The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-01
Very truly yours.
JOSEPH LILY


Hon. q. &. watts, or tudIl'' tvii' W.
Va. who was the Democratic candidate
for Governor Of west Virginia in tho
recent election. was ia Washington a day
or so back. and he made the following
statement 10 a newspaper reporter:
eve made a great fight in West Viz
einia, against terrible odds, ana there is
no doubt that the legitimate vote cast
for the Democratic ticket state ana
national exceeded that of the opposition.
The Republicans realized weeks ID au-
vance Of the election, chat they were
beaten unless extreme methods were used,
and with an unlimited supply of money
al their command began "a systematic pan
of colonization. Thousands Of imported
voters were brought in and distributed
over the State. In addition TO this, re-
poating was extensively practlced. IheIe
is no registration law, and all that is
necessary is 10 make affidavit or residence
ia the State one year ana IN me county
sixty days. which, being done by an un-
scrupulOus voter. no amount of chal-
Longing can prevent his exercising the
right Of suffrage. Such were the methods
used to defeat the popular will. for on
anything like a fair vote Bryan certainly
would have carried West Virginia
"But / do not regard the cause for
which We cOntcnded as permanently beat
en- Free silver is still vital issue. II
within the next two years there IS no
fulhlmcnt of the promises so often re-
itorated 10y the party now dominant the
people will reverse the verdict just rem
dercd. Let us hope that prosperity will
come. If Il does not 1t viii not be
possible to delude the people any longer
and q Democratic tidal wave in lSgN fol-
lowed by a national victory i'm 1900. is
inevitable. Then the country will see that
the cause for which we contendod I'm 1896
was just. and the single gold standard
viii have TO give way to bimetalllsm.'
on Thursday last Candidate William
J. Bryan made speech at Colorado
Springs in Colorado in which he said:
4 did not suppose ! could find so many
people gathered in the United States who
had not learned that the election was
over. You act as If you were I'm the
midst Of a camaign or were celebrating
q victory just won. You are right. we are
I'm the midst of a campaign. We are
going 10 accomplish i'm 1900 what we
failed 10 accomplish In 1906"
Here is cumulative evidence Of the
most distinct character that the free silver
fight is not ended. It's leaders are de-
'''t I-'''0N ~ i-'Fn 10 "rAAN upon lNt tpNI-
try from this time until 1860 when they
expect 20 make it. with an the fearful
problems connected with it al the recent
election. the issue then.
FREQ silvcrs strength undoubtedly lies
in the Southern States. Remove them
from the free silver column and silver
would not have following enough i'm the
United States 10 lift its head in presi-
Dental election.
The South's support Of free silver grows
ont Of the fact that the National Bank
act practically denies its agricultural
population all media Of exchange. Amend
that act SO that the people can have their
local banks TO issue currency that Will
answer their purposes. although it IS at
q discount in New York and Chicago. and
so Immediately comes back 10 its own
home. and the discomfort in the Southern
States that is at the bottom Of their
support OF free silver will Immediately
disappear. But leave matters standing
as they are until 1900 and the South
will be found casting her vote for free
silver again with all the peril TO the
country that that implies.
VIII the Republican party have the
wisdom 20 deal with this matter from
the statesman's point of view?