Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-26
THEY DO PROTEST TOO MUCH.

! HEY do PRO IEST TOO MUCH
Discussing that eminent statesman's.
Dick Croker's. Republican opinion on
silver. the Richmond Times calls Dick
"a practical politician" and " n politi-
cal expert" and also "a business man.
The Times confesses that Croker has
no principles; that he is strictly on
the make-to win: and, Of course. to
win for himself. The Times actually.
in speaking of Cookers verdict against
silver. has the effrontery to speak of
the party as "we!" why" it asks.
Should WE carry dead weight ."
WE do not intend to do so,-neither
Cookers weight; nor the weight of the
Times: yokc-fellows in opinion. or in
declare tions against silver.
But we thank the Times for that
word .expert." in this relation, -a,t..,
not quote Mr.. Croker as q statesman
nor a patriot. nor a financier, nor n
man of principle; it disclaims doing
that. and frankly alleges that it quotes
him. not as Il Democrat, but as a prac-
teal politician and a political ex-
pert" Expert evidence, even when
sworn to in court, is VIGOROUSLY of the
sort paid for, and only offered in ex-
change for pay. The Times concludes
thus:
The party will ignore Mr. Croker's
advice at its peril. He is the most
astute politician of the age Politics is
his business and he knows 1t we'll"
When and how did the Times learn
that Dick is "the most astute politician
of the age?" Or when did it adopt that
opinion of him? We fear that it has
only been since Cookers expert" op-
inion and advice conceded with that
Of the Times. and the Times has been
giving us this information, opinion
and advice. i'm effect, ever since the
Chicago convention of 1896, and before.
The Times has been holding itself
aloft. on high plane,-far above the
Croker level: and alleging that it was
guided by principle to abandon the
Democratic party, to fight for NIcKin-
ley and gold against Bryan, silver and
Democratic principles. And yet here 1t
is urging the Democratic party to be
led by such unprincipled fellows as it
confesses Croker to be! Can 1t be pos
sible that it itself followed Hanna and
gold because it desired to be on the
as it does to the faithful Democrats
who stood by the party despite inter-
nal treachery and Hannas bribery
corruption and fraudulent returns?
Gold did not win fairly in 1896, as
everybody knows. but only by the most
vtffstffetis- eeffaptinn- and IL silver was
slain in that foul way, it becomes
every decent Democrat, at least, to
avenge the murder.
But silver IS not dead. nor moribund
1t is immortal. 1t embodies n right. a
principle and a truth above mere
material values; and in 1900 it will not
be Crokers. nor unprincipled politicians.
nor men bent on winning at any sacri-
nee or principle, or by any means, who
Will frame the platform, name the can
didate and shame the devil with the
truth. but the men OF 1896, reinforced
by others, who must first be slain be-
fore silver dies. With silver dies all
hope of restoring honest and free self
government to the American people.
Oh. shade of Thomas Jefferson, when
gold would cast thee out. and put Dick
croker i'll thy place. as the leader and
teacher of the Democratic party. to
what depths of decentralization have
politics fallen! Anything to win" is
base slogan, and they who adopt it
deserve nothing but shameful and
irretrievable defeat. Thank heaven,
however. we hear this advice only from
our enemies. or known traitors, or from
men whom none can heed without dis
honor. Every true Democrat knows
that silver is not dead