The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-22
THE OTHER SIDE.

/
tons at issue between the Democratic
marty and the Peoples party may be
discussed by both sides before the readers
of The Times. BY -agrcemen- the VII
ginla Sun publishes in us c@-umns aru-
cles from The Times)
The Virginia Sun has always recognized
IN the Richmond Times an honorable ana
| gentlemanly antagonist, one with the
| courage OF its convictions. scorning sub
terfuges and claptrap. and boldly pro-
! claiming what 1t believes to be the truth
regardless iof consequences. The sun,
though Numerically opposed 20 the teach-
| tngs Of The Times, can shake hands with
II on common ground of loyalty to con-
yictions. The Sun only knows one rule OF
action, and that Is. honestly and at all
times to advocate its honest convictions.
| We believe this also 10 be the rule OF
action Of The Times. and such papers need
never fear discussion and investigation.
| They desire above all things that truth
| shall prevail" their energies are devoted
TO the promotion OF "the general welfare,
and II IT can be shown that their teach
! ings are erroneous, and that the policies
! they advocate tend rather to pull down
! than to build up, then they Will CHER
/ fully acknowledge their mistake and lore
| no time I'm correcting IL.
Actuated by this spirit The Times has
! poposed to the Sun n join discussion OF the
| Issues involved In the present campaign,
to be continued weekly until election;
and actuAted by the same spirit the Sun
accepts the proposition. II may be an I'M
equal fight The Times being so much bet
ter equipped than the Sun, but conscious
Of the integrity Of its cause. the Sun will
4. 4 10
20 a discerning public.
The Peoples party, like all new aspi-
rants for political recognition. has been
! subjected TO the grossest misrepresenta-
ton and abuse and the Sun recognizes
The value Of the opportunity afforded Il
| by the liberal offer Of The Times to dis
abuse the minds Of a class Of readers II
cannot otherwise reach.
IL has been sought TO bring the People S
party into contempt by speaking OF Its
| personel line disparasing serms. Thus
Colonel O'Ferrall without taking the
pains to ascertain the facts in the case, In
every speech he makes charges that me
Popullst leaders are "broken-down and
discarded politicians. who failing recog-
milton I'm either Of the two old parties,
have started a party Of their own in
which lthey would be recognized. He
asserts that the Popuiists are after the
Offices and nothing more, thereby suggest
ing the reioinder that he Is probably judg-
ing us by himself.
In pleasing contrast with the venomous
abuse INDUCED IN by Colonel O'Ferrall.
few words are mere quoted from an adj
dress issued by Hon. Basil r.. Gordon,
State Chairman Of the Democratic party,
last fall: However opinions may differ
as TO the measures you advocate. no
%
evils you seek 10 remedy. The wide
spread depression among farmers, their
virtual exclusion by law or practice from
banking facilities. more than justify the
formation Of a party whose single object
shall be the correction of these grievances.
However you may cast
your vote, for one shall not doubt that
you have done so with a full sense Of the
responsibility involved. and actuated by
as sincere a love Of our common State as
any class OF her citizens"
We submit that Mr.. Gordon's estimate
Of the Peoples party comes nearer the
truth than Colonel OFerralfs. That par
ty Is composed chiefly Of Democrats who
have always Loyalty supported Democra-
cy, believing il TO be the representative
of the peoples rights, and never dreamed
Of engaging in active politics until they
saw the lifelong principles for which
Democracy stood sacrificed one by one to
the sectional greed Of the mugwumps of
the North. The old Democracy was OPP
posed TO National Banks and Internal
Revenue, and demanded the free coinage
OF silver Modern Democracy is owned
by the Banks has fastened Internal Rev
enue upon the country permanently, and
has declared for gold monometalism. Is
IL to be expected that self-respecting and
4
nit to the dictations Of the North ?-espe-
cially when they see their own section
drained Of its prosperity TO build up the
North? Are they not excusable in boiling
a party which has been captured by a set
of hungry politicians, who care for moth
ing but their own personal provision, and
trail the honor of their State in the dust
to crafty IL?
The revolt against "the machine" began
last year, and is i'm full blast this year.
as witness the following letter which is
being privately circulated and numerous
ly signed by prominent Democrats:
To the People OF Virginia:
Feeling conscious that a tremendous
crisis In the history of the Democratic
party of Virginia is at hand, and being
earnestly DESTROYS TO save the party, if
possible. from total disruption and ire
trievable defeat, we are constrained after
mature deliberation to declare TO the
people what we believe, and what we
shall do In regard 10 the approaching
election Of a Governor, Leutenant-Gover-
nor and Attorney General. and OF mem
bers of the General Assembly Of the Com
monwealth.
We are Democrats, have never up TO
this time bolted a convention, or scratch
ed a ticket of the party. We have loyal
ly bowed TO the DEGREES Of all nominating
conventions choosing as long as we could
honestly and consistently do so, 10 yield
our individual preferences and wishes TO
the majority Of fairly and regularly con-
stituted party conventions.
But the time has now come when we
must claim our inalienable right, not only
10 enter our protest against the betrayal
OF the party but 10 fight TO the death, so
far as our efforts can extend, the corrupt,
undemocratic, defiant, political machine,
constituted not by the untrammeled
voice Of the Democratic masses, but by
the unholy dictation Of Federal patronage.
accompanied by frauds at primaries and
mass something's for the election Of party
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES which no honest
man would perpetrate. and 10 which no
self-respecting freeman would submit.
We briefly state the series OF party
abuses and uncomfortable methods which
have led 10 the condition" which now
faces us.
A Democratic President handed over 10
a Democratic Congressman, who was his
personal champion upon the floor Of Con-
Eress and partisan advocate for the pres
idental nomination, the Federal patronage
Of Virginia, it being known that the Con-
gresham was an avowed candidate for
the gubernatorial nomination of the DEM