Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-08
The Tfnes's Democracy.


The Tfmes's Democracy.
The Times IL considerably angered at
the attack made upon 1t by the Dis
patch on Tuesday, and proceeds to ac-
count for the acerbity OF our temper by
ascribins 1t to business jealousy. II the
Times had said that It has gotten Itself
into Its present political puddle by its
anxiety to "down" the Dispatch. It would
have been much nearer the mark. 1t for
gets, too. that 1t provoked this discussion.
ana that we responded to Its challenges
only after we had suffered in silence rs
long az It was In human nature TO do
%.
The Times was pecking and picking at
the Dispatch for months and months be-
fore we yielded to its summons to con-
troversy-before we showed any DISPOSE
ton to enter into any quarrel with 1t. So
instead OF imputing to us the sordid mo-
tives that It does. the Times would bet
ter Kick ITSELF for disturbing the truce
that had existed UP to the 9Th OF Febru-
ary, when II broke out against the Dis
patch with a frantic denial Of our asser-
ton that the elections held In Virginia
last November were fair.
However, the question that the Times
now raises is as to the right Of the Dis
patch Ito try 10 convince some OF Its
(our) thoughtless readers that the Times
II not Democratic" Let us see what Is
the Times's recoSd for loyalty TO the
Democratic party. Let US see whether 1t
has "squirmed" or ''hedged": whether it
has '.wrisgled all around every difficulty
that required manly and Straightforward
treatment" 1t doesn't matter that the
Times says II is a Democrat; what does
the record say? Flanagan said that he
was "a bigger man than old Grant; Ma
hone said that he was better Democrat
than Ben Hill; but the saying so didn't
make IL so In either case. We have now
had experience with the Times In its new
'ole during two political campaigns. and
jet US see how straightforward"
''manly." and loyal It has been.
Campaign of 1898: Sullen silence towards
the head OF our State tickct-towards the
whole ticket. in fact. Studious avoidance.
wherever possible Of mentioning the
name OF Colonel OFerrall-editorials
snapped with the Populistic Virginia Sun.
and charges made Immediately after the
election that OFerrall had been "foisted"
upon the people by ''ringsters." etc. This
was the manly and straightforward"
course towards the Democratic party and
our present Executive adopted by the
Times in 1893. and for which 1t claims
the admiration Of the public as q fear
less and candid exponent Of honest Demo-
cracy!
The Walton Law: The Times clamored
for a new election-law. The Walton bill
WAS passed. 1t wasn't anything like what
the Times asked for. but the Times COM
placently claimed the new law as Times
victory. A few months later 1t somer-
sauited and proceeded to damn the Wal
ton law, saying that 1t was conceived In
fraud" Day after day the Times de-
uounced the authors Of that law. Ex-
tracts from its editorials were kept
standing at the head Of many Of the
Republican and other anti-Democratie
papers OF this State: so that the Demo.
cratic canvassers found that their fight
was not only against the Republicans and
Populists. but against the Richmond
rimes. And SO the Times not only showed
Its loyalty, but its consistently manly
and Straightforward" course.
Epes Case, Here the Times acted botf
rs prosecutor and Judge. and Mr.. Epei
had not only to contend with Goode
Goodies counsel, and the Republican
members Of the Elections Committee-bu
against the editorials Of the Times. TIT
Times went further against Epes an'
Epsss frtends than the Republican mem
pers of the committee did. in its anxiet!
20 set the seal Of its disapprobation upor
Mr.. Epes and the Democrats OF TIT
yoarth District. 1t forgot that Mr.. Epe'
had the right to be considered innocen
until the contrary was proved. Such ar
che Democratic teachings" Of which tn
Times boasts. Such the charity" that
practices. Such Its Democracy!
Attenuation Of Names: When the las
election was over and Gardiner Tyler
~. X. McKenney, Peter Otey, CIaud
Swanson. and Harry Tucker found them
selves with contests on their hands. wha
ala the Times do to show Its Democracy
Was Il neutral? Did It await an ofdcia
Investigation before It set down our VII
sinia congressman ~ benenciarie6 o
fraud. and declared that the alienation
candidates names on the election-ticke
vas - masterpiece Of trickery." zen
fitting It's manipuletors to undyins In
fanny" Nothing Of the kind. And whe
che Times was made to toe the mark
20 whether II thought Harry Tucker en-
che ethers could honestly accept thei
seats a benenciariss Of this ''masterplec
of trickery." we had an Illustration
p.souirming" and ''wriggling'' out Of
p.disBculty'. which will hereafter serve .
. pattern for all who would become Pre-
ncients In that art.
Back seats for the Southern members
puring the last legislative session tn
Kfmes more than once murmured agains
thA presence In our legislative halls
Democratic members from ''the blacl
belt," and during the last session OF Con
ssess Il demanded that the southern
msnbers should take back seats' Will
Z nnsneial legislation was under considera
ton! Think Of that for . manly. straight
forward. non-wrtggiins. non-hedging d.
rnoosatic papsri But mere Of this amor
Later % In IL mad career the Times
A. : treat ousburst q honest and mani
(psnoefasicD tndignatlon. declared a. n
undsrstsod ~ that Il wasn't going 70 b
t1raseonsd" into supporting any frse-d
YER Democratic presidential nominee ,
ts~ hss~a>nex ~ Ranssh1iAaninun Ibo oil