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Show GREATNESS. Xow that the presidential campaign is over and the people have, or at least should have, buried their animosities and put aside their partisanship, it is a satisfying view all mayhave of the two men who made the great race for the presidency. Both reflect credit on the American people by their high sense of honor and by their integrity and ability. They fought a great fight, and while one is elevated to the highest office within the gift of the people, the oilier is not degraded by defeat. The defeated candidate stands today, as he stood before the election, elec-tion, America's foremost private citizen, and the .whole people unite in giving honor and respect to him for his sterling qualities, even if they cannot can-not agree with him in his political beliefs. There is an element of sadness in the presidential presiden-tial contest which came to a close with the election, Mr. Bryan had returned to his home in Lincoln after a final stumping trip confident of success on the morrow. On the night before the election, in addressing the people of his home town, who had gathered to do him honor, the candidate said: ''I have been the child of fortune from my birth. God gave me into the keeping of a Christian father and a Christian mother. They implanted in my heart the ideals that have guided my life. When I was in law school I was fortunate, as I was in my college days, to fall under the influence of men of ideals who helped to shape my life, and when but a young man, not out of college yet, I was guided to the selection of one who for twenty-four years has been my faithful helpmeet. No presidential victory could have brought her to me, and no defeat de-feat can take her from me. I have been blessed with a family. My children are with me to make glad the declining years of their mother and myself. my-self. When you first knew me they called me in derision, 'the boy orator of the Platte.' I have outlived out-lived that title, and my grandchildren are now growing up about me. I repeat that I have been fortunate, indeed. I have been abundantly rewarded reward-ed for what little I have been able to do, and my ambition is not so much to hold any office, however great, as it is to know my duty and to do it, whether wheth-er in public life or as a private citizen." Whether one agrees with Mr. Bryan in any or none of his political principles, there is a note of strength in these words which all true Americans will readily see. While they will no doubt perish in the strenuous life of the twentieth century, there is an inspiration in the words for many young American citizens who have been blessed, as Mr. Bryan was blessed, with a Christian father and a Christian mother, who implanted in their hearts ideals which have guided them thus far in their journey through life, and which will no doubt serve as a guide in future struggles. For this reason, rea-son, the words are worthy of preservation. Undismayed Undis-mayed by defeat on two former occasions, Mr. Bryan set himself resolutely to winning in his third effort. On the evening after the election, when the returns re-turns began to come in to his Lincoln home, Mr. Bryan could hardly believe that defeat was again his portion, but he took his defeat as a man, and prepared to do his duty as a private citizen. Two days after the election he gave the following statement state-ment to the press : , "But I shall serve as willingly in a private capacity ca-pacity as in a public one. God does not require great things of us; He only requires that we improve im-prove the opportunities that are presented, and I shall be glad to improve the opportunities for service ser-vice presented by private life." His defeat was no doubt the saddest blow to his ambitions that Mr. Bryan ever received, but there is a spirit of steadfastness and high courage in his words. His sole ambition is to do his duty as he sees it. Here again is shown the high character of the man. He sought a great honor at the hands of the people, but was defeated. The people honor him no less, for he has been true to his ideals, and his example is an inspiring one to every citizen of our glorious country, irrespective of political partisanship par-tisanship or religious creed. Xot only do the people peo-ple of the country honor him, but he honors the country, for he brings to the fore the realization that every man and every woman, and every boy and very girl within the confines of the United States can be true to the ideals which early training train-ing has implanted, and can follow those ideals to the end. In this regard, the life of William Jennings Jen-nings Bryan of Xebraska is an inspiration to all and will continue so for many generations. |