Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-07-01
Political Ingratitude.
Editor of Spectator Vimdicator

1t has been truly said in this can
vass, that if Maj. Tyler in his own per-
son lacked anything to insure his de-
feat, 1T would be supplied by his indis-
Greet friends. His advocate, IA Life
Long Democrat" who is writing in your
columns, seems likely to contribute his
full share to bringing about that re-
suit. For there is nothing that more
certainly alienates the popular sympa-
thy from a candidate or cause than
ingratitude.
In the campaign last November the
Democratic party, though it polled the
largest vote in its history, failed to
carry six Democratic States-New
York, New jersey, Connecticut, Della
ware, Indiana and Maryland. With
them, Bryan would have been Presi-
dent. These States were lost from two
causes-foods of a.ti-Democratic cor
ruption money, and split in the
Democratic party. These same causes
were in force in Virginia, but with a
different result, and why At the head
of our State organization was j Tay-
lor Eilyson. Against Hanna fund OF
over 100000 he had practically nc
campaign fund-not even enough to
provide the campaign literature need
ed. But he went to work personally to
make up all lacks. He visited every
county, he gathered what money could
be gotten. he mapped out winning
plan of campaign, he smiled with con-
tempt at the gold bug threats, and
went on the even tenor Of his way.
Day and night he kept the work going.
When the State election returns came
in there was great rejoicing and all
praise was given tc Ellyson. There was
not then dissenting voice.
1t was not until six months after,
when Maj. Hoge Tyler who had been
overwhelmingly defeated in the State
Democratic convention of 1898 for Gov
erner-by a vote of to 1-reappeared
as candidate, that it was discovered
by Tyler's friends that this was all
that Ellyson had amounted to:
"Ellyson did not carry the Demo
cratic party last year, the fact is the
party carried itself. Ellyson said him
self, last fall, to the writer. that he
could get no money, and he answered
hundreds of inquiries that he had no
money and no literature, and referred
his applicants to the chairman of the
National committee. Eliyson made rs
speech, he said he got no money, no
literature, then what did he do?"
How is that for gratitude? Ely
son carries the State for Bryan,
Tyler loses even his own Congressional
district to the Republicans, and yet
"A Life Long Democrat" advocates
Tyler and asks what did Ellyson do !
Your correspondent says Maj. Tyler
is the ''favorite of the farmers, who
cast three fourths of the vote of the
Democratic party.n The only time the
farmers ever had Maj. Tyler before
them for Governor 1888 they decided
by vots of to that they did not
want him for Governor.
AS for me, | am one of those Demo
Gratis who feel grateful to Mr.. Ellyson
for saving the State for Bryan last
year He suits me, too, in other ways;
he was private soldier and u good one
for four years; he is an able man; he is
a true Democrat that cannot be bought
off nor bullied off from the support of
bis party. And what pleases me as
much as anything else about him, is
that there is not bolter il Stanton
or Augusta who does not hope he may
be beaten for the nomination. They
regard him as the real representative
of the Democratic party, as he is, and
want to see him downed.
A BRYAN DEMOCRAT.