Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-25
WATSON ASSAILS BRYAN.
Urges South to Become Politically
Uncertain Again.

Macon, Ga, July 24.-ThOmas f.
Watson, Populist candidate for PreSi-
dent, opened his campaign here in a
speech of one hour to an audience that
taxed the capacity of the Grand Opera
house His assaults were all directed
at Bryan and his praises were for
Roosevelt and Taft. His charge against
Bryan of refusing to vote for Crisp as
speaker in the Democratic caucus be-
cause of his being a Confederate was
heard in silence. He appealed to the
South to cast off her political shacklcs
to Democracy. He said in part:
The greatest purpose of my life now
Is to put the South back into the posi-
ton of national influence which she
held before the Civil War and to bring
bacq the reign of Democratic principles
as they were practised in the 40's and
5Os The greatest obstacle in the way
is the apathy of the South itself. If the
Southern people would arouse them
selves, they could easily throw off the
domination of the Eastern capitalist,
who exploits the Southern states
through the machinery of the Demo-
cratic party.
You call yourselves Democrats-An-
L
ferson Democrats-and you have never
stopped to inquire what are the prIn-
cples for which Andrew Jackson and
Thomas Jefferson stood.
You are asked to vote for Mr.. Bryan,
and yet Mr.. Bryan's platform is one
which Andrew Jackson would have
spurned and Thomas jefferson de-
spised. It represents disgraceful sur
render of principle. In 1896 Mr.. Watson
claimed to be as good Populist as
Bryan.
For eight years Bryan wore every
shred of clothing which Populism had
in it's wardrobe In 1904 he abandoned
his Populist raimcnt and entered zeal
ously into the Parker campaign. which
he himself had denounced as a sell-out
10 the Wall street element of the DEM
ocratc party.
: In Denver he was absolutely in deS-
potic control of the Democratic party.
Whatever he wanted done was done
Whoever he wanted thrown out was
bounced. The platform is just what he
made it, and that platform is one OF
the most shameful abandonments of
principle that political history repre-
SCENTS. What right had he to demand
the support of those citizens who are
Democratic in principle upon such a
platform as this?
And particularly what right has he
to expect the support of the South?
Upon one principle alone can he hope
to get it, and that is upon the idea
that the South is compelled to vote
the Democratic ticket. no matter how
offensive in principle the platform may
insult her.
Mr. Bryan understands the helpless
ness of the South and exploits it to
the very utmost In the Southern
states he must draw 1856 of the 242 cleo
toral votes that are necessary to his
success, and yet he has treated the
Southern states as purely negligible
quantity. In return for her 1856 cleo
toral votes she gets nothing-absolute-
~ nothing. The platform recognizes
no interest of hers. n the South Will
follow me in this campaign revolving
against the odious conditions under
which she is expected to serve Mr..
Bryan. she will at once resume her old
place in the sisterhood of sections. Be
ing now a Democratic asset which
can be counted on with certainty, no.
body regards her. pays any attention
to her interests or thinks of her feel
ings Let the South become politically
uncertain, and she will again become
pulitically great