Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-08
WHY SUPPORT M'I<INLEYf

To the seeding Democrats OF virginia
we address the question: Why support
Mckinley? and II Is In sorrow. not In
anger, that we do so. Those Of then' IL
there be any such, who mean to vote ol-
rectly for the Republican candidate, VIII
answer that they believe the election Vi
Mckinley. with all his productions ior
a force bill, with all his high-proteetiVe-
tariff convictions. with all his record III
the Republican faith, would be less hurt
full 10 the people Of Virginia than the
election OF Bryan would be. Those OF
them who mean to vote the indianapolis
ticket will say they are not supporting
Mckinley.
How It can be made clear to the mind
OF any man who has ever been a Demo-
crat upon principle that Mckinley would
be a better President than Bryan, for
the interests OF Virginia. IS something
we cannot comprehend How any man
who was ever n Democrat upon principle
can delude himself with the fantasy
that. in voting for the indianapolis nom
inee. he is not supporting Mckinley Is
another something we are also unable
TO comprehend. In truth, both these
positions appear to us to be so absolute
~ irreconcilable with what we know TO
be the excellent judgment OF some OF
the members of the Academy-of- Music
convention. that we cannot but believe
there will be a calmer and wiser second
thought prevailing I'm their minds
before the Sd Of November shall
have come. When one Of those gentle
men tells us that his motive in voting
for the indianapolis nominee VIII be TO
maintain his consistency by entering
protest at the polls against the free COIN
age Of silver without international agree
ment. we are able to comprehend him
and to appreciate his position, while not
approving 1t. 1t Is not an unnatural po-
sition for him to assume, but 1t Is, We
submit. more the warm response 10 an
impuls. than the result of such delibera-
ton as such a man. in justice TO HIM
self rs well as to his fellow-members
of the Democratic party, ought to give
50 grave a matter.
II is a serious thing for n Virginia
Democrat to renounce his party aiie-
glance because forsooth his party pat
form on one passing issue is at variance
with his Individual views. II is no I'M
common thing for men Of the most eN-
allied character 10 go into war when
they do not approve; their motive IS
motive of patriotism. and they night lot
their country's cause with as much ardor'
as much spirit. as much courage as their
comrades who believe the war to be
justifiable.
II is not wisdom; 1t Is not fealty; II
Is not in consonance with an exercise OF
the highest intelligence in conservative
~ keeping in view always the cardinal
requirements OF all organizations among
men. on which the attainment Of good
ends or the defeat of bad purposes In
government depends, for men Of virtue
Of education, Of moral worth and
weight 10 be setting such examples OF
individual defiance Of the wishes OF their
fellow men: such examples of disregard
for all party discipline; such examples
Of disorganizing antagonism to the laws
Of the party in which they have been
working for years, with credit 70 them
selves and untold benefit TO their state.
In an army il would be called treason.
Pint our recalcitrant Democratic friends,
who. while scorning to go over TO the
enemy. are no longer in line with their
former comrades. cannot be called
traitors. We would not call them so II
we could, and we could not If we would.
Many Of them, most of them. are men
Of a mould in which apostacy is rarely
found. They are simply making an
egregious blunder, blunder which, IN
less than a little year, will be as be-
vlderlng TO them as it IS now surpris-
ing 70 those with whom they are no
longer walking arm-in-arm, as the great
Democratic procession moves stea4hy
onward in Virginia, following the OLD
party-iag. and with its big brass bands
filling the vibratory air with 1.-THE star
Spangled Banner and "Dixie."
The Fredericksburg Free Lance says
II thinks it will be the ultimate fate OF
all gOiu Dt WOtldlS W iahA ~ ~"
nublican camp. We have great respect
for the Lance but in its forecast in this
connection it is away off. However II
NAV prove TO be in the North, most Of the
GOLD Democrats in old Virginia will. soon
or late as surely come back 10 the faith
Of the fathers as that the conflicts be
tween the assailants and the defender;
Of the rights and interest Of our south
e-n people shall continue to be waged.
But we must warn our wandering
friends that the longer they stay out th'
more difficult it will be for them TO come
back; the farther they get from ou
ranks. the more distance they will have
10 travel 10 rejoin their old army and
political associates. SO let them be
prompt TO act.
Why support Mckinley? We put The
question fatty to our gold-standard De
mocratic friends. We expect a pleasant
answer on the Sd day of November.
The newspapers are seriously discussing
whether the indianapolis convention is