The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-10-14
WATTERS0N SCORES G. 0, P.
TAFT, SHERMAN AND
CANNON HIS TARGETS
With his Inimitable Wealth of Die.
ton the Famous Kentucky Editor
Makes Vigorous Assault OH Re.
publican Ramparts In his First
Campaign Speech in Sixteen Years.

publican Ramparts In his First
Campaign Speech in Sixteen Years.
Louisville, KY. October s.-Henry
Watterson was the principal speaker
at Democrtic rally in the Masonic
Theatre tonight. AS this was Mr.. Wat
terson's first political speech since
1892, and will probably be his only
platform utterance during the pres
ent campaign, much interest was
manifested. He spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Il truly rejoice that I have lived to
look upon a reunited Democracy. I
was born in a Democratic camp dur
ing what proved to be a bad year for
Democrats, and attained my majority
just In time to see the party go over
the precipice Of sectionalism to what
seemed it's ruin.
THE politicians tell us there are
many issues, but 1 see only one. If
we cannot change our rulers at will,
IL an organized and defiant minority
inside fortress can withstand the
siege Of an undisciplined and i'll
equipped majority on the outside,
how shall talk about trusts and tar
ifs, about rebate rates and bank de-
posits, about money and morals and
stocks and bonds profit us?
II behold now an almost reproduc-
tion Of the evil conditions of fifty
years ago. The Republican party,
grown corrupt and arrogant, is putting
forth a tremendous effort to retain
the power which 1t has so much abus-
ed. If it succeeds it will never sur
render it short Of some dire cata-
clysm, making its exit the signal for,
1t may be, civil war. To that all its
policies Of militarism, favoritism ami
class distinction have long been tend
ing. I pray God that this may never
| come. The way to avert it is by oc-
casional change Of party, bringing
Eome to our public men their subor-
dination to the people. t'
III I were a Republican I would
vote for Bryan. If I were a Republi-
can should let the chief with his
big stick go to hang. If 1 were a Re-
publican I should turn my back on a
candidate, no matter how personally
acceptable, who represents the vicious
methods Of ring rule and the steam
roller.
Whatever usefulness the Republi-
can party possessed it has for the
time outlived. 1t stands today a men
ace to equal taxation and economic
administration, if not to orderly gov
ernment and free institutions. Its
leaders know this; and knowing it,
they began early to prepare for the
| coming Presidential battle, to fortify
field which they thought to make
'mpregnable by the outlay Of vast re-
sources and enduring skill.
"Thev expected to draw us into this
bloody ambuscade and to slaughter us
| like sheep in the shambles. Disap-
pointed in their plan, what do we see ?
We see all disguise of decency thrown
| aside; the black flag of trustism run
UP to the masthead; the decks crowd
cd with corporation counsel. The oc-
cupant Of the White House summons
the unspeakable Hearst as his star
witness The honest rich are invoked
10 make common cause with the law
less rich. All the perspectives of truth
and soberness and common sense are
lost amid the roar Of rant and cant of
self-glorifying laudation and self-ac-
| cusing promises Of reform, with AL
drich and Cannon, with Payne and
Dalzell and Sunny Jim Sherman for
their examples.
Having pitched the campaign on q
fake note, starting out with a man
CT straw on a platform of imposture
no argument is too absurd, no illus
tratiOn is too rank for the men and
the interests that do not mean to be
0islodged if fraud and force can save
them"
Referring to a reported speech Of
Congressman Longworth at Rock Is
land, ILL.,, where it was alleged that
MIR. LOngworth spoke of President
Roosevelt as a successor Of Taft as
President eight years hence, Mr.. Wat
tersOn said:
Nicholas LOngworth, the Presi-
dents son-in-law, says he did not say
IL. But five thousand listeners say he
did. The notes Of two stenographers
say he did. What boots it whether h..
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