The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-13
WHICH SHALL 1T BE-?

Courier-Journal, the ablest and most
scholarly supporter in Kentucky OF Mr..
Bryan. during the last campaign. recently
published letter. as already noted by
US. in which he said that free coinage at
the ratio Of l6 10 ! will be dead issue
long before the campaign Of 1900 is in
augurated.
We may mention also by the way, that
Mr.. Caldwell is interested in silver mining
in the West. As was to be expected, he
was severely criticized by the free silver
press Of Kentucky for thus expressing
himself. and in the Courier-Journal Of
Monday he prints another card in support
Of his views, from which we take the fol-
lowing significant paragraph.
ASH stated before ! now feel that / am
not bound by any obligations TO either
wing of the Democratic party, and have
frankly admitted that l see no hope for
the free coinage of silver, and know quite
well that never again can Mr. Bryan, as
the advocate of free silver, array behind
him all the forces that supported his
canvass in 1896.
Though I may be mistaken, I am fully
convinced that. in 1900, the issue will be
"hat money" and the Government con-
troll OF railways, etc, for i believe that
many Populsts even have already aban-
doned free silver as an issue too narrow
Gas Mr. Watson is reported to have de-
clared) TO promise even a hope Of sue
cess | sincerely hope that the Demo
cratic party may get together before that
year and oppose a further Capitalization
Of power I'm the Government, reaflirm the
doctrine Of tariff for revenue only. and de-
wise some plan Of financial reform upon
81 IA L. ~
done there will be but two parties of any
strength before the country-the Republi-
can. advocating a protective tarif and
sound money, and opposing the Govern
ment control of railways. etc, and n
PoDulistic combination, the exponent or
fiat money and the advocate Of the
confscation, purchase or control By the
Government Of railroads. telegraph lines
etc
We have no sort OF doubt as 10 the
probability Of Mr.. CaldwelTs forecast
As we have so often said in these coli
umns.. the trend Of free silverism is in
evitably towards Populism, and those who
follow It 10 It's logical conclusion. WILL
in our opinion. as surely as the shadow
follows the substance. find themselves
eventually bag and baggage in the Popu-
list party.
Let us pause here to note another po-
Iltical incident in the state Of Kentucky.
one day last week the Hon. William J.
Bryan was speaking at Glasgow and
Populist in the audience put to him this
question:
MIR. Bryan, do you favor national own
ership Of railroads and telegraphs and
their operation by the Government in the
interest Of the people, or do you favor
leaving them in the hands Of private cor
porations?"
Mr.. Bryan answered 81 am going 10
fight the battles in front of me before L
fight the battles beyond that. As 1 heard
a Populist say last fall, l am not in favor
OF the Government ownership Of railroads
while the Rothschilds own the Govern
ment"
1t seems TO us a most significant fact'
and one that should open the eyes Of all
true Democrats, that Mr.. Bryan clearly
evaded this question and utterly failed 10
nut himself on record as opposed TO the
Popullstic principle of Government owner
shin of transportation and telegraph lines,
We do not say this harshly, but we say
earnestly and sincerely that from a care
full study Of Mr.. Bryan's teachings and
his political course generally. we be-
lieye that all his inclnations are towards
Populism. In saying this we do not
question his honesty OF his sincerity. We
believe that he is as sincere in his Popu-
list views as we are sincere in our Demo-
ocratic views. We believe that Mr..
Bryan is a born Populist. We believe
that he IS a born leader. and we believe
that IL he lives, he will be the leader
of the Populist party in the year 1900.
Mr.. Caldwell has sounded the note OF
warning The same note that we sound
ed in the campaign Of 1896 and which
has been echoing from these columns ever
since. 1t is simply this, that the great
Democratic party must preserve its integ-
rity and its identity and its organization
bv repudiating the Chicago platform OF
1895, and reorganizing upon those great
principles of Democracy as laid down in
national platforms ante-dating that con-
vention. 1t is for this that The Times Is
contending. 1t is for this that it will con-
tinually fight.
1t is a gross and a cruel misrepresenta-
ton Of our position to say that we are
trying to disrupt the Democratic party
our one single purpose has been to pre-
serve that grand old party. and to save
II from Populism