The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-09-18
.D|STRUSTS Mr.. BRYAN
Letter of an Old Time Democrat
to His Son.
COMPARES TWO CANDIDATES
Demonstrated Ability Of Mr.. Taft Con-
trasted With the Vacillation of the
Democratic Leader - Progressive
Conservatism Versus Radicalism.
The bivouac of the dea

Democratic Leader Progressive
Conservatism Versus RadcaIsm.
My Dear Son-YOu are now of age
and about to exercise the right OF an
American citizen for the first time.
Since you appear undecided az to
which party to ally yourself with and
have asked my advice upon this point,
| will lmpart to you my own feelings
In the matter.
have regarded with increasing
alarm the growing radicalism of the
Democratic party ana have long ques-
toned the wisdom Of many Of its meas
ures and both the sincerity and ability
Of certain of It's leaders. | have. how
ever, never hcsitatcl until the present
election to give II my unqualified sup.
port, for. while disihiug Mr. pJyan
and heartily disappearing platform
devoted TO the free AMI unlimited coin
age of silver rs opposed % sound mon
ey and gold standard. | nevertheless
remembered my party loyalty aud vot-
ed the Democratic ticket For the
same reason | voted as | had always
done in the election of 1900, though
less In sympathy with the Democratic
platform than ever before and thor
oughly convinced that the humanity OF
the American People would In the long
run entirely approve the action OF Il
Republican administration In liberat-
Ing cuba and the Philippines from the
ho. los ~ In
resources and i'm governing them wise
ly and firmly until such time as they
should he enabled to stand upon their
own feet
When I'm 1901 Mr.. Parker received
the nomination of my party | enter
tained lively hopes that we had at last
hit upon a man who would unite the
conservatism OF the old with the pro-
gressiveneSs of new Democracy. You
will perhaps recall how bitterly was
to be disappointed, both in the make.
shift policy of the party aud in the
bloodless character Of the man
After the overwhelming dcfcut Of
1904 | gradually awokc To The fact that
| was almost totally cut uf symuJth.
with the controlling forces m my par
ty and began 10 feel something OF els.
gust for the advocates OF louul.sm,
bimctallism. Imperialism ard radical
ism. am now OF the opinion that the
Democratic party cannot hold its con.
servMives and it's Socialists at the same
time. The bonds were bound to break
and have done so. Feeling the lack Of
n leader. thousands OF the moderate
wing OF the Democratic party have
flockcd TO the Republican standard. |
have watched whole states become Re
publican which had always been
stanchly Democratic. This will un-
douhtcdly be true OF Kentucky and
Tennessee. and should not be sur
prlscd 10 see Georgia aud Florida fol
lowing In their lead.
In looking over the platforms OF the
two principal parties have been able
~ discover so little dissimllarity and
hostility IN all OF the more vital meas
ures that I begin 10 feel strongly that
the ensuing elections will be a question
Of men rather than OF issues and for
this reason advise you to scrutinlze the
characters and careers Of the respec.
five candidates with the greatest care.
Both are men OF the highest personal
character and lrreproachable In private
and personal qualities. The crucial
test is In the showing Of their qualif-
cations for public administration OF
large affairs and In their perception OF
the true public interest In the issues
Of the day. Such q test and such .