The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-05
Personal History.


read that extract from Mr.. Greene's
wonderful speech? He makes it an
ofense In poor Colonel Bryan that he
was "mewling and puking in his
nurses arms" while Brother McKin-
ley was fighting the battles Of his
country! Alas and alack! Could Bryan
help that? Isn't it the nature Of babies
to 'puke and mcwl' in their nurses
arms! Didn't even Alexander, Caesar.
Napoleon and Mckinley do that? In.
deed, didn't Mr.. Greene perform that
universal caper himself once upon 4
time! l have no doubt that BRYAN
was thus engaged when Mr. Mckinley
volunteered in 1861. for Bryan was
born In 1860. Does Mr.. Greene think
that Bryan ought to have been fighting
instead Of "mewling and puking in his
nurses arms in 1861? How could he
nx the day Of his nativity? A witty
Irlshman once said that he could have
been born in America just as we'll as in
ireland If he had so chosen? But
Bryan was not so fortunately situated.
Was Mr.. Greene? Does Mr.. Greene
doubt that Bryan would have been q
soldier during the civil war had he
been old enough? Didn't he offer his
services to Mckinley among the very
nrst at the outbreak of the Spanish
war? Didn't Mckinley ignore the
tender for petty political reasons?
And didn't Bryan raise Il regiment and
go TO the war anyway? Where was
Mr.. Greene then? His picture on the
back OF his reply to Bryan looks as
though he is not past the military age.
Mr. Greene appears to be woefully
weak In geography. He informs q
startled world that Mckinley risked
his life for his country before "Bryan's
name was ever heard outside the val
ley OF the Platte" That's q mistake
growing out Of Mr.. Greene's disregard
for the truth Of history and his in.
ordinate desire to construct sonorous
sentence for the delectation of New
Hampshire Republicans. AS a matter
of fact Bryan was born and reared in
Illinois, and was never in the Platte
valley till about 1886 or 1887. This
may surprise Mr. Greene. Judging BY
MS speech. most any morsel Of in.
formation would surprise him. Fur.
thermorc. about the time Mckinley
was enlistiIg Bryan was learning to
walk.
Again. we are told. contrary to all the
Facts in the case, that "McKinlcy gave
his country the best protective tariff
law IL ever enjoyed while Colonel Brv-
an was mastering law and oratorv in
the educational institutions of Nebras.
ka.' Does not Mr.. Greene know that
Bryan never attended Nebraska edu
cational institution 4 day in his life?
On the contrary, he was graduate of
one OF the best colleges in Illinois and
Il successful practicing lawyer and Il
married man before his eyes ever be-
held Nebraska. That he mastered law
and oratory somewhere is clear, for *
is admitted by all intelligent persons
that he is the greatest living orator,
and as he has refused an offer of So.
900 per annum for his services as 4
lawyer he must be fairly well I'D i'm
his profession.
But Mr.. Greene uttered n gross and
deliberate SANDER when he said that
Colonel Bryan found it convenient
anu eXpcdiCnt TO relieve the army OF
his presence upon reaching Florida"
Nolta.fe's motto, Keep on lying and
soTe of it will stick" appears to have
bo"n adopted by Mr.. Greene as his own
theory. Colonel Bryan went. in com.
mand of his regiment, to Florida in
the summer Of 1898. by orders of the
war department, William Mckinley
being OK otliciO commander in chief.
BY orders lie remained in Florida till
the treaty Of peace between the United
States and Spain was signed in Paris,
and then resigned. Mr.. Greene must
have known these facts when he made
his speech. He did know them, and on
q cold collar he deliberately misstatcd
them.
He also knew that Colonel Bryan
was kept by the Mckinley adminstra.
ton in camp in Florida lest if he got
to Cuba lie might achieve some rioas-
urc OF military glory, thereby dimin.
ishins still further William McNin.
lcy's chances Of succeeding himself.
When Bryan resigned. the Spanish war
had really been over for five or six
months and nobody save Il few Repub.
lican JODberS near the throne and in
the inner circle Of McHannaites dream
ed there would be any Philippine war.
The next time good Mr.. Greene makes
speech wont he please inform 4
palpitating world why General Nelson
~. MilcS--the most distinguished
American soldier now living-a lifelong
Republican-was not permitted to go
to Cuba and conduct our campaign
there: FOl ar Mr.. Greene will be
bashful about answering, l will an
swcr myself: Miles was kept out Of
Cuba because tic Mckinley admins