Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-16
ury. MIR. WILLIAMS REPLIES.

Editor OF the Times:
S.r,-I ask you Of your courtesy to allow
me few words IN reply 10 the Dispatch
OF this morning, and with this reply /
shdll cease 10 occupy your valuable space.
Personally, / have no friends in Rich
mond whom l value more highly than
the gentlemen connected with the Dis
patch. 1 do not for one moment associate
them with Bryan ct ais. i think they
are mistaken. and l think, further, that
the refusal Of Daniel, Mclean. and others
to run with Bryan sufficient proof Of the
correctness Of my opinion of the nomi-
nees-
Mr.. Bryan's past political history shows
that no is but a Populist. He and his
friends being Populists, have taken pos
session Of a party that Is not PopuiStie.
When ordinary men take possession OF
property not theirs. they are usually
called by very impolite terms. The Woid
objected TO by the Dispatch Is far less OBJ
iectlonable than the words most others
apply to the same gentlemen.
have no apology to make for my let
ter. for the terms aptiy describe the situa-
ton. No one could possibly suppose my
description of Bryan and his associates
TO apply TO the Dispatch. Whether the
local politicians are or are not trying to
whip in" is a matter of opinion.
As 10 my claiming to equal Henry Ward
Beecher or even to Initiate him, no one
who knows me (and the Dispatch certain
IL Goes). would suppose me capable Of
iusnuating that / could do so. j used
the reference for the purpose Of pointing
10 other. who are his equals, the course
they ought 10 pursue.
one word more. and 1 have done. MY
Democracy is inherited from a long hne
OF earnest Democrats, who served their
marty faithfully before the war and since.
IL cost a man great deal to be Demo-
Graf in Vermont and Connecticut during
the war. and for some years after. Yet
my ancestors in both those States never
faltered. never flinched during those
awful wears. But now they would feel
exactly as I do, that the people who
nominated Bryan are not Democrats, II
they are willing to stand on platform
which has none Of the ''party's funda-
mental prineipies"-not one.
RICHARD II. WILLIAMS.
July II, '9s.
The foregoing letter appeared in the
Richmond Times Of yesterday.
Mr.. williams declares that he has mo
apologies TO make" for his first letter
"for the terms apty describe the situa-
ton" Some OF those terms referred TO
the "thisvish principles of Bryan and
his pals" ETC. 1t Will be observed that
though Mr.. Williams has mo apologies
to make" for the use of such obnoxious
expressions he takes good care not to
repeat them in the foregoing letter. In
stead OF bryan and his pals" we now
ind him using "Bryan ct ais in one
Mace. and Bryan and his associates in
another.
All through this last letter we find evil
dences Of prudence that was not visi-
HE in the first letter, in which Mr.. Will
iiams invoked the wrath Of the public
,spon the Chicago convention and It's
nominees. This prudence we are glad tc
see. no matter whether it is the result
OF a sober second thought, or Is the fruit
of advice given by discreet friends with
whom Mr.. williams has consulted.
How little our friend Mr.. Williams
knows about current political history Is
shown by his reference to Daniel and
Mclean. The reason that Daniel would
not allow his name 10 be presented for
the vice-presldency along with Bryans
was that he wished 20 continue unin-
terrupted in his candidacy for reelection
20 the Senate He voted for Bryan, and
ne voted for the platform, and he will
stump the country for both during the
months OF September and october. 1t is
true that some OF the planks OF the plat
form Daniel disapproves. but taken al.
together the candidates and platform are
very acceptable to him.
Furthermore. his conclusion not to al
low himself 10 be put into the yiee-presi-
dental race was reached before Bryan
was nominated. or had become a promi.
nent candidate even. The reason McL.eag
withdrew his own name was that h
wished the rrst place or none. but there
was an undercurrent against him which
would have defeated him in any event.
OF the other persons mentioned for the
yice-presidency. we believe there Is moi
one who would not have accepted IL h'
had been nominated.
As 10 the other matters treated in thll
card OF Mr. wnlams's, they are for IN,
most part matters Of opinion. He Il enti
tied 10 his opinion; we are TO ours. Doubt
less. IL would be in vain for either OF u!
10 attempt to convert the other, and al
his temper and style have so much i'm
proved between the time OF the writing
OF his first and HIS last letter. We fee
safe IN leaving him now to his own re
Elections.