The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-02
"Where Am | At?-

EDITOR OF he IlInfS.
slr.-I am mystined. am stampeded. ]
don't know where l. am. My friends and
my enemies are so mixed up can't tell
advocating what / approve and my friends
are In favor Of what 1 cannot agree to.
What am /, and others who are illustrated.
10 do?
On whose side am l. I thought I WAS
a Democrat / know ] am not a Repubi
can. Can IT be possible that l am
"populace." I never did catch on 10 that
faith. ! like a solid foundation not
visionary belief In maybe's The Demo-
cratic compass seems TO have been alb
squatchulated. and l am in sea OF trou-
bic, tossed this way the old way by the
sound declarations OF The Times. driven
the other )way by the silver tempest,
which has knocked Into finders many
sound bottOmed craft. and you know, Mr..
Editor, We country folks are nightly in
the dark. We have been led by the nose,
and bossed so long by the political rings.
that we never know anything until the
game has been bagged We are sorter
stirred up now; we hear there IS going to
be plenty cf money floating around. and
money makes the mare 20. Mr. Editor.
Money is mighty scarce and many Of US
will pocket our convictions, swallow our
principles. and down our best friends TO
have change in our pockets. and then
lets Of us owe money and we are pro-
missed an easy way OF meeting our oblga-
tons. but some Of us fear when the easy
way Is made sure our creditors will pouncs
upon MS and demand the pound Of flesh.
So j look at Mr.. Bryan. They say he IS
mighty handsome and honest. and his wife
Is lawyeress. Il am not much in favor
Of petticoat rule.) I read his speeches and
/ think over his Chicago platform. Says
! 10 myself IS this Democracy? Am I
Democrat Amt some Of the planks rot
ten? Amt all Of them twisted and worm
eaten? But Major Daniel. cur silver tom
gued leader. senator and temporary chair
man. subscribed 70 and endorsed this plat
form, He IS a Democrat He lost a leg
fighting for true Democracy. lie sustained
Mr.. Cleveland in putting down riot and
staying anarchy Has the grand old party
been llmberdegisted into a weather
cock. Tapping its wings at tho beck and
call OF the Altgelds and the Tillmans?
Does Major Daniel crow for these stirers-
up OF strife, whose mouths are hot with
abuse? Where am II Can / stomach Nc
Kinleyi He is handsome, smart and honest
too. but only one string 10 his bow makes
music 10 my ear. High tarif rags my
back and scants my table. fraudulent pen
sions rob my pockets and almost make
me cuss. and force bills stare me in the
face and keep me shaking in my shoes,
Evidently I am no Republican. The silver
boys had two big games OF talk, seasoned
by female c~atory down at St. Louis. but
Mr.. Bryan had knocked the wind out Of
their sails at Chicago. so they wound up
the game OF chance by unfurling 10 the
breeze his banner
They have no Independent fight, so 7
can't side with them. The sound-money
Democrats are too scared to bring out a
candidate. and II they should crystaiize
on a Whitney, II would only be a feeder
for Mckinley Mr.. Editor. before I would
vote the Republican ticket l would vote
for free copper, and yet Il does look as
If the wind Of self-interest IS about TO
blow many a fat sheep over into the fold
OF the goats.
Bankers, corporations. and railroad
kings are chasing down the political
parade ground to join hands in the Nc
Kinley dance. But platforms may be like
tariff bills, not TO stand on but TO talk
on. VIII you tell me where ! am and
when It comes down to the pinch next
fall. what l am to do? Yours in doubt,
j. II. II.
Amelia county. Va. July 80. 1896.