Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-07-16
INSlNCERE MR.. BRYAN.

Again the Democratic party is inside
the shadow of predestined defeat. 1t
has met in National Convention and
yielded to the clamor of those who seem
to have become infatuated with disaster.
The convention was completely domi-
mated by Organism. and, conservatism,
heretofore called safe and sane" had
to subscribe to the gaudy issues invoked
by Mr.. Bryan, or bolt the convention.
Those Democrats who have refused
to subscribe to his Populist and Socialist
teachings, and even many Republicans,
have regarded him as a fanatic, but
honest and sincere in his convictions.
Recent events, however, are likely to
change their estimate of the man, and
cause all but his infatuated followers to
look upon him as one of the most insin-
cere and self-seeking politicians that
has ever been known in the politics of
this country.
From 1896. when Mr.. Bryan first
came into prominent notice as public
man, until recent date, he exhibited
venomous hostility toward Mr.. Cleve-
land that was entirely at variance with
his role as moralist and preacher of
the word: Peace on earth and good
will toward men," He seemed to single
out the Democratic ex-President as his
chief target when he desired to assail
the wicked and vicious in politics Bry-
ans attacks on Cleveland began at the
Chicago Convention, when he united
with Altgeld, red-mouthed anarchist,
in framing platform that impeached
Mr.. Cleveland's official and personal in
tegrity. Bryan never lost an opportu-
nifty to say mean things about Grover
Cleveland.
A few years ago, when a harmony
meeting was called and held by the
Tilden Club, of New York City, Mr.
Bryan refused to attend the meeting,
because Grover Cleveland had also been
invited to attend and speak. A few
days after the meeting, from his home
at Lincoln, Mr.. Bryan gave out state
ment explaining why he did not go to
and participate in the meeting. The
statement was a vicious attack upon
the Democracy and integrity of Mr..
Cleveland. From that statement we
take the following quotations:
''He (Cleveland) secured his nomina-
ton in 1892 by a secret bargain with
the financiers, his committee collected
from the corporations and spent the
largest campaign fund the party ever
had; he filled his cabinet with corpora
ton agents and placed railroad attor-
neys on the United States bench to look
after the interests of their former
clients
HE turned the treasury over to
member of his family went from Wash
ington to become the private attorney
of the man who forced CD the treasury
department TO sell him government
bonds at 105 and then resoId them at
III. He tried to prevent the adoption
of the income tax provision, refused to
sign the only tariff reform measure
passed since the war, and while thunder
ing against the trusts in his messages.
did even less than Knox has done to in
terfere with their high handed methods.
His administration, instead of being
fountain of Democracy, sending forth
pure and refreshing streams, became a
stagnant pool, from whose waters foul
vapors arose, poisonous to those who
fingered near. Having debauched his
party, he was offended by its effort to
reform, and gave comfort to the enemy.
Virginius killed his daughter to save her
chastity; Cleveland stabbed his party to
prevent its return to paths of virtue.
"And now, still gloating over his po-
litical crimes, he invites the party to
return to him and apologize for the con-
tempt which it has expressed for him.
VIII it? Not until the principles of
Jefferson are forgotten and the works
of jackson cease to inspire"
Were ever bitterer, meaner words
spoken by a man who claimed to be
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