The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
THE DEMOCRACY AND 'se.
lion. Is. johnson Barbour as 90 the Beat Cam
dfdate.

The following letter from the Hon. b. John
son Barbour Of Orange county, written last
month will be read with interest, as II Is
from gentleman Of the highest literary at
tainments andsnuoh political foresight, upon
the choice OF the Democratic candidate Tor
1882: o,
BARBoURsvILLE, March 10, 1891.
My Dear Sir.-I thank you for the comph-
meut implied In your note Ot yesterday ask
ing my preference as 10 q candidate III the APP
preaching Presidential election, and my Opln-
IONS as 10 his availability. few weeks since
I could have given you (for what 1t was
WORTH q very definite opinion. As II
Is. I am entirely al sen. and, doubt
less. share the quandary IN which
YOU and thousands Of other good
Democrats end themselves involved. !
VIII only say here. ~ general way, that
assuming hat We can offer 70 the snation
candidate IN all other respects capable and
available. I 90 not think We ought lightly u
surrender him because We chance b differ
from him on u strictly economical question
a question which, ~ the Opin!on OF some ~
the greatest men in al ages, has the inherent
power TO settle itsoH Two thousand years
ago Cicero proclaimed the mighty power Of
gold and silver. lNls auT1ci argtnn)
and inst one hundred years ago Iurgot. lthan
whom France, and probably the world. never
produced a greater tiuancier) declared that
cold and silver became universally money not
ID consequence of any arbitrary agreement
among men. OF If the Intervention u any law,
but nom the nature and force OF things
Under al the circumstances, the best advice
| can give is TO relate an anecdote which
points its own moral.
ga the year 1916 Henry VIII Of England,
feeling that his end was at hand, was natur-
ally very anxious TO close the WAY he had car
ried on with France for many years OF fear
ful expenditure Of blood and treasure, with
tho superadded and imminent risk that.
in view Of the doubt rs 70 the succession, his
death in the midst of fragrant foreign war
might readily become the signal for confusion,
persecution. perhaps even resurrection and
civil war in England Still, he was not en-
tiroly satisfied with the terms offered by
Franco Fortunately for the blum old mon
arch he had at his side an adviser whose wat
and wisdom combined 10 produce that pecu-
Iar tao. which our own Franklin subse-
quently displayed il 50 eminent de-
gree. Sir William Paget, after an
earnest persuasion for peace, clinched the
matter as follows: II remember" he SAID,
the story told me az our last meeting, OF a
criminal that being condemned 10 die by a
certain King, who owned donkey wherein
no had great felicity, offered 70 save
hs hle-that within a twelvemonth
ne could make the Kings donkey
Ia sneak whercuntO the King accorded
whereuuon friend Of the reprieved
man exclaimed. what is this you oder-an
impossibilty." Hold thy peace, quoth he for
DO "a twelvemonth. the King may die, or may
die or the Duke may die, or (who kn0wsD
the donkey may speak.
Leaving you 10 make the ready application,
and mindful Of the many changes" that "a
twelvomonth" may bring 10 our party and
country, ! remain, dear sir. cordial and faith
fully your friend. b. JOHNSON BAKBouR.