The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-23
Letters to The Editor
.where Are We Ats

"where Are We At'
 Ed Advertiser.
 Tn view of so much agitation from the time of Silver Dick Bland, stock. in the dull season. so that we may know it's assetts and liabilities A good business firm after finding out on what particulars they had been los ing would to to work and correct their error and endsavor to change their Safe investment and honesty and fair dealing are usually the strong allies of successful business men. There are speculative exceptions, but when they are gone. the old firms of principle are still at their old stand So with men, so with parties. The enraptured en- thusism of Bryan's Silver Speech nom- nation has never / been eQualled. myself was for Bland and free silver, but when Bryan made his speech and was nominated. I thought that the man and time had met. Even old line Democrats climbed on top of his ladder. loved him because believed in him. admire him yet but now where are we at'-
 Was he mistaken and I mesmerised. See what great influence Bryan has and still holds over the people of the country. Why do they love him. be- cause of his eloquent sincereity of pur- pose. and his sterling honesty and up- rlKnt manhood.
 Now what policy are we to pursue. kept his hold We eagerly watche.l what he would have to say on his re- turn home in his speech in New York. I read his argument with great con- cern. Kept up with him. because ] had confidence in him. Yet still had anticipate his idea of Government own ership of Rail Roads under certain conditions. was doubtful but so great was his influence over my mind again agreed that he was right. head 1t was easy to agree with him. yet still there was a doubt in my mind I believed In Thomas Jefferson's s teaching which was pure and simple Democracy. With all that had read lot of socialistic literature.
 It was natural that I should havt had visionary ideas and did not know exactly what I did believe. The socia- list papers condemned every power on earth. They upheld Mir. Bryan In his ownership of Rail Road theory. but rijiculed him as Democrat. steal ing their thunder.
 Imagine my state of mind. Where did stand. l was enraptured by the socialist beautiful theory. At last doubt and reason came to my rescue theory impractiable and impossible of execution. and were 1t possible we would all be but mere machinery. Independence would be plotted out. and we would evolve backwards instead of forward. What next. In the last election I voted for Mir. Bryan with the consciousness that Mir. Taft re- presented republican simicity, and indeed his inaguari address was Dem ocratic compared to Bryan theories Now where are we att
 I believe the Democratic party should he elastic enough to deal with new Issues as they appear in this pro- gressive age. and firm enough to hold to its cardinal principles. Hunting popularity and Jumping. on the foam of popular waves has caused us three good duckings The last election clearly indicated that the majority of the people are Democrats. Indiana Ohio. and Minnesota tell the tale. Had our presidential canrirate been safe and conservative man, without popu- listic and socialistic tendencies Is 1t not reasonable to suppose that the Democratic Candidate would have been elected, MT Bryan Is more of a Preacher than student of political economy.
 A pure and upright man. He sim ply got up wrong and I am looking every day for him to embrace some other popular fad--and some of our Southern and Western Governors are in the same category. If we don't go back to pure and undecided Demo- cracy- we will lose our grip.
 This impracticable temperance wave we are having now is drift of the same unstapIe idea This way of leg islatinR people not to do something that they have been used to all their lives, Is moeRs9Iines. Common zs osense will climb on top, for 1t isS haFds to make water ran hp stream. or twist a rope of sand"
 Let us go back to first, principles and regulate this unlucky' question and every other question in a statesman, like and business way Get on the Jefferson, Jackson, Tilden. Thurman and If you please Cleveland platform. Then every one will know where we are at. sF-f .i5e
 q John Cunningham