The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-14
An Appeal to Reason by 7. Larry CAN'T.
ARTICLE III.

An Appeal to Reason by 7. Larry CAN'T.
ARTICLE III.
heard the Hon. William ]. Bryan
deliver his famous Gross of Gold"
speech in the Chicago Convention, and
which oration secured him the presi-
dental nomination. Mr. Bryan is cer-
tainly an eloquent and majestic speak
er, and the immense assembly who
heard him on that occasion went wild
with enthusiasm. | thought, at the
time, that I never listened to q more
eloquent appeal. But the next morn
ing, when | bought a paper and read
that address in cold print, could
scarcely recognize it as the same speech
that had so enthused the convention
the day before. While every sentence
was beautifully linked together, at the
same time there was nothing in the
speech characteristic of statesman, or
calculated to change ones convictions.
In fact. it was not so much what Mr..
Bryan said that created enthusiasm,
but his manner of delivery. He is an
orator, without being statesman. l
afterward heard Mr.. Bryan during
campaign at Charlotte, n. c., but his
speech I thought rather common
place.
I believe Mr.. Bryan to be sincere,
honest and incorruptible gentleman,
but there is no denying the fact that
he has an inordinate thirst for motor
iety, and seems to live in constant fear
lest the American people should forget
his existence. The first mistake made
by Mr.. Bryan was after his defeat in
1896, when he hired himself to a syndl-
cate to deliver lectures over the coun-
try. But the people and the Democrat
ic press saw that this would bring
discredit upon our party and gave his
lectures the marble heart. So after a
few efforts Mr.. Bryan returned from
the public stage.
Mr.. Bryan next made mistake when
he hired his pen to those sensational
newspapers in New York to discuss
every possible topic. 1t would be right
and proper for him to defend and up
hold the great fundamental principles
of the party that had so highly honor
ed him, but he should have done this
work from the standpoint of states
man, and not as hired space writer
for some newspaper. It seemed TOO
much like turning the notoriety and
honor bestowed upon him by a great
politicaI party into financial gain.
Next the country is flooded with pic
lures OF Mr.. Bryan, in every concelva-
BILE costume and attitude. For months
YOU could not pick up daily paper or
periodical but what your eyes were
confronted with the wellknown face OF
Mr.. Bryan, copied from his latest
photograph"
When war with Spain was declared,
Mr.. Bryan was appointed Colonel OF a
regiment, but the only blood he shed
was drawn by the mosquitoes around
Savannah. But this patriotic act was
followed by another flood OF Bryan's
photographs taken in uniform.
AS life long Democrat, proud OF the
honor and dignity OF my party, l must
confess that felt slightly nausiated by
this apparent thirst for notoriety on
the part OF our national standard-bear-
er.
But it was the last straw that broke
the camel's back. The news was tele-
graphed over the country that Mr..
BRYAN had made a contract with some
phonograph company to deliver speech
es in their machines, and all a man had
to do, to hear the Honorable William
J. Bryan, was to drop nickle in the
slot.
a presidential candidate, to secure
the confidence, respect and votes Of the
people of this great American republic
must possess dignity, and not make him
self too common, for familiarity breeds
contempt"
And let me right here add that, by
reference to the files Of the Free Lance,
it will be seen that l entered these
same protests before the Kansas City
Convention was held.
At that convention, against the ludg-
ment of many clear-sighted statesmen
of the Democratic party. Mr. Bryan
was permitted to dictate cur platform
"a repetition of the Chicago platform
and our party again. met with most
crushing defeat.
But even this second repudiatiOn OF
our platform by the voters OF this coun-
try had no effect on MIR. Bryan. That
gentleman seems to labor under the
hallucination that he is not only the
Moses. but the autocrat OF the Demo
cratic party and any ordinary man who
refuses to be guided by him is traitor.
The last ukase issued by Mr.. Bryan
commands that no man be elected as a
delegate to any convention who does
not agree to support the Kansas City
platform.
In my loyalty to the time-honoreo
principles of Democracy I yield pres
tiee to no man in my humble sphere OF
life. have battled with my pen and
nv voice for the success of my party
when Mr.. Bryan was Populist.
The voters of our country have twice
repudiated Mr.. Bryan, and his plat
form, and it would be equivalent to
disbanding our party, to enter third
campaign on those old issues. The
South had as well attempt to elect a
President on the slavery question.
Since the Chicago convention. we
have had a war with Spain and revo-
lutionary changes have taken place in
our country and its government, and
any political party, to secure success,
must recognize and accept those chang
es and shape its platform accordingly.
The annexation Of the Philippine Is
lands is now settled, and those posses
sions are as much part of our country
as Florida, Texas or the great Louisi-
ana purchase.
The only issue we can make is, the
best manner for developing and gov
o,,,;or +boSo Tclao6s