The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-12
ind myself in the role of a private

md myself In the role Of a private
citizen
--As | view II the Democratic situation
y not yer, prOnnslng. There Is nothing
v 4 inal,a;.s a speedy healing OF the
4iturc that has severed the party into
10th. factions. and | think that any
com. "a itnis Juncture TO concilate ana
rtDulte would drive them further apart
IL. 81 the same time all is not serene
81 the Republican camp. That party,
through its leaders. has made lavish prom
IscS TO the cosntry, and boosted that IL
would restore prosperity II again intrusted
with power. The people will hold IT TO
a strict accountability for the fulhllment
OF its promises. and ic they are not real
lied Will voice their disapproval at the
polls two years from now.
II remember when Mr.. Cleveland was
elected the last time that a number OF
my enthusiastic FRIENDS In Alabama de-
clired that the Democracy would remain
M power for quarter of a century.
said 20 them at that time that their pro-
phecy would fail unless the Democrats
abandoned their usual way OF quarreing
among themselves. and unless they car
rled out the pledges made 10 the people.
otherwise. we might expect 10 see Mr..
Cleveland succeeded by Republican, Inc
events OF last November justified That
assertion. II holds good now with ref
orence to the incoming administration.
There ought to be no difficulty In bring
ing the two wings Of the Democratic
party together. The free silver" wing
ought 10. and. we hope. soon will recognize
that free silver" is dead. There Is going
10 be no rush OF prosperity, but we have
now established a solid foundation upon
which business can build. and we shall
have a gradual but sure restoration
OF normal business conditions. The free
silver" wing Of the Democratic party will
recognize this after a while, and we con-
fidontly hope that before we have another
congressional election that wing will have
abandoned its dclusion and will be pre-
pared to cooperate with their brother
Democrats in seeking TO secure State
banks for the people. whose notes shall
be always redeemable upon demand in
legal tender money.
But Colonel oates is right in what he
saws OF the future ahead OF the Republi-
can party That party has row OF
stumps i'm front Of II. II has made lavish
promises Of what 1t would do II given
power and the people are going TO ex-
poet something from it more material than
nne words.
As far as we can make out 1t has no
programme but a scheme for a highly
protective tariff. II seems bent upon re-
enacting something like the Mckinley law.
This il will never be able to do we hope
and believe. Therefore. we loo6 to see
the Republican party in disfavor at no
distant day. The people of the country
districts have real grievance In their
inability TO have the media OF exchange
necessary for transacting their business
and the Republican party shows no dis
position 10 deal with that grievance in
diligently and justly. The people are
going TO ask that party why it does not
give them relief in respect 20 that matter
and they are going TO demand a reply TO
their question. When the Republican
party answers this demand and is able
10 make no satisfactory response TO II,
the Democratic partys opportunity will
avail. 1t needs only 10 drop free silver
and all other forms OF unsound money
and plant itself soHdly upon the gold
standard and State banks 10 come back
into control Of the country. VIII 1t have
the good sense to do that?