Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-11
BRYAN INVITED TO BALTIMORE.
Reply to Law and Order.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
The confusion which apparently reigns
In the brain OF your contributor. Law
ard order" as evinced by his article In
Sundays Dispatch calls for an answer,
which / submit I'm the hope OF clarifying
his mind somewhat.
After stating with considerable clear
ness the troubles through which the COM
mon people OF this country have had 10
pass, and the evils which are now assaii-
ing them, he blames the masses for being
dissatisfied, compares them to the ingre-
dents of a pOorly-concocted Brunswick
stew. and condemns their efforts 10 throw
off the yokes of their petty tyrants and
govern themselves.
Your correspondent make the same mis-
take that many others are now making
namely. of supposing the masses lacking
I'm the intelligence and virtue necessary TO
dethrone the evils which have corrupted
government and turned II against them,
and 10 inaugurate again the rule OF the
people as contemplated by the founders OF
our government.
About the only complaint which has
not been made against the Democratic
party. but at the same time the crime or
which It has principally been guilty. is
that IL too feebly represents the prnci-
pies of pure Democracy.
Law and Order" seems 10 think the
only salvation for the country consists In
a strong government, presumably elected
by some sort OF diyinely-appointed classes
Probably Mr.. Cleveland is his ideal OF
the strong man for the head Of this gov
eminent.
Mr.. Cleveland showed himself strong
enough to invade a sovereign State. an
act similar to that which precipitated war
In 81, without the request of its Cover
nor, TO enforce the injunctions OF Fede-
raj court, whose acts are now believed by
many of the ablest iurists Of the land 10
have been revolutionary and without pre-
cedent or warrant I'm law.
The suspicion is widespread and grow
ing that the real Anarchists Of this coun-
try are men IN high places, who, under
pretence OF enforcing the laws. are sys-
tematically turning them against the
common people and are thus alternating
from the government the affection Of the
only supporters that II can rely upon in
the day OF need.
When have the classes ever shown pa
triotic self-sacrfce or extraordinary zeal
IN UNFOLDING popular government was
Il In the Revolutionary war? In the war
Of 1872? The second war of independence
Was il I'm the great struggle which, during
the first four years OF the COS drenched
the fair land In blood? Nay. verify.
Truly there are many ill-omens in our
national sky. but the movement TO re-
store the government to the hands OF the
people is not one Of them. but on the
contrary. II IS the one bright star or hope
shining over the troubled waters OF our
national politics.
II this movement is fefeated--if the
chains OF Industrial and monetary slavery
shall in the coming election. be more
firmly riveted upon the limbs Of our erst-
while freemen-then We may look with
llveIlest apprehension for the rising OF
the interrupted and incompatible masses
OF this country. who, Samson-like. will
pull down the fair temple OF our institu-
lions about their own heads rather than
see the Goddess of Liberty become the
victim OF our corporation rnanipulators
and money kings.
In the rule OF the classes Is our only
danger; In the rule OF the people our only
safety. j. o. A.