The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-17
SUNDAY. OCTOBER II, 1897.
THELEAvEN Is WORKING.

II we do not utterly fail 10 read the
signs Of the times the leaven Of sound
money is surely working in the Demo-
cratic party.
We do rot pretend 10 say that the en-
thusiastc silver men, those OF the ex-
IRENE order are less enthusiastic or less
extreme than they were a year ago.
But that the conservative men who fol-
lowed Mr.. Bryan in 1896 are doing some
deep thinking for themselves, every Gay
brings additional proof.
We have referred several times OF late
70 the letter Of the Hon John w. Cald-
we'll, of Kentucky, himself a silver man
and a follower OF Mr.. Bryan in 1896. who
said that free silver would rot be the
issue in 1900 and that the extreme silver
men would be satisfied with nothing less
than fiat money and government owner
ship of transportation lines.
Mr.. Caldwell's letter has attracted at
tention far and wide. and many OF the
most influential papers in the South have
commended IT,
also having the effect TO open the eyes of
the conservative free silver men. We
have already mentioned that the Atlanta
Constitution and other papers OF that
stripe have set their faces against the
George movement and now comes the
Savannah News with a review of Mr
Caldwelrs letter and the following COM
ment:
Are these views of the distinguished
Kentuckian entitled TO much considera-
ton? Ii seems to us they are. In New
York city, it is claimed that Henry George
IS the regular Democratic candidate for
Mayor. lie certainly has the support
OF those who indorse Mr.. Bryan and the
Chicago platform on Monday, in an
interview. he said he was not an advo-
cate Of free silver coinage. but that he
did favor fat money. IL is true, of
course. that Mr.. George is not candi-
date for a Federal office. but national
politics Is nevertheless being thrust into
the municipal campaign of Greater New
York. IL Mr.. George should be elected
no would exert a powerful influence IN
shaping the national Democratic plat
form in 1900.
Mr.. Caldwels letter will not, In all
UiobahAAAgF AlAAaIN ihheH dNAtnNiOn VAA-
side Of Kentucky. since there is no ma
tional ticket TO be voted for this fall, but
It is letter that is well calculated 10 set
those who are concerned about the fu-
ture OF the Democratic party TO thinking
The Norfolk Landmark also reproduces
a portion OF Mr.. Caldwelrs letter and
comments as follows:
zone by one the more conservative Of
thosa who advocated the election Of the
Chicago candidates last year are de-
claring that the verdict of the people is
n warning which should be respected. AZ
the rate at which the Democratic organ
izatlon has been travelling towards dis
ruption. there will soon be none OF the
old and tried leaders left in its ranks
The Democracy must return TO It's old
tenets If IL is TO check its trend towards
utter confusion. 1t must abandon the
issues which have made IT possible for
Democracy TO fuse with Populism in
national contest"
The leaven IS working. Day in and
day out The Times has warned its fei-
low Democrats that the trend OF free
silverism is towards Populism. We were
laughed 70 scorn. but the tone Of the
press is now changed. Our brethren are
getting their eyes open and our hope was
never stronger than 1t is to-day that
before the campaign Of 1900 is fairly in
augurated all true Democrats will stand
together on the old-tlme Democratic plat
form. while those who profess and call
themselves Democrats. but are at heart
Populists. will 80 where they belong.
even into the Popullst organization.