The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-25
THE "OPPONrNT," WILL BE sINT
TO THEIR KNEES.
a. william j. nryan sald IN be speeeh

Mr. william J. Bryan said in his speech
I'm Richmond at the Jefferson Hotel;
'Thcy say that II elected. l will not
enforce the laws Of this country. ! give
them notice. II I am elected l will en-
force the laws In such a way, that they
on their Bonded knees. VIII beg not 10
have the laws enforced
This passage has been good deal quot
"a and commented on. but IL seems 20
as that Il viii bear a great deal more Of
quotation and OF comment
1t is not at all unnatural that Presl-
Dental candidate should say that II elect
cd he viii enforce the laws. No one wants
man President who will not enforce the
iawa-that is no citizen who wishes 20
lead an upright lie and love his country
wants any such man President. Mr.. Ery-
an has many supporters who 90 not want
10 see the laws enforced, and 1t IS the
suggestion that We shall be without laws
I'm hls utteianccs and platform that binds
to him so many thousands Of the people
who disturb public speakers when dis
GUESSING Bryan and his platform.
But there is a sinister suggention in
the passage quoted OF something far be-
yond enforcement Of the law, and This
suggestion should receive the vesy earn
est and thoughtful attention o. the Aineri-
can people.
Itisto be noted that t IS THEY" who
are going to PROSTATE themselves before
him and beseoch him On pended knees
TO "let up in his on'o;ement u The
Jaws. IL is not all the American peo-
PIE but "they." Nov, who are this
"thoy. Tie had O. mcnert before de-
fined "thcy" They are "our cD-
I moments" Now MI Brysn's Opponents
may be ia minority Of the American
people or they may be in a majority We
shall not know certainly about this until
after November 90. But we all know
that they include an immense body OF
/ the American people. and, though they
/ may be less than half OF them. they Go
not fan far short of thirty FIVE millions
/ OF them. 1t IS q pretty startling an
/ nouncoment that this candidate makes
when lie tells us that il he is elected
! President he will enforce the laws in
/ such Il way" that those who now oppose
/ bin will ION their Bonded knees beg not
I 10 have the laws enforced" II Mr.. By
nm Simply meant by this that he will be
/ Martinez when he is President we might
ont the utteraoce down to exuberonce Of
speech and a pardonable desire 10 puff
/ himself as en- attentive executive. Fut
{ tnat is not what he meant He does
not say that he viii be Martinez ord
/ that he American people will tire Of his
/ Vigilance and attention 10 business. He
| says they" explained by him &c moan
his "opponents." viii come . HIM con
bendod knees ard beg him 20 let uD
on them in his enforcement Of the laws.
We have then an announcement from
Mr.. Bryan himself Of the way he viii
| administer this government If he is elect
ed President lie Will make his enemies
howl. and. though he does not say so. it
IS a legitimate inference that he intends
I IT to De understood that.he will make
/ his friends happy. That is TO be one
condition after the 4th Of March next II
| William j. Bryan is elected President of
the United States. We are net to have
che law for al the citizens Of the United
/ States. but one and a most oppressive law
for the opponents Of William j. Bryan.
and another. and presumably a most gem
tie and bonignaut one for Mr. Bryan's
| friends.
1t is hard TO think that any man is
wild enough TO have such purpose in
| his heart We wish we could believe
that IL was the utterance Of a fool. But
we cannot believe it. Mr.. BDans whole
canvass IS an effort TO stir up one class
! against another and We really believe that
W hat he said at the Jefferson Hotel is
/ premcditated and a reflex Of what he has
/ fixed in his mind.