Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-02-19
Mr.. BRYAN AS A "s0LTeR."

Mr.. BRYAN As A "bOkTEh.
1t is difficult to understand way q
newspaper that circulates among In
telligent men will persistently resort
to Misrepresentation in the hope OF
gaining point. Sooner or later the
truth must become known and WHEEL
the truth is known, the publication
responsible for the falsehood must
suffer irreparable damage.
On many occasions the Chicago
Chronicle has declared that Mr.. Bry-
al boIted the Democratic national
ticket in 1899 Repeatedly, the falsity
of this charge has been brought to the
attention of the editors of the Chroni
Gle. They have never had the honesty
to correct their false statement, but
or the contrary, have continued to re
iterate it.
In recent Issue, the Chronicle says
that the democratic convention OF
1875 nominated bolter in the person
CT Mr.. Bryan" and it adds: 'Mr.
bryan and his populists 10 Nebraska
/ tied Mr.. Cleveland in 1892. and Mr..
/ yam came to Chicago four years
l. 5er as a member of boiling delega-
,n." The Chronicle further declares:
. The fact is. of course, that Mr.. Bryan
IS not then and is not now a demo-
C at. So far as boilers are concerned,
\ r, Bryan should be the last man on
G rth to complain about nominating
o of them. All that he is or has been
il politics may be attributed to
/ iting."
The Commoner Las ON several occa-
s ons presented the facts. This is q
,od time to present them again.
Mr.. Bryan was the democratic nom
i, &c for congress in 1850 and again in
80. In each campaign ne was OPP
P sed by populist candidate.
In 1892. many democrats in Nebras-
4. voted for the Weaver electors at the
T. quest Of the democratic national
c ,mmittee. That request was deliv-
{ ed in confidential letter sent out
by James e. Boyd, then governor of
the state of Nebraska, and since then
one of the prominent members of the
gold contingent. Governor Boyd 8
! letter follows:
''Lincoln. Neb. Oct. II. 1S92.-(P Per.
sonal and confidential. dear Sir: I
have just returned from the east where
l was honored by a consultation with
the national committee and leading
men Of our party. with regard to the
best policy to be pursued In Nebraska
this fall in dealing with the electoral
ticket; and they agreed with me that
the wisest course would be for demo.
Gratis to support the Weaver electors
the object being to take Nebraska out
of her accustomed place in the repub
lican column.
Information has reached me that a
number of independents who were
formerly republicans contemplate vot.
ing for the Harrison electors. With
the republican strength thus aug
mented it would be impossible for the
democrats to carry their own electors
ticket to victory. 1t is therefore the
part of good judgment and wise action
for democrats to support the Weaver
electors in as large numbers as posi-
Bile. For democrats to do this is nc
abandonment Of principle; on the con
trary, 1t Ia q definite step toward vic
tory, and the ultimate triumph OF
Cleveland and Stevenson, and the
principles they represent"
1t may not be out Of place right here
to say that in the spring of 1893, when
the democrats in the Nebraska legls
ture were confronted with the choice
between republican senator and q
populist senator, committee Of dem
ocratic United State senators. among
whom were Arthur P. German and
John e. Carlisle, sent kilograms to The
democratic members of the Nebraska
legislature. urging them to unite with
the populists in the election of Sena
tor Allen.
1t will be seen that. the democrats
who voted for the Weaver electors IL
Nebraska In 1892 did 80 at the request
of the national committee, and are not
chargeable with having bolted the ma
ttonal ticket when they acted on linef
presumable at that time to be favora
bic to the ticket.-Commoner.