The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-01

the only refuge Tor tnVac "ho ,"h ~
follow the extreme doctrines OF the o'her
parties The party was VIsahlzou NOT
for individual preferment. but from
na,riotic nurpose to promote the gen.
eral welfare 1t has been powerful
enough 10 exer,, potent influence In the
mast. n its orgaiization be perpetuated.
IL viii be fruitful OF good results In the
future. There IL no more reason Tor dis
solving IL now than there would be to
abolish the moral law because II Is vio-
lated. or 10 renounce Christianity be
cause the majority OF the world IS pagan.
II is based upon great principles Of gov
eminent which have been evolved from
experience. and which. when practiced
I'm the past. have brought prosperity and
safety to the people. II. az has been
so often said. Truth is mighty and will
prevail these principles must guide TIE
successful party of the future. The in
ternal dissatisfaction in the existing
great parties leads 10 .he belief that their
platforms will be essentially modified In
the near future, ana may assume form
not antsgonistic 20 the principles which
we advocate. When this shall be done
II will be time enough 10 talk OF self
DISSOLUTION we can merge with
a party whose success shall not threaten
the prosperity OF the people. the interests
OF the country and the perpetuity Of our
Institutions If II were disbanded to-
day its elements would drift toward other
organizations. or abstain from partci-
patton in public affairs leaving two ex-
trome parties only contendlng for power.
both Of which. in one form or another.
would threaten the best interests OF the
country.
can not obtain the sanction Of my
own judgment to ally myself with
either Of these parties. whose policies
so strongly aniagonize all that have
been taught TO believe was Democratic:
nor have ] met. since the recent cleo
ton, any National Democrat who advo-
Gates the dissolution Of the party before
we can merge with an organization which
shall ADOPT kindred principles.
think there arc evidences that changed
conditions have sepsibly modified public
thought Men who last year regarded
rotten eggs MS the most effective form Of
argument are now disposed 10 listen 10
the logic If facts and 10 think that if the
nat OF government cannot control tho
market value Of wheat and tobacco. II
can not FIX the commercial value either Of
gold or silver or Of paper or any other
commodity. II may be well believed too
that when the enormitics Of the present
tariff bin begin 10 press heavily upon the
people. as will surely be the case there
will he a realignment Of parties. enab-
ling al conservative men 10 form
homogeneous party based upon Just and
patriotic principles OF government Until
such time may arrive our party, In my
Judgment. should maintain its organiza-
ton intact.
We do not understand just what Cen
eral Buckner means. If that the National
Democrats are TO make an independent
fight in every local election that IS held
between this time and the year 1900 we
do not agree with him. We think. as
we thought from the beginning. that the
fight in Kentucky in the late state
election was a mistake and this the
Courier-Journal. which was responsible
for the Sound-Money ticket. frankly con-
fesses.
But the work Of the Sound-Money De
mocracy is not done. They stand for the
cardinal principles OF Democracy, and it
is their duty TO fight on in defence Of
these principles as absolutely necessary
TO the preservation Of the Democratic
party in its integrity. The work Of educa-
tion has not been without IT'S effect. and
fits influence is being felt every day. II
must go on. Democrats are awakening TO
the fact that there can be no commerce
between Democracy and Populism. Tho
two factions Of the Democratic party are
nearer together than they were a year
ago. In our opinion. they will be even
nearer together a year hence than they
are now. and we believe that when the
convention meets in 1900. platform will
be adopted that will be broad and sound
enough for an Democrats TO stand on
and work together TO the advancement
Of Democracy ana 10 the good Of the
nation.
That seems to us 10 be the mission OF
the Sound-Moncy Democrats. They are
not dlsorgarizers. They have no ambi-
ton to build mp new party. Their pur-
pose as we understand it, is to preserve
Democratic principles and so preserve the
Democratic party, and TO those grand OBJ
jects should all their efforts be directed.