The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-13
nv N. A. AGEE.

!"
 More than a month has passed since the great battle of ballots NoVempsr 3, between the opposing political par ties--suffieient time for the smoke 70 lift. survey the iield ana count 'ns dead wounded and missing.
 am not prepared to analyze ihe returns and but little disposed to crltI- else the plan of battle.
 Bryan's defeat was no surprise 10 many thoughtful men, but one so disas- trous to our party was not anticipat-
 When we viewed the large Republi- can regular army far outnumpering ours; saw the great auxiliary hessIan ed behind trust and protective tarlII breastworks with $1.50O,O00 for ann munitions practically unlimited sum and the United States treasury to pack bombthfowers and the Tom watson guerrillas and bushwhackers, sue cess was quite hopeless. Many or our own party were tukewarrn, some wSIe antagonistic. They distrusted our leaosT He had too many side issues, tried to cover too much ground. They feared radicalism and government oWnsEsnip the initiative and referendum rnouen not in the Denver platform, MeEe hos distinctly repudiated by MT. SIyan. .
 "The vase might be broken, put ths perfume fingered still.
 We shot with a scatter gun instead of a concentrated fire Of cannonoatis and the weak points of the enemy.
 The saddest story ds and IL ls useS less to conceal the fact, that many or our truest, bravest soldiers openly de- serted to the enemy, being diseoura ged and disheartened by repeated 1allure'
 But the main body of the army re- mained firm and true, enthusiastic anu aggressive. No leader ever had more devoted and loyal following than MT.
 
 pass of Balaklava.
 svain aIasi Now rent sundered. vain your struggles. brave six Hun
 dredl
 But no soldiers firmer, braver,
 Ever trod a field of fame
 Than the Knights of Balalxlava-- Honor, to each hero's name!
 Some think that Mir. Bryan would he wiling to lead the Democratic par ty to A fourth and more disastrous de- feat: for they seem to be progressive and cumulative. But I think they do him injustice. A brilliant orator. somewhat erratic, (and some tnlnk ao noe statesman) he must have sound prac.. tfcai and political judgment He must know that three defeats bring no pres tige to the party or it's leader. MT Bryan has not the vaulting atnp,- Ii- ton that oyerleaps itself and falls on 'tother side" Nor is he leech 70 fasten himself on the party to SUCK 'Ss Ra ia ike the feech. however, al- ready surfeited by so often being de- feated. and being gorged with sadmira ton and fuisome adulation will will. ingly drop and rest in somnolent state. He will be and ought to De con tent to go down in history as the VI n- crowned King" the admired of all ad- mirers. cut off the bumps from the body, re- move the excrescences from the trunk; the furious growth that has fastened Itse1f on the tree-where we cease to follow an ignus fst"Sss oS,tTi VII tssues Sf 1ns cease to run after false Gods, whether of silver or ebony and return an tons to i'rs5 to nut new life and flesh on the skele- ton Let us cast aside the sin n.ea that trsO s0 easily besets us and run the race , isee from shackles, false issues, dependent on first and fundamsntai, tSt ,nDsnsnts; DTinSpItes; nr'nc,niss of Democracy? Let such read and study, the writings and mes