The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-17

and against every proposition that would
dcbase and degrade the American hano
or American honor" Are we, then. 10
understand that one OF the great poll'lea'
norties that divide the SURFACES OF tne
American electors are trying 10 ucosso
and degrade the national chafdc'e', 40
conspiring against public law Sv"uu.
inc a campaign against peace ana uan-
.'..,u,,,,9 We are compelled 10 acknowi-
cdge that. IL the language empioyeu ~
MIR Rrvan and his supporters In tne
course OF the conflict Is TO be interpre'e"
an i,s natural sense. the above ~ no e>-
,raVocant description or theiV P'o
rramme. We have 20 conclude. 'ner',"'',
tn,t The Democratic party have StVAineo
everv nerve 20 set aside the CONSTITUTIONS.
10 rob one portion OF the community, anu
IN destroy tho honor and the creoit VI
the Union. IL will be SAID 'hey na.o
M, succeeded. But surely II Is mat
ter Of no little moment tha' ,hey nv
,ried and that they have persnadeo
themselves. and a good many people De-
side Themselves. for a time. that they
eVnected TO be successful Moreover III
they 90 anywhere near succe 'dihs. arc
they likely TO desist from their endea'-
orsP and is il by any means so GER
tain that they will not triumph on So"'s
future occasion? Mr.. Bryan declared on
Thursday that his defeat woulu s'InpN
mean four years more agitation. II Is
time that hugo electoral communities,
nrociselv because they are so excitable.
have somewhat short memories. and. as
soon as Mr. Mckinley * returned the
bulk of the American. and. perhaps, nt
the English, people VIII forget tnat ne
might have been rejected. ana that inc
cause he represents may suffer re-
verse on some future occasion. lnhap-
PLY the principles for which Mr.. bryan
and the Democrats are contcnding are
not OF the sort that readily pass away.
The cry OF the masses against the classes
the most unstatesmanlike and most
unscrupulOus ever raised-is one that
appeals so fOrcibly and so directly to evil
passions. 20 envy to coyetousness. 20
vindictivencss. that Il finds I'm the hearts
OF many persons an abiding place. Mr..
Bryan has unqucstonablv preached the
doctrine OF spoliation in almost its naked
est form: and ne has tolerated I'm his
supporters the Invocation OF sanctions not
only Of the most revolutionary but OF
the most sanguinary kind. In ono OF
his professions a flag was borne on
which II was proclaimed that the day
Will come when bankers will be hanged
like any other brgands.
Can II be doubted that tho politicians
who utter or countenance such sentI-
ments are terribly I'm earnest And *
II az all likely that they wiz ahsrrforr
their fanatlcal propaganda at a first
check? Tho great heart OF the people,
has been so grossly adulated I'm our time
that people are staggered II any one
ventures 10 utter a little plain and whole
some truth concerning il. The great
heart Of the people" can be very gen.
erous. though usually az tho expense OF
others. but il can also be amazingly
and crudely selfish. and. under the guild
ance of Mr.. Bryan's metaphors. IL has
lately been showing Itself hagrantly In
that light. And who shall say that
America has a monopoly OF this form
Of enthusiastic egotsm and dishonesty
We have no right and no reason To
pique and Halter ourselves when the
multitude are fair and honest. Why
should they not be? But we have the best
of reasons for being ashamed. as well
as alarmed, when the multitude. or any
considerable section. embrace the gospel
OF plumber. propose 10 abolish contracts.
and seek TO conduct a ruinous campaign
against successful integrity. The Dem
! ocratc party in the United States has
q long and honorable record. But IL Is
little short OF appalling TO think that
IL should have surrendered itself to the
guidance Of men whose political pro-
eramme Mr.. Mckinley has so tersely and
truly described. In so far as his sue
cess-if he carries the election-will be
| the success of honest men. everybody
| on this side Of the Atlantic will rejoice.
though it is impossible TO forget that
| Mr.. Mckinley was not always as
! straight" in regard TO the silver ques-
| ton as he appears 10 be now. For the
| rest his victory will mean the victory
| Of the Protectionists, and the increase
| Of hostile tariffs against the productions
| OF other countries. We may regret this.
| but we have no right TO reproach the
American people on that score. They
| have az much right TO be Protectonists
as others have 10 be Free Traders. One
doctrine and one practice Is as honest
and straightforward as the other. This
must be freely granted though protec-
ton in America may for time operate
10 our detriment. We imagine. how
| ever. that the electoral struggle now
drawing TO a close will leave long and
injurious legacy behind II. IL Will have
| embittered American politics. II will have
| made distinct cleavage in the feelings
| and aspirations OF the community. and
| IL will cause the most sanguine 10
| remember and TO be unable TO forget
/ that an entire political party has adyo-
| Gated 4 course absolutely inconsistent
with financial stability and with national
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Standard.