Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-03-30
THURSDAY, MARCH 80, 1899.
DOOMED IN 1900.

party for President. The infatuation Of
the masses of that party for him is nearly
as great as it was in 1896; and they seem
oblivious to the fact that his conduct since
his defeat in 1896 has been such as to repel
rather than attract any of the forces that
contributed to his discontinue in what he
STYLED ''the first battle" Mr.. Bryan is
either man of very poor judgmentin poll
tics, or he is, wilfully, the most reckless
man that has ever aspired to national
leadership Of a great political organiza-
ton.
1t will be remembered that at the out
set of his canvass in 1896 Mr.. Bryan as
serted that it was the privilege of men in
all the parties TO yield all the opinions
they held on other questions and follow
him on the silver question, according
like privilege to those who were for gold
standard. But when he found that great
many Democrats would refuse to support
him and the Chicago platform he deserted
his first conservative position and began
to abuse the gold Democrats as traitors
and frauds. 1t seemed that the most in-
tense political hatred was kindled in bis
breast toward the thousands of Democrats
who declined to support him, although he
had asserted that each and every man
should follow his honest convictions on
the money question, regardless of past
party associations.
Time has in no degree diminished the
feeling of bitterness which Mr.. Bryan
holds for the gold Democrats. 1t looks
like his hate has become more intense,
and that it is so deep that he mas lost all
his political sense, if he ever had any.
Recently he was invited to attend din
ner to be given by the Democratic club Of
New York on the 18th of April, the ami
versary of Thomas Jetferson's birthday.
His response to the invitation was rude.
and if it had been made in the ordinary
social circles would have been considered
coarse. He insulted Mr.. Perry Belmont
president of the club, whose name was
signed to the invitation, and through hin
all the members of the club, and all the
gold Democrats in the United States. In
his letter of declination Mr.. Bryan in sub
stance said he would not sit at the same
table with gold Democrats, because they
were traitors and masqueraders. Not sat
isfed with the rudeness of his letter to
Mr.. Belmont, he has added to the insult
given therein by another rude reference to
that gentleman in speech made at Biz
minghan1, Ala, on the 23rd inst. He
was not only rudely critical Of MIR. Bel
mont, but his language bordered on bias
phemy. Here is what he said: "What
the Lords Supper is to the Christian, so q
Jefferson banquet is to Democrat, Just
as a good Christian would revolt at having
the sacrament administered by an infdel,
SO a good Democrat objects to having a
Jefferson banquet presided over by Perry
Belmont" This is not the first time Mr..
BRYAN has used Christianity as smile
for his kind of Democracy. 1t will be re-
lnembered that in 1896 he likened bis
political mission to the spiritual mission of
Christ on earth. How men of refined
taste can tolerate the egotism and self-as
sertiveness OF this man is marvel.
If is difficult to say precisely what are
the motives that are influencing Mr.. Bryan
in his rude and bitter assaults upon gold
Democrats. 1t may be that he has con-
cluded that it is useless to try to win them
over to his standard, and that by severe
assaults upon them he can win the admir-
alton and continued support Of the dis
cordant elements that rallied to his sup.
port in 1896. Hence he declined the inyi-
tation to attend the dinner given by Mr..
Belmont's club. But he has shown his in
sincerity and inconsistency by accepting
an invitation to attend a banquet given
the same day in New York, in honor Of
Jefferson, by silver Democrats, and which
will be, from all accounts wonderful polit-
ical hotch-potch. Pingree, the Republi-
can governor, of Michigan, will be there;
Altgeld, the socialist, from Illinois Coin
Harvey, the free-silver faker; and White,
the colored Congressman, from North
Carolina, who has been invited to attend.
No matter what Mr.. Bryan's motives may
be, his conduct is sucL as to drive all gold
Democrats from his support in 1900. He
has done nothing to win to his support
any Republicans who voted against him in
1896. We are convinced that heis DOOM
ed to defeat in 1900.
rr,nn-,r, chates will have hi1t one Senator in