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"An American Commoner or Life and Times of Richard Parks Bland" - An American Historical Classic - 1st Edition A Study of the Last Quarter of the Nineteenth Century William Jennings Bryan on Richard P. Bland: "RICHARD P. BLAND combined, in a rare degree, those qualities which are essential in the successful public servant. He was in fact, an ideal representative of the people. He was honest with himself and with his fellows; he was industrious and devoted conscientiously to his work; his habits, his tastes and his ambitions were such as to protect him from the temptations which hover about those who ae conspicuous in public life; he had convictions deep and controlling; his ideas were high and pure; he had the ability to present his views with clearness and force—his eloquence being the eloquence of one who knew what he was talking about and meant what he said; and he had the courage to express his opinion and stand by it, regardless of the consequences which might follow to himself. Measuring all questions by the fundamental principles which underlie our government, his career was remarkably free from the inconsistencies which have so often marred the lives of great men. He was reared among the plain people and was their faithful friend and champion; he never partook of the lotus fruit which makes the recipient of a public trust forgetful of those who confer it. He was democratic in the broadest sense of the term, he had implicit confidence in the capacity of the people for self government and an abiding faith that they would, in the end, solve aright every social and political problem. He was a pioneer in the great struggle for the restoration of bimetallism for two decades led the silver fight in the House of Representatives. That he was correct in the position he took on the money question is evident from the fact that for twenty years after he gave his name to the coinage law of 1878 all political parties in the United States continued to promise the restoration of bimetallism, differing only as to the means of securing the desired result; and when the gold standard was openly espoused by the republican party, it was defended, not upon the ground that the original demonetization of silver was wise, but upon the ground that new conditions had arisen. Mr. Bland was with his party on every public question and was prominent in the fight within the party which resulted in the adoption of the Chicago platform. If the nomination had been given merely as a reward for public service he would have had no competitor for the honor. Whether his nomination would have brought victory to the party in 1896 is a question which cannot now be determined, but certain it is that no aspirant for a public office ever manifested less disappointment over the result or gave to his successful rival more earnest and sincere support. Mr. Bland's life was a success. He did not amass a fortune. But he measures life by a low standard who estimates success by the dollars either received or saved. Many, without possessing real merit, have secured great wealth by inheritance or by accident; while many have saved by dwarfing themselves, stinting those dependent upon them, and withholding from society that contribution which is due from the more favored to the less fortunate. He left his impress upon the age in which he lived and gave back to society full compensation for all the honors he received. To the members of his party his life was an inspiration; to his immediate family it is an inheritance more valuable and more permanent than lands or bonds. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; and loving favor rather than silver and gold." WM. J. BRYAN."