Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-06
Bryan and Taft.

Although, as might naturally be eX-
pected, most of the voters of this part
of the country are Bryan men and
would rather see the Democratic can
didate win, there is a lack of the en-
thusiasm noticeable in former presi-
Dental campaigns.
Those who paid attention to such
matters as far back as 1896, will re-
member that during the campaign OF
that year. the whole country seemed
wild for Bryan. The average voter
showed more concern over national
politics than over state politics even,
and there were cases where candi-
dates for county offices made lots Of
friends among the voters by exhibiting
zeal for Bryan.
During the campaign of 1900, there
was general apathy. People who had
never before thought Of such thing
as voting a Republican ticket, did not
hesitate to declare that they would just
as lief vote for Mckinley as Bryan,
and some went so far as to insist that
they would vote the Republican ticket
except for the names of the negro
electors thereon. 1t is matter of un-
disputed record that President McKin-
lev got closer to the southern people
during his administration than any
other president since the civil war, and
politicians of experience admit that II
he had lived he might have played hav-
oc with the solid South" When 1t
developed on the night of the election
that Bryan had been overwhelmingly
defeated, the disappointment was not
nearly so keen as it was four years
previous.
While there is very little enthusiasm
over the present campaign, it would
not be fair to say that the voters are
anything like as apathetic as they were
four years ago. There are quite a
number of substantial citizens, who are
inclined to favor Taft as against Mr..
Bryan; but they are nothing like as
numerous as those who favored NC
Kinley There is not a great deal OF
hostility against Mr.. Taft, nothing like
there was against Mr.. Blaine, for in
stance, and it would not be far short
of the facts to say that the general
feeling is one Of respect. On the other
hand, Mr. Bryan, probably stands high
er in the estimation Of the people of
this section than he ever did before.
The enthusiasm of 1896 was founded
more on the impulse Of the moment
than anything else. Since then, it is
generally realized that Mr. Bryan has
passed through all the tests of real
manhood, and has not been found
wanting. Everybody admits that he
is not only an honest man, but a re-
markably able man. one Of the great
est men of his generation, and it is a
rare thing to hear anyone attempt to
belittle him in any manner.
1t is probably a fact that there has
never been a time in this country
certainly not since the war, when peo-
pie felt freer to say what they think
about national politics. AS far back as
sixteen or even twelve years ago, there
were few men who would have dared
let it be known, even if they had been
able to see anything good in Republi-
can candidates or measures; but now
the man who has studied the situation
intelligently and come to an honest
conclusion, does not stand back a great
deal on letting that conclusion become
known.
But it is not to be understood that
absence of enthusiasm indicates lack Of