively there Is a benefit.
The peoplo of Honolulu also welcome with Island
hospitality and cordiality, Mrs. Bryan. She has
been the helpmeet of her husband through all
the years of his struggles and success, of his ob
scurity and of his eminence. Wo wish for them
both an enjoyable day in Honolulu, and that they
may carry with them nothing but pleasantest
memories."
tioned in tho daily newspapers, this particular
feature being the revelation of the fact that the
insurance companies employed "press agents"
whose duty It was to secure the publication as
"editorial matter" in daily newspapers and weekly
and monthly magazines of articles laudatory of
these insurance companies. Whenever public
criticism was aroused these "press agents" were
supposed to get busy and secure tho publication
of articles in every newspaper and magazine pos
sible, the articles being printed without dis
tinguishing marks and having every appearance
of being the utterance of the newspaper or maga-
These "press agents" seem to have experi
enced no difficulty in finding daily newspapers
and periodicals of various classes whose pub
lishers were willing, for a consideration, to sell
their editorial space. There is a sinister sig
nificance about these revelations that demand
the careful consideration of the public. The press
is looked upon as a great public educator, but it
too often happens that a portion of the press is
content if it can make financial profit by edu
cating the peoplo to believe in false doctrines.
It has come to pass that some great dally news
papers are vast business machines controlled by
men whose views are biased by the counting
room's receipts, and who give little or no heed
to the moral duties Imposed upon them by reason
of their position In the moral and economic
world.
II
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