Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-08-11
Is BRYAN A DEMOCRAT?

Bryan is in question. DR.. Thomas
Jefferson Strait and the Columbia
State have been the Nebraskan's ac-
cusers for more than year past, and
at Indianapolis, last Wednesday, Mr..
Bryan actually made an explanation
in defense of himself.
We are not aware that Mr.. Bryan
knows about the controversy. The
presumption is that he does not. Un.
less he reads the Colum bia State, which
is not likely, or unless he heard of DIR.
Straits speech in the court house last
Saturday, which is just as improbable,
we are unable to see how he could
become aware of the accusations
against bim. But, nevertheless, he
has seen fit to defend himself before
the American people and to ask them
to decide whether or not his political
principles are sound.
Mr.. Bryan's position on the peace
treaty has been the occasion of the
controversy. DR.. Strait and the Co.
lumbia State have all along held that
the attitude of statesman toward the
peace treaty has been and is the one
supreme test of Democracy. They
have pointed out, time and again, that
when Senator McLaurin voted for the
treaty, he betrayed his party into the
hands of the Republicans, and thus
proved not only that he was no Demo
crat but a traitor. In his speech in
the court house, last Saturday, DR..
Strait even made dark hints of bribery
against a Democrat who could vote as
McLaurin did on this proposition, and
the Columbia State has been hardly
more considerate in the matter.
Now comes William Jennings Bryan,
in his own proper person, at Indian
apolis, and deposes and says he is
Democrat. Furthermore he says he
is willing to accept the Democratic
nomination for president of the United
States. But, before the agreement is
finally consummated, he desires to
make certain confessions and explana-
tions with regard to the peace treaty.
This, he says, is because of criticisms
in some quarters but be does not say
whether he refers particularly to DR..
Strait and the Columbia State. How
ever, be goes on to frankly admit that
be was one of those who advocated
the ratification of the treaty of peace.
He thought that the United States
would be in a better position to dis
pose of the Philippines after they had
been acquired by this country, and
also that in the event the treaty should
fail, the Democratic party would be
held responsible for the complications
that would follow. He claims that
the party is in a much stronger posi-
ton since the peace treaty has been
ratified than it would have been other
wise, and instead of expressing regret
at the position he occupied, gives it
painly to be understood that under the
same circumstances, he would take
the same position again. Without any
specific reference to either, he agrees
with DR.. Strait in the statement that
that gentleman has not got much
sense, and that the poverty Of the
Columbia State along this line is al
most as distressing.
Now the people of this locality are
to determine whether or not they are
willing to accept Mr.. Bryan's claims
of Democracy. Attitude toward the
peace treaty being the supreme test, if
Mr.. Bryan is Democrat, then so also
must Senator McLaurin be. Their
positions were identical. And if
Messrs. Bryan and McLaurin are
Democrats, how about DR.. Strait, Mr..
Latimer and the Columbia State ?
Their positions are also identical.
MERE-MENTION.