The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-02-14
Made by Mr.. Leake as to Senti-
ment in His County
Nm Reply Leake Denied That He Cast
Aspersfons on +'The Peerless One"
Believes Mr.SBryan Is Sincere
But Does Not Believe He Can Rep
resent the Principles of Democracy.

Washington, D. c., February 12-
For the second time this week poll
tics cropped out during the discus
sion of the Indian appropriation bill
in the house of representatives. To-
day Mr.. Hamill of New Jersey, got
the floor for five minutes presumably
to talk on the bill.
MY colleague, Mr.. Leake, last
Monday made some derogatory re-
marks of the conduct of William J.
Bryan" he said. Mr.. Hamill declar-
ed that the sentiments as expressed
by Mr.. Leake "are not the sentiments
1 entertain or the sentiment that pre-
vail in Hudson county which we both
represent; which prevail for that
matter throughout the state of New
Jersey
Mr.. Bryan, he said, had been crit
icised, because of his knowledge of
the decalogue. In his opinion it was
amazing that Mr.. Bryan should be
openly opposed on the floor of the
house because he showed acquaint-
ance with the ten commandments. 1t
was refreshing, he said, to find
man who not only boaSted and pos
Sessed an acquaintance with the ten
commandments but who through
out the entire course of his public
career has consistently put the pre-
cepts of the commandments into
practice
Shouts of democratic approval
greeted Mr. Hamill's announcement
that while he agreed with the state
ment that Mr.. Bryan's knowledge of
the commandments would fit him to
occupy pulpit with pre-eminence,
81 can also assure the house, reflect
ing at the same time their own con-
viction, that that same acquaintance
will enable him to occupy with eclat
the post Of president of the United
States. The principles Mr.. Bryan
espoused, he said, were sound. THAT
his victorious opponents have appro-
prfated many of them and made them
the popular features of their poll
-cies."
If, said Mr.. Hamill, it was true as
charged by his colleague, that Mr..
Bryan was engaged in the practices
of corralling delegates to the Denver
convention, it was the very same
practice INDUCED in "by the illust-
rious gentleman whom my friends
on the other side of the chamber
boast of as their political chieftain."
Mr.. Leake, in reply, said that he
had been misunderstood and that the
Congressional Record would bear
him out that he had cast no asper-
sions on the peerless one" His
tone In referring to Mr.. Bryan was
SO sarcastic that he was applauded
by the republicans. Mr.. Leake said
it was his honest opinion that his
views reflected the sentiment of his
district, his state and the country
There were he said, certain princi-
piles of the democratic party which
he had departed from since 1896,
s'and that in this year when we see
an opportunity of victory we are
still trusting our fortunes to the dis
tinguished gentleman from Nebras-
ka"
Mr.. Leake spoke of the doctrines
Of Thomas Jefferson and reverting
to Mr.. Bryan provoked vociferous
republican applause when he said:
81 believe that Mr. Bryan is sin
cere, honest, and I believe that he is
truthful, and I believe further that
ne cannot represent the principles of
democracy before the American peo-
ple l believe that he cannot preach
the doctrine of home rule in the
states. l do not believe he can
preach the doctrine of American in
1OI WHICH lc lISSS DIS Jul
leader he is wound around by his
heresies of free silver; by his doc
trines of governmental ownership
and by his guaranteeing of the bank
deposits of the United States, and by
all those other socialistic tendencies"
"The country" he declared needs
democracy now-now needs the es-
tablishment of the principles of de-
mocracy into our national legislation
and needs to get away from the
principles which Mr.. Bryan stands
for"
Mr.. Leake, after asserting that the
republicans were a party of expedi-
esNcy and the democrats a party of
principles, and that he had been ac-
cused of being republican. He de-
Nared, hwever, that he did not be-
Iieve that party was based on sound
principles and the safety OF the coun-
try t'must rest upon the old, ever
lasting principles of democracy enun-
ciated by Thomas Jefferson"
1Ir. John Sharp Williams. leader
sof the minority, brought the colo