Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-09-27
BRYAN IN MISSOURI.
A Son of The Late General Frank p.
Blair Renounces The Democrat
ic Candidate.
81. Louis Globe. pemocrat. !

~
James L. Blair, whose father was the
candidate of the Democratic party for the
Vice Presidency in 1868, and later repre-
sented Missouri in the United States Sem
ate, will vote for Mckinley and Roosevelt.
Being requested to give his reasons, he
dictated the following an 1896 the un-
scrupulous leaders of the Democratic party
80 perverted its principles that from being
the party of conservatism it was made to
stand for ultra-radicallsm, if not revolu-
ton, and they chose for its leader a cheap
demagogue, an advocate Of political dis
honor, social disorder and economical fol.
ly. Though | have always been an ad-
herent of that party, voted against its
candidate and rejoice in his defeat, be-
cause he stood for almost every govern
mental heresy known to man. Since then
his utterances have shown but little except
Grass ignorance Of craftsmanship, arrogant
disregard of party associates, a willingness
to pander to class prejudice and a shifty
cunning in adapting himself to changing
political conditions and fomenting popular
discomfort. Thus he now represents all
the dangerous pronouncements of the
Chicago platform and all the other vaga.
ries which may suggest themselves to the
mind Of singular versatility in the revolu-
ton of political heresies. The Kansas
City platform is bad enough, but the can
dldate who stands on it is even worse. l
can conceive of no mistake too serious, no
political scheme too grotesque for such
man standing upon such a platform to
carry out. He is about as we'll fitted TO be
President of the United States as was Jack
Cade to be Premier of England. Having
these convictions, can conceive of no cir
cumstances under which l could vote for
him.
81 believe that it is the duty of every
citizens to vote, even where, as in the case
of citizen of Missouri, vote for a Re.
publican President may count for nothing.
1 consider it 10 be an implied condition of
citizenship, since vote, while it may not
count for election, helps to make up that
verdict which is the expression of the
opinion OF the whole people; and | wish
thus to express my opinion of Mr.. Bryan.
l do not wish it understood, however, that
by so doing indorse the course of the
present Administration in regard to the
Philippine Islands and Porto Rico. But
the policy initiated in reference to these
possessions is not necessarily permanent
one. No one could have greater horror
than of imperialism and miitarism, and
all that those words suggest when applied
to republics, but do not fear that any of
these isms will ever become part of our
national policy. Neither Mckinley nor
any of his advisers | am quite sure, are
any more Of tyrant at heart than | or
any other Democrat. They are all too
kOON- hulctlCduS CNCl W Nipu W CllcIdNS
any man of any color. l have too great a
faith in the American people, whether
under Republican or Democratic leader
ship, to believe tina: they are, or ever will
be, capable of unjustly depriving any man
of his life, his liberty or his right to work
out his own salvation. The national con.
science is as true now as it ever was to the
great principles upon which our govern
ment is founded, and will never long abide
an act of national injustice.
"What most wish to see now, and by
my vote help in some small measure &C.
complish, is that Mr.. Bryan shall be so
overwhelmingly defeated that he and all
nis Populistic Ik shall be forever banished
from the Democratic party. think it the
duty of every good citizen to aid in bring
ing about this result, 10 the end that no
party will ever hereafter insult the intelli-
gence and self-respect of the people by
putting at its head such a characterization
as he who now assumes to lead the Demo
cratic party"