The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-13
PEOPLE AND POLITICS.
BY AN OBSERVER. /.

has come and gone. We can see II all
now in clear light. Many facts stand
out In clear4cut distinctness. In the
hrst place, there IS large class OF
American voters that have nothing 10 re-
Joice over. and nothing TO grieve about.
A light vote everywhere Is the surest
indication OF the existence OF this class
OF voters. To many patriotic citizens,
there is no interest In the candidates or
candidacy OF either q partisan Republi-
can of partisan Democrat These
men are not of the fish-blooded mugwump
variety either. They are men of intense
convictions, so Intense that they have
the ability and will-power TO resist the
mighty drawing force OF party organi-
cation. A man that can break loose
from lifelong party ties and meet. II not
court, the denunciation OF former party
associates Is not man OF cOlorless con-
Vctions. IL Is the easiest thing In the
world to be a straw on the tide IL IS
something quite the contrary 20 stem the
central current OF a flood and like a truly
game fish leap amid the rainbow Of the
spray" Many American citizens have
had forced upon them just such a situa-
ton as this. Hence, we find In Rich
mond city about four thousand votes
cast where ordinarily there should be
burg. a similar situation, and likewise
throughout the counties of Virginia;
notably so in the Seventh. Ninth and
Tenth districts. where the white men
predominant. All this simply means that
there is a great reserve force OF voters
holding themselves back, waiting for the
moment TO cast their votes In accordance
with their deep convictions. 1t is not
because they have deserted the ship OF
State, or that they are recreant to their
duties as citizen, but because they have
not a candidate or An issue for which
they can cast a sincere and hearty vote.
They know that Mckinley and the Re
publican party need punishment. They
know that Alger and Algerism should be
rebuked, but at the same time they feel
that the Democratic party Is committed
10 changing the value Of the American
dollar and so. between the two, they are
left 10 a choice of evils and the natural
tendency. for the present at least Is 20
stay from the polls. Hence, the light
vote in the recent elections.
The South Is again practically solid for
the Democracy. Here in Virginia there
ara ten Democratic congressman. likewise
throughout nearly all of the other South
ern States A Republican from the
South will be a rarer object in the next
Congress than at any time since the civii
war. II is absolutely futile and vain TO
try TO read two years ahead in American
politics. Silver men will claim that this
solidarity Of the South means growing
approval Of their pet theory on tho
contrary, It seems the lull before the
storm. The men In the South who be-
lleve in the gold dollar have been from
the start In a placating mood. They are
willing 70 cOncede much. They cannot
break from the grand old party that has
protected and sheltered them through
the years Of the past except in grief GER
tainly not in anger Hence they seek
every opportunity to stay with It, But
In 1900 unless the Democratic party
purges itself from free silver. 1t may be
a fight In the open and a fight TO the
finish right here In our own Southland.
For the best service that patriots can
render their country ard the best SER
vice that Democrats can render the
party that they love Is TO overwhelming
ly and crushingly and everlasting defeat
It on this free silver issue once ana Tor
all time.
What is the use OF botherlng about
free silver even in 1900? For, by the
recent elections, the United States Sen
ate has become so Overwhelmingly Ike
publican that even IL Mr.. Bryan should
be elected in 1900 and there should be
elected a lower house ~ Congress, IL
would be utterly impossible for him anu
the House of Representatives 10 pass
FREQ silver bill through the Senate ms
ought surely 10 cool the fervid imaei-
nations OF our silver champions. The
country is drifting entirely away from
In EtFnnKnOlUs
Of the West, IL has been repudiated by
enormous majoritiss. Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa. wyoming
Kansas even, washington, California,
North Dakota, all go Republican ana
send senator's and representatives 10
Washington to combat the silver theory
and in Mr. Bryan's own state OF Ne
braska there Is a change OF about zen
thousand votes towards the gold dollar.
Mr.. Bryan's law partner and editor OF
tho Omaha Times-llerald, IN Lincoln
Neb., Mr.. Bryan's own home was ue-
faated solely on the silver issue by
Republican. How can people further de-
Jude themselves about this matter. lt
IA wrong In economies. SC is contrary 20
the march OF civilization, IL cannot ne
supported in theory and would DO rum
Gus I'm fact What a fine chance, there
fore. for a real political leader TO rise
10 the height OF the great argument ana
what a fine occasion to lead >the Demo-
cratic party out Of this wilderness!
The United States Senate has been the
hot-bed for free silverism for years past.
There we have heard the long, turgid.
lnterminable arguments Of Jones and
Stewart. OF Nevada, along with numer-
ous others less gifted In fuency and
longevity. II Is a fitting Nemesis or
rebuke that this body should suffer most
in the recent elections. With nearly two
thirds OF the Senator'S Republican. we
will surely be spared those long na-
rangues from sage-bush senators I'm the
future. These lordly old political barons
can surely read the signs OF tho times
and devote themselves 10 the march or
progress. The people have always been
pointing to the senators as the CHER
sources Of their silver inspiration. Now
n chilly fate settles down for six years
1T least upon their pet theory. and the
very Senate that has been waiting with
omen arms 10 receive all hot a silver
bill from the House, that very Senate now
waits TO place that same bill In perma-
nent cold storage. With these facts be-
fore the American people, will they per-
sist in committing the Democratic party
to irretrlevable defeat and dsorganiza-
ton?
North Carolina IS a white mans State
again. This very threat OF negro donl-
nation forbids Southern people from en-
gaging in intelligent discussion OF any
other question concerning our Govern
ment. It has dwarfed all statesmanshi4
IN the South. IL has forestalled all pos