Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-27
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IxIrrsr TO THEMSELVES.


jealous opposition to bimeta'''sm "e
aligning themselves With the kepuonc'h
party have not with sufficient serious
ness contemplated the banefui results 'n"'
rors, ensue ~ they persist In their unwise
course to the end
They are not Republicans. and they are
rr,ust 70 themselves in lending their aid
and their influence to the Republican c"n-
didates. They have not been educated d.
RepublIcans: they have had no Repuph-
can associations; they have had no ex-
perience as Republicans. And yet sun
claiming to be Democrats. they are turn
ing their backs upon the Democratic can
djdates and walking arm-in-arm Win 'he
candidates Of the Republican party.
When we consider the character. the
intelligence. the moral worth and weight
Of many OF these gentlemen, we ma IL
difficult 10 believe our own eyes when we
see such men bending and bowling beiore
the false gods but yesterday dcspised oy
them.
Has the Republican party changed us
principles. It's policies, Its feelings To-
wards the southern people? We answer
nv asking: Has the leopard changed us
snots9 II cannot be contended that the
Republican party has changed. for uh-
fortunately. II has been conspicuousiy co"-
sistent and true 20 itself while false 10
the hest interests Of the country, ana es-
neciaIly of these Southern states OF ours
Then. what has changed. or who mas
changed? Is It the Democratic party that
has wandered away from its old princ'-
ples? Our friends. the seeding Demo
Gratis who are now I'm such cosey compah-
ionship with the Republicans, say yes IL
Is so-that the Democratic party - ho'
now what II used TO be. Gentlemen, you
are mistaken. The principles Upheld ny
Tho Democratic party OF to-day are the
same primal principles with which
Thomas jefferson startled the monarchies
of the old world, when this new "orlu
first ioyously rang with the paeans oil
new people of a new land. hailing the
light of that real liberty and true De-
mocracy that had come with freeoohl VI
speech. freedom OF conscience treeuon'
Of action within the limits OF law anu
with a written Constitution unparalleIeu
in the annals of man for its religious
truths. for its practicable political canons'
for the business and the wisdom inter-
woven with every article Of its faith.
The Democratic party stands to-day as
II has ever stood. for fair ana rauoii"i
and non-partisan construction OF the Con-
stitution; for the rights Of the States ana
the rights of the people; for equal oppor-
| 4unities TO all American citizens or every
section of the Union; for impartial legis-
lation looking always 10 the general good
| of the whole country. The Democratic
marty has not changed. The change IS on
the part of those Democrats who are SET
ting themselves in antagonism 10 the
PRINCIPLES and the spirit that have al
WAYS characterized Democracy and con-
tra-distinguished it nom its antpode, Re-
publloanism.
Those Democrats who propose to cast
| their votes. either directly or indirectly
on the Sd of November for Mr. Mckinley
| are obviously affected with mental stra-
bismus. II they fancy they can see on that
! side of the politics OF the times any sem
| bance Of a single feature OF the princi-
ples which they have so often and so ar
| IDENTIFY INDICATED as embodying the true
genius Of our government.
We cannot, we do not. we VIII not be-
Ieye that those Of our friends and allies
who are thinking Of supporting the Re
/ publican side have as yet studied the
situation in all its aspects as southern
men with a southern posterity coming az
ter them ought TO study it. The South Is
the great bulWark of this great, free
government, standing with steady con-
servatism. always, between the dangerous
doctrinaires. the reckless innoyators, the
materialistio reyolutionists OF the North,
on tho one side and the precious princi-
pies Of safe Democratic government up
held by a serious patriotism, on the other
side.
Had II not been for the unselfsh spirit
| the exalted regard for free institutions
the intelligent understanding OF all the
checks and balances in its mechanism, or
the mart of the South. this grand govern
ment of ours would long ago have gone
down into the depths Of destruction. Lei
our southern men of high character. Of
intelligence of the true Christian temper
Of a liberal and loyal Democracy con
tinue to stand together. and the soutf
will continue to stand sponsor for tbs
safety of the government and the quietud'
Of the country.