Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-05-02
The TROUBLESOME BRYAN.


For more than ten years Mr.. Bryan
has been great source of trouble to
that faction of the Democratic party
which has become known as 1.-THE safe
and sane" In 1896 he put them in a
state of CONSERVATION with his wild no.
TONS on the morey question ana advo-
cacy of numerous populistic doctrines.
In 1900 the safe and sane stood aloof
from him, though he made Imperial
ism the paramount issue but chung to
his free silver ideas. Partial relief
came to 1.-THE safe and sane" in 1904
when Mr.. Bryan stepped aside and al
lowed the opposition to name the can
dldate for President, giving his support
to that candidate, even after his decla-
ration for the gold standard. Those
Democrats who had previously
been so hostile to the leadership of the
Nebraskan began to indulge in the fond
hope that he was becoming more sane.
and that he would ultimately free him.
self from the Populists and Socialists.
whose theories of government he had
previously so earnestly subscribed to-
That this hope was entertained was
proven by the readiness with which so
many Southern Democrats and sound
money Democrats from all sections of
the union went to New York to meet
and to greet Mr.. Bryan upon his return
from trip around the world. 1t was
understood that on landing he was to
deliver a speech at Madison SQUARE
Garden in which he would outline a plat-
form for his party for the Presidential
battle of 1908. Those leaders who had
been differing with him on party and
governmental policies were led to be-
heve that he would take such a conserv-
alive position in his speech that all fac
tional differences in the party would be
overcome; and that united Democra-
cy would confront supposed dis-united
Republican party in 1908. The Madison
Square Garden speech was not only dis
appointing to the safe and sane but it
was disgusting to many who had form
erly espoused the cause and upheld the
theories of Mr.. Bryan. Senator Dan
lei, of Virginia, and John Sharp Will
hams, of Mississippi, were among the
very first to place themselves in opposi-
tion to the new creed of their leader.
His advocacy of government ownership
fell like a charge of dynamite in the
Democratic camp, and turbulent dis
cord became supreme where sweet har-
mony had been promised to reign.
The manner in which the party re-
ceived the Madison Square Garden
speech was surprise to 1.-THE peerless. q"
he was not only surprised but greatly
disturbed that his new CD and startling
populistic utterance in favor of govern
ment ownership was not received with
the same hearty approval as was Ar
corded his dramatic utterance at Chica-
go in 1896 about the crown of thorns
and cross of gold. This put him to
thinking, explaining and apologizing;
and ne now gives his party to under
stand that lie stands only for ultimate
government ownership"
BY consenting to play the part of an
apolcgist, something new for him, Mr..
Bryan was quieting down the opposition
that he had aroused by his speech in
New York. But when man talks as
much as does Mr.. Bryan; and when he
employs his entire capacity for study in
the school of'politics and statecraft in a
ceaseless endeavor to create and intro
duce what he thinks are new and para
mount issues, he is certain to repeated-
ly say things and advocate doctrines
that will brew discord in his party
Then, it is no wonder that Mr.. BRYAN
has thrown another bomb into the DEM
ocratic camp. This time it is the Gin
itiative and referendum" that has been
exploded among the Democrats by Mr..
Bryan. This was done by him in
'peech at the Jefferson dinner recently
yiven in Brooklyn, N. Y. The follow
ng is what Mr.. Bryan said on that &C.