The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-17

and asserts that every man is free to
think as one pleases regarding them. He
defends his course in connection with all
these questions, and concludes with the
following propositions: ifG
And now, Mr.. A bell, let us pass to a
q lestion touching which there can be no
misunderstanding. These statements
ana counter-s statements, arguments and
retorts-all this petty class of protestu
ton and penchment-amount. to very
little, Mt the best. You have declared
your undying devotion to the Democratic
party, and have said that my leader ship.
my personal ambitions, my selfish pur-
poses, and these only, prevent you from
restoring your newspaper to the service
OF the loyal people who originally made it
rich and powerful by their patronage,
their confidence, and their support. You
have given Maryland to understand that
but for me, and the bossism you are
pleased to attribute to me, you would
hring back the Baltimore Sun to it's old
mornings, and devote it to the position
of Democratic principles. and the confu-
sion and overthrow Of Republican rule in
this State.
''You have stated in effect, certainly
with the intent of being 30 understood.
that you will love the Democratic party.
and still wish to see it predominant in
Maryland, and you thereby involve your
self in a pledge to cast of your Republ-
can Mutations, repudiate.. your Reoubli-
can alliances, and labor heart and soul
Tor the success of the Democratic party.
as it will remain after being purged of
me.
"If you be sincere in this, the solution
OF the difficulty is simple enough If my
aspirations, my leadership, myeeiuhuence
constitute the only distractions to Il re-
turn to the people who made your news
paper and founded Your fortunes, and
gave reality to your position and your
mower, stand ready to remove them.
Office is less to ME than you suppose.
Political leadership is not so necessary TO
my happiness as you, in your ignorance
ot my character and motives. are pleased
to say. Strange as it may seem to you, l
hul willing to surrender every prospec.
oil personal promotion, ifsby so doing |
Can reunite the Democratic party, restore
TO Its ranks all their pristine strength
and harmony, remove the dissen sons
and luminosity that now exist, aid effsce
the humiliating spectacle pictured by
yourself and men of your.way of think.
ing-the spectacle of the Democratic
party betrayed into the hands of the
enemy by those whom the Democrats
have IL the past exalted and enriched.
II do not undertake to say how much
you or any other man may love the Dem
ocratic party, but know how much
W it, and know that T have no per-
sonal ambitions would not sacrifice for
its honor and welfare, Know, too, that
have no affiliations, no engagements,
no plans of any kind that could, by any
possibility, embarrass me in making the
prOODS ed arranQenPnt.s
"You.may understand thie as an over
ture of surrender on my part-as an adj
missionlthat the Dem ocratic organization
cannot hope for further life without YOUR
aid and countenance.i am prepared for
this. have been misunderstood by YOU
50 long and SO unreasonably that n lit
tie more ofless will count for nothing.
AS matter of fact, I am, satisfied that
the people OF Maryland h We become dis.
gusted with the two. years Of Republican
maladministration which YOU did so
much to make possible, add that they are
in humor to make an end OF the expert.