Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-09-11
FOR BRYAN.
Hen. John ID. sutton states Many Rea-
sons.


woods.
Gentlemen;--Yo very cordi al in
vitation to me to be present at a meet
ing of The Bryan Club of Flatwoods
was received, and while appreci ate
the kindly spirit in which it was given
| can hardly believe that the comm IL
tee was aetuated by any ether mo i've
than that Of personal friendship, know
ing as they do that / have been life
long Republican, having foted for u
the Industrious presidents from Linccin
to Mckinley, even in the tented field
with some of those who gave the full
measure of their devotion for the cause
of freedom, which we cherish as dearer
than life; and when think of the per-
sonnet of the committeeman some of
us, at least, were schoolmates half a
century and more ago-I ask myself.
What interest have you that is not
held in common with myselfand every
other American citizen?
In all the years of the past l have
never cast vote or supported single
believe to be right, and hold and will
ever maintain the right, as an Amer
can citizen, to oppose as vigorously
any measure, by whomsoeyer support
ed, proposed or advocated, that | do
not with the same degree of candor
feel to be right. -Four years ago / OPP
posed The election Of w. M. o. Daw
son, for the reason that | saw the cor
rupt methods that were being maugu-
rated, through the aid of the federal
officeholders of the state, for the bene-
fit of eoterie of our great wealth
through a hocus pocus tax refo rm
movement that is, without mistake,
part of gigantic scheme tn foist upon
the people vast debt that will prove
DaHso twho ran twenty thousand
behind his ticket and his tax meas
ures were defeated, the Republican
party now might have been in a
healthy condition. and not burdened
with one-haf million dollars of in
debtedness; but it will require four
years more for the people to become
enlightened and aroused and the seeth-
ing corruption of the Dawson regime
20 be revealed and when | see the eff
forts that are now being inaugurated
hx,t nf ba
am reminded of the language of the
great Law Giver who commanded the
people to stand still and see the saliva
tien of God. But there are graver and
vastly more important questions con-
fronting the whole people as nation.
When we see man of straw, the il
strument Of another, the political Gre
alton of human hands, whose only
claim to national recognition is his
Official visits to our colonial possession
and his management of people in
subjugation. we stand appalled, at the
tendency of evil that L.ust result from
the continuance of an administration
being followed by one of its own crea :
ton, with reckless expenditure of one
billion dollars annually, with well
laid plan of milltarism and with an
open design 10 impose upon the coun-
try a standing army of two hund red
and fifty thousand men-an army in
the time of peace greater than the
combined forces of Meade and Lee at
Gettysburg or that of Sherman and
Johnston's forces on their march To
the sea. To arouse warlike spirit in
any people is the surest road to CEN
tralization. A candidate forced upon
the people by the federal oillciary and
through its influence is both hazard
Gus and alarming. A policy that tends
to a reign Of peace is the surest guar
anty Of stability and eonteutment
among the people, while spirit of
doubt and dIsquietude Is the natural
result following a period of eXtrava-
gance and folly. Forty years ago or
mere, when followed the fortunes of
Gen. Grant to battle, l thought then,
anu AhAiih nVNs AiAaA Ait Was VIC
greatest military genius of his day
an unseliish nobleman. And after all
these years the tottering comrades OF
the civil war are startled and sadden
ed by the Republican nominee for pres
ident making declarations that would
lead to the belief that they had follow
ed to victory a dishonest officer-a re-
formed drunkardl God forbid that the
sleeping dust of the iIlustrious Grant
shsuld be desecrated or the soldiers of
either amy shot Id be disturbed by
such unnatural differences coming, as
they do, from one by his creed denies
the divinity of Christ. These are somc
of the reasons why | cal not leu ny
support, however feeble it might b G.