Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-10-04
Old TIMERS GIVE REASONS
For Changing Their Political
Faiths.
THE REASONS CONTRASTED.
The LabOrcd Effort of the cx-DemOcrat
Leads the Bulletin to Doubt Writer'S
Sincerity. The Republicans Terse
Rea sons for Following Bryan.

The following letter appeared in the
Sunday Bulletin, signed "An Old-Time
Democrat:
"EDIIoR BULLETIN:-I am and have
been democrat since becoming old
enough to vote, and have voted and par
ticipatcd in every state and national cleo
ton for tWentyseven years. III the ser
vice | have rendered my party has been
humble, it has also been loyal: ii it has
not been able and efficient, it has been
ut least Jealous. have glored in my
party's victories and deplored its defeats,
believing that republican successes in
the past often meant the subversion OF
the interests OF the common people.
have always been convinced and am still
of that opinion, that it was under such
leaders as jefferson, jackson and Polk
that these broad foundations Of our gov
eminent were laid which have since en-
abled us to attain our present greatness.
''After the declaration OF war against
Spain in 1898, there grew up out OF the
ashes OF our fratracida past, Il new
union, not in name alone, but union of
hearts and hands, extending from our
EXTREMIST eastern to our farthest western
boundary; from the lakes of our dear
grand northland to the gulf OF our no less
dear glorious southland. a few months
later we saw democrats, republicans and
populists alike, vicing with each other
toiliny up the bloody slopes of SAN Juan
hill in the face of destructive Spanish
vollies, and subjected to the fierce and
enervating rays of Il scorching tropic SUM-
These men did their duty and did it well.
William Mckinley was charged with the
policy. He also did his duty and did it
and navy in this, with all that resulted
from it, was the heritage OF the Ameri-
can people, and ii one political party was
entitled to more credit than another in
this affair, it was the democratic party;
but certain Of its leaders have seen fit to
abdicate our claim, and can vote for no
man nor set OF men who would stay the
hand of our government in the Philip
pines or make the task Of our soldiers
there Il harder one. The democratic
theory of government contravencs that
of republican and populist alike. Dem
ocracv teaches the equal rights OF all
before the law and that the people least
governed are best governed. How often
have seen this exempified in the SOUTH
the birthplace OF our present democracy
and staunchest Anericanism. 1t teaches
every man, whether he be rich or poor,
to bear the accidents of fortunes with Il
stOicism of a Spartan and without the
invocation of government aid. But such
invocations have crept into our modern
democracy that fear we are at the part
ing of the ways, and bid farewell to my
old political comrades, not in anger, but
sorrowing for their departure from the
ancient land marks. AS between the
evils of rcpublicanism and those of popu-
lisn, am constrained to choose those
of republicanism as being best.
GAN OLD-lIME DEMOCRAT"
The absence OF any real reasons in this
effusion seems to have occurred to the
editor Of the Bulletin, who remarks at its
close, 'Thc writer OF the foregoing letter
NAV never become full-hcdgcd rcpub-
lican.'
The cpistlc OF the erstwhile democrat
has constrained lifelong republican to
pen the following, as his reasons for
voting for w. j. Bryan:
"Ep1roR IIERAID:-I noticed in this
mornings Bulletin letter signed San
Old-Time Democrat,' in which he in
dulges in some specious reasoning and
reveals incidentally that he would be a
first rate Mark for some enterprsing gold
brick salesman. 1t is not my purpose,
however, to criticise the letter as it
speaks for itself. lie says he is a demo-
crat and intends to vote against Bryan,
and as am an "old-time republican"
who intends to vote for him, should
like to give few reasons for so doing:
'For twcnty-three years have voted
the republican ticket straight; for many
wears more have believed in the prin-
ciplcs cnunciated by the Declaration OF
Independence and | do yet. | believe
the war in CUBA to have been Il just one
based upon principles Tor which any
American. democrat or republican, would
be clad to fight. We are all agreed upon
this. But this affair in the Philippines
this stencil in the nostrils OF American
civilization; this obnoxious pcrvrsion OF
the principles OF Jefferson and Patrick
Henry, is quite another matter and every
man who cannot blindfold himself with
his own ears is aware OF the fact.
Craftsmanship has done much to
cstrangc justice-loving, but unthinking
men from the path of duty, but there Is
even a limit to partisan credulity. The
truths that were instilled into the minds
of the youths OF forty years ago Will be q
potcnt factor in determining the outcome
of the coming contest. we believe tina,
ALL men are created free and equal,
that they are and OF a right ought to be
free and equal and that all governments
derive their just powers from the con
sent OF the governed These doctrines
have been taught in the public schools
for years and years and many OF us have
grown to old age believing in the justice
they proclaim. To have these cherished
ideals taken from us, and nothing to re-