The Somerset reporter., 1908-09-24
BRYAN AS PROPHET
FAILS To QUALIFY
Disasters He ForetoId Never
Come TO Pass.
OPPOSITE IS ALWAYS TRUE.
Gold Standard Does Net Stay Nor
Does IL Write Future In Blood.

Does IL Write Future In Blood.
As a prophet William Jennings Bry-
an has never been a success. The ca
lamities which he has foretold would
have brought Unlimited disaster to the
country IL they had ever been realized
But they never came to pass. The har-
rowing pictures which be painted were
merely pigments OF bis imagination.
based on absolutely no foundation
whatever.
1t Is well to have Americans remem-
Der that prophecies uttered by the orr
tor of the Platte must be discounted
fully 100 per cent, for all signs lndi-
cate that he feels the fates once more
and Ii about to begin prophesy ing
again A male Cassandra. Mr.. Bryan
might by this time have learned that
the forecast OF evil will never be be-
lieved by those who have found that
in the past his vaccinations have been
but empty air.
"Deivins Country to Ruin"
For instance. when Mr.. Bryan was a
member OF the house Of representa-
tives In 1892 he was absolutely certain
that protection was driving the coun-
try headlong to rack and ruin. and In
his speech delivered March 10 Of that
year he drew the following agonizing
pictures
Protection has been our cannibal
tree. and as one after another Of our
farmers has been driven by the force
of circumstances upon that tree and
has been crushed within Its folds his
companions have stood around and
shouted, Great is protection! >" Thus
In every state, so far as these statis-
tics have been collected. the proportion
Of home owning farmers Ii decreasing
and that of tenant farmers increasing.
This means but one thing. II means a
land Of landlords and tenants, and,
backed by the history of every nation
that has gone down. | say to you that
no people can continue a free people
under a free government when the
great majority of its citizens are ten
ants OF a small minority. Your sys.
tenn protective tariff has driven the
farm owner from his land and sub
Btituted the farm tenant"
How far this picture portrays the
America of today OF the America of
any year since he made that speech
any American can answer. Even In
Mr.. Bryan's own state he can find an
answer right at his doors, for the farm
lands of Nebraska have doubled In
value.
"Murderous Gold Standard"
But during the four years succeeding
that speech Mr.. Bryan's agitation grew
no less nor did the demon which he
had raised In his own Imagination hide
with diminished head, for in 1896 he
again saw restitution threatening the
country. lie had remedy for 1t. Il
panacea, a fetish which he held up for
worship-free silver. Here are some
of the things Mr. Bryan said woul
happen II the gold standard were con.
tinued:
II reply that II protection has slain
Its thousands the gold standard has
slain Its tens OF thousands" From
Speech at Democratic National Con.
ventlon July. 1896.
do not let the Republicans begulle
you about the future. The future Is
written In blood crushed out of you by
gold From Speech at Erie, Pa, Au
gust 1896.
"Ah. my friends, there Is another rea
son why people have gone into the
cities and left the farms. 1t Is because
your legislation has been causing the
foreclosure OF mortgages upon the
farms. -" Mark my words! II the gold
standard goes on and people continue
to complain the gold standard advo-
Gates instead OF trying to improve the
condition OF the people will be recon
mendlng that you close your schools so
that the people will not realize how
much they are suffering" - From
Speech at Monmouth. H., October.
1906.
slain? What future did 1t write 10
blood? What district schools did II
close? Again the condition Of the
country makes calm reply confutlng
the impassioned orator.
Campaigning again In 1900 Mr.. Bry.
an decided that Imperialism was an
other danger to the country. II II were
CONTINUED the Fourth of July would b.
forgotten by all Americans and the
spirit of '76" would become thing
of the past Speaking at Lincoln MIR
Bryan said:
Ssss Death Of Pskrietisr,.
1.-THE aght this year Will be to carry
out the sentiment OF that song we have
30 often repeated. My Country, TITS OF
Thee II we lose, our children and our
ehildren's children will not succeed to
the spirit Of that song, and celebrations
OF the Fourth OF July will pass away,
for the spirit OF the empire will be upon
u.s."
Is there any spot In these United
States where the spirit Of l776 is dead
and forgotten apd the Fourth OF July
meaningless date on the calendar?
One of the most ridiculous Of these
prophecies was contained In n speech
MIR. Bryan made In support Of Judge
Parker during the campaign of 1904,
when be attacked President Roosevelt
bitterly. This prophecy had II that
military dsspotism was sure to follow
the decrease in the size Of the standing