Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1908-09-03
That Tariff speech.

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Mr.. Bryan. The situation was
curiously covered in II manner
that left no room for objection
to the Presidential candidate
with any man styling himself q
Democrat. Honesty and candor
have always been the distinguish
ing virtues OF the Nebraskan, and
realizing that certain issues his
name had been linked with in the
past, were out Of date, he frank
ly pledged to follow the platform,
if elected, remembering that q
platform "is binding for what it
omits as well as whatit includes. '
Many thinking men who had fam
cied Mr.. Bryan to be a danger
Gus man, whether with reason to
| do 80 or not, were conyinced by
his speech that no safer or saner
man could be put at the head Of
the government. Papers like the
New York World, many OF them,
that had previously fought Bry-
an, We're converted by this speech
and are today dealing valiant
strokes in his cause.
The acceptance speech, howev-
er, only covered the main issue in
a general way, and because Mr..
Bryan had announced he would
discuss the leading issues before
the people at greater length at a
later date, great interest center
ed about the promised treaties
ON these issues. The tariff speech
was the first of the series.
Mr.. Bryan's treatment OF this
great issue has won for him more
strength in our opinion, than
anything that has yet been done
| in his cause. His treatment of
the tariff was the work OF a
master mind, one familiar with
every phase of the great issue,
and fully cognizant ofall tileeyils
that have sprung up through the
Republican policy Of a high pro-
tective tariff The logic OF t b s
sprech is irrefutable. Yhe respon-
sbility of present day evils ari-
sing + m o Republican protec-
tive tariff are placed at the door
of the party in power, and III o
manner leaving no way for ayoid
ing the responsibility. Mr.. Bryan
proved that the party in power
is so deplorably intertwined with
the special interests that the pres
ent tariff system has fostered
that it is rendered incapable OF
shaking off the embrace. In re-
turn for a perpetuation ofpresent
tariff laws the giant trusts have
reciprocated in the form OF cam.
paign contributions. The q C t
that the Chicago platform is de-
void OF a publicity plank demon
strates that the party dared not
enter q fight for continuance in
office without the succor III 0
trusts have always given.
If the tariff is ever revised, it
will not be accomplished by the
Republican party, whose very ex
istence has been made possible
by the power the protected inter
este have welded.
! Commenting on the tari f
speech Of Mr.. Bryan, and argu'
ing tile futility Of the Republican
party's promises OF tariff revi'-
lion, the Atlanta journal says:
Speaker Cannon's unfriendly
attitude towards tariff reform
has already been shown during
the time he has presided over a
Republican Congress. Mr. Wall
iams sought to secure a reduc-
ton on ali articles on which the
tariff was more than one hundred
per cent. Itwas q measure which
lit would seem, in all conscience.
that the Republicans could have
granted, But Speaker Cannon
saw to it that like much Other
salutary legislation it was sti
| fled in the house, and was never
even given a hearing.
/ Speaker Cannon VIII presid,