The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-04
J Temple Graves Predicts
Defeat Of the Republicans.
A Ringing Review of the SIT
uatlon Which Characterlzes
the Presidents Party as
A ..sERF TO THE TRUscs, %
And Hanna as the "Incarnese Splr-
it of Arrogant and Unscrupu-
lous Politics

Rochester, N Mafcn 20 -lu
the midst of much that jnsti6es pes
simism in forecast it is as refreshing
as a west wind this protest of the
whole country against the treatment
of Porto Rico.
have never seen anything to
equal the scope of the protest or the
extent of the revolution it has
wrought in public sentiment
For these four years gone, and up
to six weeks ago, to meutlos the
name of Mr. Mckinley in public
audience in the Northern or Middle
States was to create wbiclwind
Now it means siience-absoIute
silence everywhere-broken only by
the lonesome clatter of some blind
and expectant patisan who sees noth
ing but the Office be hopes 10 get
From proud and happy position
as popular idol the president has
fallen, for time at least into desue
sude aud distrus. Bryan has risen
as high as his rival has fallen deep,
and discounts the president 10 the
favor of every popular audience that
I have seen from Minnesota to Rhode
Island
When the State of Iowa, which. in
the memory of living men, has never
been anything but radically Repub!i
can and has for seven years followed
the fortunes of Mckinley with 8
devotion that was almost blind and
servile--when Iowa boldly rises up
in the might Of strong conviction
and expresses, through her leglsla
ture, free trade resolution that con
tains an almost passionate rebuke to
the Porto Rican ipquity of it's party,
it is indeed matter of amazsment
and alarm
But when a conference of northern
Methodist ninisters-the most fanati
cal partisans that the president has
in the country-bolding session in
che State of Pennsylvania, with it's
29o, 900 Republican majority, delib
erately and repeatedly hisses the
name of Mckinley. it is time to look
for the falling of the stars or the
coIlapse of tie Republican party ~
1t may be that "the gods do not
design to destroy the Republican
party, but they have certainly com
pieted the preliminary of making it
mad "
With the single exception of three
colossal trusts, the whole green
country, from Colorado to Maine, is
up in arms against this Porto Rlcan
ipfamy Men who have been life
long friends of the president like
Kohlsatt. of Chicago, and score Of
others in journalism and public life,
have openly protested against the
recent action
Senator Beveridge Of Indiana
young eloquent, uu,rammelled and
honest has been with difficulty, per
suaded from making an impassioned
speech in favor of justice to the little
island | wish with all my heart be
had been let alone. He had here the
opportunity which Garfield had in
toe national convention which made
him president. and ringing protest
from the young Republican against
the drift of bis party to sersdom to
the trusts would have thrilled the
country ard made the speaker i'm
mortal.
One of the most significant s:rawe
in the wbirling tempest is the ease
and grace with which the Democrats
here iu northern and western New
York have reversed long standing
maiorities in municipal, the county
elections, and swept the field clear
for November
All this is simply glorious to me
this evidence OF sentiment that ls
higher than party aud better tnan
partlsauship, the Inherent love OF the
people for wha: is right and just ahd
honest aud humane
/ think the hope of the country
rests in just such spiri, as has
moved this insurrect'on believe
in churches believe in parties just
ae | believe in churches 1t Is IN.
possible to carry principles forward
without organization and CO opera
tion, but somehow always thank God
when see, in crisis or national
danger. men by the thousands rising
I'D 70 declare that truth towers noun
tain high above all parties. and that,
by comparison, parties are nothing
aDd our county and right-every-
thing
Parties are resting very lightly
on the grea, body OF tue people
these Gays, and the organization tna'
+h;rbe r can command ,Dicuity In the