The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-08-15
GEN. ROSSER FOR MCKINLEY
why he Goes Back on his Party and
his People


his People.
New York Sun.
RICHMOND, Va, July 26.-Gen. Thorn.
as l.. kosser, OF Charlottesville, Va,
VINO was q major general In the Con-
iederate army aud brigadier general
In the war with Spain, and who has
Withdrawn from the Democratic party
after being affiliated with IL for MANY
years, gives the following reasons for
his action:
IN the hrst place, l will state that
politics ls not my means Ct livelihood.
nave never asked for nor held poll.
tlcal commission, and am under no OBJ
legations to any political party. have
experienced no change OF heart toward
virginia or tho South. am proud OF
the ugly scars which | now carry, re-.
celved on the battlefield In attestation
OF my devotion and sacrifice to their
cause, when Issues were tried by ball
as dearly as did when marched.
hungered and fought under their flags.
mo one can deny that the North has
prospered under Republicanism, nor
Is there any denying the fact that the
South has not prospered under Dem
ocracy. Nature has blessed the South
with soil and climate superior to that
OF the North. Then, shall we be ex-
peeted to admit that under like cordi.
tlons, the South is not equal to the
North In fair field OF business CON.
petition My experience, which has
been extensive, will not allow me to
ADMIT IT, but on'the contrary deny 1t.
have taken q great many Southern
young men to the Northwest, where
conditions were less favorable to him
than to the man born In the higher
latitudes, and these Southern lads
nave risen to the highest rank In every
held OF business they have entered
many OF them are now leaders.
| regard the Republican party as
the only national party now In the
field 1t Is enterprising, aggressive
and patriotic 1T has on hand and un-
finished great work In clearing of
the debris left In the fields by Spain
after the war was over, which both
Democrats and Republicans put us into.
The work is being done satisfaotorilv.
and there should be no change In the
Chief Executive as long as this impor-
tant work is going on.
President Mckinley, Ia q wise, ex-
perienced and patriotic Christian
statesman, and the only complaint
| urged by his opponents Is that his
place is wanted by another man. Gov
| ernor Roosevelt is the highest type Of
American manhood. He is able, culti.
waited and well prepared for the dutiee
which will be assigned him as Vice
President Of the United States. The
best blood OF the South fills his veins,
as his mother was one OF Georgia'e
fairest daughters and OF family
wholly Southern and distinguished III
the service OF the State In peace and
| in war.
" But my friends say that the Demo.
cratic party is essentially Southern and
all Southern men should support 1t. Is
MIR. Bryan Southern? Is Mr.. Steven
son Southern? Ia Mr.. Bryan Demo
crat II 30, what sort OF Democrat ?
Janus faced, he is accepting the nomi-
nation OF the Democrats, but facing
and smiling one way at the Populists
and the other at the Silver Republi.
cans.
Mr.. Bryan and his party OF fusion
carry no nope for the South. Virginia's
vote Ia not required to elect Mckinley
and Roosevelt. nor is the vote of the
South. The North will easily elect
him, bat | honestly, sincerely and pa
triotically pray that the scales may
soon fail from the eyes OF my Southern
friends, that they may see their high
duty and perform 1T, and their true
hope and realize 1T. One country, one
flag and one destiny"