Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-09-16
BRYAN As PROPHET
FAILS TO QUALIFY
Disasters He ForetoId Never Come
20 Pass.
OPPOSITE is ALWAYS TRUE.
Gold Standard Does Not Stay, Nor
Does Il Write Future In Blosd.

q
amities which he has foretold would
nave brought unlimited disaster to the
country IL they had ever been realized.
But they never came to pass The har-
-owing pictures which he painted were
merely fgments OF his Imagination,
based on absolutely no foundation
whatever.
1t is well to have Americans remem-
tor OF the Platte must be discounted
fully 100 per cent, for all signs indi-
cate that he feels the fates once more
and is about to begin prophesying
cgain. A male Cassandra, Mr.. Bryan
might by this time have learned that
the forecast OF evil will never be be-
lieved by those who have found that
In the past his vaccinations have besn
but empty air.
"Driving Country to Ruin"
For instance, when Mr.. Bryan was
member of the House Of Representa-
tives In 1892 he was absolutely certain
that protection was driving the coun-
try headlong to rack and ruin, and In
his speech delivered March 10 of that
year he drew the following agonizing
pictures
Protection has been our cannibal
tree, and as one after another Of our
farmers has been driven by the force
Of circumstances upon that tree and
has been crushed within its folds his
companions have stood around and
shouted, Great is protection!
Thus in every State, so far as these
statistics have been collected, the pro-
portion Of home owning farmers is de-
creasing aud that of tenant farmers
increasing. This means but one thing.
II means a land of landlords and ten
ants. and. backed by the history OF
every nation that has gone down. l say
TO you that no people can continue
a free people under free government
when the great majority Of it's citizens
are tenants of a small minority. Your
system protective tariff has driven
the farm owner from his land and
substituted the farm tenant"
How far this picture portrays the
America of to-day or the America of
any year since he made that speech
eny American can answer. Even In
Mr. Bryans own State he can find an
answer right at his doors, for the farm
lolds of Nebraska have doubled In
value.
"Murderous Gold Standard"
But during the four years succeeding
that speech Mr.. Bryans agitation grew
no less nor did the demon which he
had raised in his own Imagination hide
with diminished head, for In 1896 he
again saw restitution threatening the
country. He had a remedy for It,
panacea, q fetch which he held up for
worship-free silver Here are some
Of the things Mr.. Bryan said would
happen II the gold standard were con-
tinued
II reply that II protection has slain
It's thousands the gold standard has
slain its tens of thousands. From
speech at Democratic National Conven-
ton, July, 1896.
do not let the Republicans beguile
yci about the future The future Is
written in blood crushed out Of you by
old."-From speech at Erie, Pa, Au
gust, 1896.
"Ah. my friends, there il another
reason why people have gone into the
cities and left the farms. 1t il be-
cause your legislation has been caus-
ing the foreclosure OF mortgages upon
the farms Mark my words
IL the gold standard goes on and peo-
pie continue to complain, the gold stan
dard advocates instead of trying to I'm
prove the condition Of the people will
be recommending that you close your
schools so that the people will not real
lie how much they are SUFFERING
From speech at Monmouth, ILL.,, Octo-
Der, 1896.
But whom has the gold standard
slain2 What future did 1t write In
blood? What district schools did II
close! Again the condition of the
country makes a calm reply confuting
the imprisoned orator.
Campaigning again in 1900 Mr.. Bry-
ar decided that Imperialism was an
other danger to the country. If II were
continued the Fourth of July would be
forgotten By all Americans and the
spirit of &c" would become n thing
Of the past. Speaking at Lincoln, Mr..
Bryan said:
Sees Death Of Patriotism.
''rhe fight this year will be to carry
out the sentiment OF that song we have
20 often repeated. My Country. 'Tis of
Thee If we lose. our children and
our children's children will not succeed
TO the spirit OF that song. and celebra-
lions OF the Fourth of July will pass
away, for the spirit OF the empire will
be upon ne"
Is there any spot in these United
Qtates where the shirt of 1778 is dead