A mistake in concept about Roark's speech.
So, Howard Roak applies to the mind of the middle everyday man in his last speech. However, that middle everyday man was the one who stopped reading The Banner when it started defending Roark.
shareYou're mistaken. The speech didn't apply to the common man, but the uncommon one. Roark wasn't appealing to popular opinion, he said exactly that. The people stopped reading the Banner thanks to Ellsworth's organized campaign against it, since he owned the workers and people of influence.
He is speaking to the jurors: all white men, and I take that they are all middle class - their suits and attitude betray them. And they are so stupid, that he makes his speech and they release him... none of them, even the author herself, apparently not realising that they are justifying terrorism.
shareJuries were made up of all white men in those days. As with most movies with court scenes, it's just too unimaginative, heavy handed and ultimately convenient in how the decision is reached. The criminal act is overlooked for the ideology, clearly, as with many agenda based movies.