The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-17
A REPUBLICAN VIEW OF BRYAN
To The Free Lance

To The Free Lance
As Mr.. schooler, In recent article In
your paper, thinks Mr. Bryan should
preach the gospel, and as many Demo.
cratic papers and other contributors In
trying to assign cause Tor the recent
Democratic defeat attempt to place the
responsibility upon Mr.. Bryan, thought
would send you few observations
from Republican view.
The anti-Bryan Democrats say be
forced his nomination by the Denver con-
yention upon and unwilling party, yet
Mr.. Bryan said long before the delegates
were chosen that he would not seek the
nomination, but would serve II drafted
and he did not seek It, but was drafted
and served better than any other man In
the party could have done.
1t is well known that the Democratic
press and politicians generally, and es-
pecially IN the South, were opposed TO
bis nomination, but delegation after
delegation was instructed for him In
obedience to an irrepressible popular
demand from the ranks Of the party.
His enemies are demanding now that
he compromise his future usefulness
TO his party aud the country by declaring
that he will never again become @ candi-
date, and thus shirk aduty that may de-
volve upon him in the future.
In doing so they involuntsrily admit
the incapacity and unftness Tor leader.
ship and for the Office OF president OF
every other Democrat in the United
States, as they say none OF them can be
nominated unless Mr.. Bryan not only
refuses to seek the nomination, but fatty
refuses to have It il thrust upon him
perhaps 10 the day Of his party's dire
necessity-and II there Ia none that can
win the nomination in the light OF the
passive and unopposing personality OF
Mr.. Bryan, now can any Democrat ever
hope to be elected president OF the whole
American people, even though 1t were
not true that the greatest and brainiest
man, the most powerful and magnetic
leader the party has produced since
Thomas Jefferson founded 1t, has three
times, In three OF the most wonderful
campaigns OF peace and appeal to reason
and intelligence the world has ever
known. tried for that high honor and
been denied It By the American people,
all oi whom admired and respected him
and are proud Of him before the world
as q fellow citizen2
Each time be receievd more popular
votes than any other Democrat ever re-
csived and more than other could have
pollsd and be 10 now in the lace OF three
defeats and by virtue OF native force OF
character and transcendent intellectual
ability the foremost man IN the party.
1t Is true that he ran behind his ticket
In some sections OF the United States, but
this was chit fly due to the local and
State issues involved and because beyond
the solid South the people vote upon liv..
ing Issues and more Independently of
party names and not upon dead things
long since passed into memory.
In the South 1t was due In part, LIST, to
the failure OF many voters TO correctly
mark their ballots for President owing
to the large number OF presidential and
vice-presidential names and their elec-
tors and the comparatively few names
for congress In each district, which re-
suited in many ballots being void for
president, but valid for congressman.
2nd, to spirit OF protest on the part
OF many Democrats with their leaders Tor
continually permitting the South, the
body OF the Democratic party, to be
wagged by its tail IN sections where II
rarely ever gets an electoral vote ano
not having q Southern man named Tor
vice president.
3rd, to growing Independence ofparty
names and breaking away from the
"thraldom OF the past" by the business
and commercial interests. who hnd In
the policies and principles OF the National
Republican party the best guarantee OF
their prosperity, yet who desired q
strong minority in congress, and there
fore voted for Taft, and for the Demo-
cratic candidates for congress; -,
When Mr.. Bryan's critics point to the
Democratic governors elected IN western
states as proof oi his weakness, Wny
don't they mention Missouri. nrst zoe.
to the solid South By Parker by 70, l3f
votee, while at the same time elecelng