it may be a charwoman in whom Christ makes Himself a servant again, or a king whose crown of gold hides a crown of thorns.
On the day I read this, I was introduced, via the book LEND ME YOUR EARS, edited by William Safire, to the 1896 speech by William Jennings Bryan entitled CROSS OF GOLD. The sentiments of Bryan are reflected in this statement. Is the author familiar with the speech?