The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-10-24
THAT MAN BRYAN"
Impartial History Will do Him JUS
ticc-Onc of the Most RCmRrhnbio-
Political Leaders the World Has
Ever known.

ihlDaFtldI history VIII ho tiiih Jus
ticc-Onc of the Most Remarkable
Political Leaders the World Has
Ever Known.
Columbia State.
Less than one month from today the
presidential election will take place
In that time great deal can happen
and the result may be very different
from what it would be were the ClCc'
tiOn to occur tomorrow, but one thing
is certain whether he Is elected pres
ident or not, Williams Jennings Bryan
will go down in history 40 one OF the
most remarkable political leaders the
world has ever known.
A few years ago this man Bryan was
a lawyer and editorial writer in Ne
braska. He had served short while
in Congress where his reputation had
rested chiefly upon his familiarity with
the tariff question. His discussions OF
this usually dry subject were cxcep
tionally interesting and entertaining
and though then quito young man
he WAS looked upon with favor by the
leaders Of the tarilf reformcrs.
Tho Issues were shifted and the coin
age question became paramount. TC
this the Ncbraskan gave his earnest
attention and 1t is history that he be
came the leador OF one party because
he could talk free silver in moro in
teresting and convincing manner than
any other man in the country.
His opponents scduiously tried to per.
suadc the people that this man Bryan
is fellow OF che idea-free silver
forgetting, or rather ignoring, his rec
was the leading issue. IL any were in
81 IN arrpnt this psti m at a nf I}ryur
they have now reason to reject it even
il they could find mono before.
Another and new issue has arisen
Tho tariff and bimetallism were Ole
issues even when they were paramount
They had been thoroughly discussed
in Congress and had played their part
moro or less prominently In prcsidcn
t!al campaigns. A beginner was able
to draw upon speeches and arguments
OF the past and it required originality
in conception and expression to say
anything original on either subject
But not so in this campaign. The
paramount issue is entirely new to this
republic. No one ever dreamed even
four years ago that there would one
day again be wagcd u great political
battle involving the preservation OF
the republican form Of government in
tho United States. Indeed the Issue
was upon us while only few rcaliz
ed it.
The man who recognized its import
ancc first and most thoroughly was
this same Bryan, who had been put
down as q shallow person OF one ido II
1t was he who saw how the Mckinley
administration WAS drifting towards
militarism and Imperialism, while
those terms were still almost unknown
ia this free country. Having entered
the army in "a war for liberty, he re
signed when it became plain that the
army was to be used In war OF con
quest. Resigning he began at one,
to fight the vicious tendencies OF the
administration, and rs the chosen ant
rechoscn leader OF his party, he ha'
kept up this goodly fight, When he
first began TO talk "imperialism," there
were few who understood the signiti
canoe OF the situation. Many Of his
own party failed to realize the magni
tude OF the issue, and some OF his mos
admiring adherents thought he was
making mistake both from the stand
point OF party policy and OF patriotism
They hesought him to stop; they point