Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1907-10-18
Mr.. Bryan's Speech as Heard by
Three Richmond Editors.
Chimes Dispatch.

AlulSS-Di pdlCu.
Mr.. Bryan's speech at the State
Fair yesterday was conservative and
i'm good temper. 1t was lusty and
pronounced, and unsparing in its at
tack upon the foes of Democracy and
the common veal, but il was singu-
larry free from Vindictiveness, vitu-
peration or display of personal spite
There was some sayings i'm the first
part of his speech on the average
man. and the middle class" which
might we'll have been left out, for
they had the voting getting flavor,
and Mr.. Brayn is not supposed TO be
on canvaSsing tour. Otherwise there
was little i'm his address To which
any good Democrat or any good citi-
zen could object. Mr.. Bryan's difreren-
tiation between the Jefferson school
and Hamilton school of politics was
able and scholarly, and yet SO clear
and plain that the simplest mind
could understand and comprehend.
He waS bold and aggressive in his
denunciation of Capitalization and
eloquent i'm his companlonship of
States rights rs the means of keeping
the government close TO the people.
That is Il Democratic fundamental.
When the government is close TO the
people they understand il and take Il
personal interest in it, 1t is that sort
of government only that teaches the
high Rrl of self-government and de-
VelopS il. President Roosevelt is for
ever telling the people that they
should strengthen the government ut
Washington and increase its powers,
on the plea that the Federal govern
ment can take care OF the interests OF
the people better than the local gov
eminent. In a few cases, that may
be true, but rs n general proposition
ii is false and mischievOus doctrine
ana, in its tendency, destructive of
Democratic government. Its advo-
Gates, rs Mr.. Bryan well said, would
remove the governing power as far rs
possible from the people, for that
means more power and greater license
for the rulers, and less interference
from the people. But il means also
less power TO the people, who In this
government are supreme. Local self
government is prime essential of
popular government. Destroy it and
centraliZe the power in Washington,
and the republic Will soon pass into
monarchy. These are trite savings.
but they are vital and I'm substance
they must be incorporated I'm the
next democratic platform. And Mr..
Bryan 80 declares.
Mr.. Bryan has done we'll TO declare
and champion the doctrine. He has
also done we'll To declare in no uncer-
tain way for tariff reform and
against the protection rob berry, which
Is the mother OF graft. His discus
sion of the tariff yesterday was intel
ligent, forceful and statesmanlike. 1t
is not often that the people of Vir-
ginia have had clearer or more
striking or convincing presentation
of that subject. The tariff is not II
purely business question, as the
protectioniStS decaler. 1t is n moral
question. The government has no
moral right 10 levy tax for any
purpose, save for revenue only. The
government has no moral II ght TO
levy tax upon the whole people for
the benefit of IL favored class. This is
also Democratic fundamental and
must form prominent plank in the
platform of 1905. And Mr.. Bryan
so declares.
The Times-DiSpatch does not APP
prove all the policies which Mr..
Brayn advocates, but it is in hearty
/ sympathy with his views on Demo-
cratic essentials rs expressed in his
Richmond address.