The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-07-03
WHAT AN OLD LADY SAYS

l do not hatter myself that anything
| may write i'm this connection will
change vote in Georgia or at Den
yer; but it will give many persons who
believe as I do, grim satisfaction TO
say: Il told you So" after the No
vember election this year.
We have been pegging along in Mr.
Bryan's wake for twelve years and
twice he was nominated and both
times badly beaten. Has the presi-
Dental timber played out?
In the name Of peace and common
sense what are the Democrats TO ex-
pect when they prepare thus for de-
feat instead of victory at the polls?
Have they given up and are merely
drifting?
II so, why put up a fight under such
rigid conditions?
I agree that Mr.. Bryan has a grip
on Democratic leaders that is unusual
and mysterious. He seems to hypno-
tie everyone of them and thereafter
he is master of the situation. They
are limp and helpless after he strokes
them. He had an unusual chance in
1896, but he was badly defeated. His
chance in 1900 was worse because he
was handicapped by that defeat. As
I see it now, it is a fOrlOrn hope TO
put him on the track when he failed
to carry his own state, county or
town in the last presidential election
for his party.
It is noticeable that the Republicans
are not saying anything against Bry-
an. as an opponent. They are willing
''to let sleeping dogs lie" when they
are lat outs" so badly among them
selves. Mr.. Bryan is not bOthering
them worth a cent They can roll out
the same old guns and clear of the
same old battlefield. if Mr.. Bryan is
the Democratic nominee. OF all the
fatuous arrangements I have ever
seen. this concession 10 Republican
hopes wishes on the eve of a Demo
cratic convention. beats the band.
L am an old lady and have seen a
good many presidential campaigns
since the war. But never saw such
a time as this when one man in each
party has the power and authority to
say. do this and he dOeth il" and
swallow that and he swallOweth
and go and he goeth." With absO-
Lutte nonchalance Mr.. Bryan thus di-
reefs a once great and powerful pOlit-
ical organization.
Once upon a time the Democrats
had the president, the house and sen
ate. and now they have nothing save
Mr.. Bryan! Ephraim is Joined to the
idols.
And TO make it worse, they seem to
be utterly helpless; either to elect him
or get rid of him.
With Mr.. Taft coached and chape
roned by Mr.. Roosevelt, and Mr.. Bry
an only on the other side, ii would be
No fight at all, and it makes an ole
body like myself tired and impatient
to find "the glory departed from lisa
rel" The solid south has exhausted
itself in vain
There has never been time in the
history of political parties in the Unit
ed States when the administration
party was so valuable.
It is spending tax money like water
Time and again the sapient leaders o.
the Republican party have forcibly de
clsred that more money was going GU
than coming in, but the note OF warn
ing fell on Indifferent ears. Panic witt
much bankruptcy has passed over TINS
great nation but congress is pouring
ont money by the billion, all the time
and if we only had a successful LEAD
ar IN warn this country of the inevl
fable which is obliged to come, be
cause of spendthrift policies, an indlg
nant people would try TO save thel
country from ruin and check this Wi
ful waste before it is too late.
Rut we have nothing in sight bu
threadbare Organism! Worse tlal
all we will never make the counur!
believe that Mr.. Roosevelt cannot d
It better than Mr. Bryan. who applaud
the formers policy in vital points
General Grant once said there VII
ALWAYS be a Republican party so Ioni
as there is a Democratic party, ia
the time come when both have utter
y failed to meet existing conditions
II looks that way.
Those who disagree with me are q
liberty to scold me. if they choose
hur this grandmother felt called apo
@ speak out in meeting. anu max
T. understood that the Democraus pa
--,--,- frc last emporium