The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-05-09
,DERIcKsBURG VA. TUESDAY MAY Q. 1899.

witness new and steady steps to assure
the gold standard, involving re-dis-
tribution Of all property and the IN
crcasiug poverty of the masses. eld an
appalling growth Of trusts, threatening
10 absorb all mining aud mechanical
industries, 10 destroy competition, 10
break up the small dealer and to fix the
prices Of commodities for the public to
pay.
Such is hasty and brief statement
of the terrible evils which confront us
at this h0ur IL is the declared pur-
pose and the high duty of the Demo-
cratic party to correct them. and to this
noble and sa red purpose it has n right
to demand the best thought and the ut
most energy that every honest man can
render. Ii is the greatest fight in all
history. IL involves not merely the lib.
critics Of the people ,but their homes and
the bread in their children's mouths.
To turn aside from this noble mission
and to embark in some pitiful discus
sion or minor. immatcrial Issue would
bee unworthy the people OF Virginia.
They cannot afford 10 neglect the
weightier matters Of the law To divide
the Democrats of Virginia upon any
such question as this would be blund.
er greater even than a crime
| repeat that it is these questions that
the Democrats Of the whole Union are
now considering II is these high vital
questions that Mr. Bryan discusses in
all his addresses 10 is indeed fortu-
nate that we have in this age Of degen-
eracy aud shameless prostitution of
government a man so able. so brave. so
eloquent. so true TO the cause of the
people As these gentlemen have
thought Mr. Bryans opinion on this
point a few years ago Of enough import
ance TO be quoted | would commend to
them his example aud wise practical
sense in addressing all his energies to
extirpating the great evils entailed upon
the country by the Republican party. |
assure them that they cannot improve
upon his Judgment, practical sense and
moral heroism Let them follow where
his white plume leads.
will recall how few years ago an
effort was made, with too much snc.
cess. to substitute as "a party issue in
Virginia the question Of adjusting the
State debt for the great issues of DEM
ocracy and especially Of assuring con-
troll 10 the white race. l did not be-
lieve in pressing that debt-issue or in
directing the Democratic party upon II.
IL was done, however, aud the result
was that the Democrats of Virginia lost
the Legislature, the Judiciary, the
Governorship and the State officers, the
two Senators and most OF the repre-
sentatives in Congress And then flu
ally, after all this had been lost and
pie bald Republican party put in power
over the old Commonwealth. they went
back and consented to a pretty liberal
scheme of readjustment. Most people
ought to remember this lesson and
profit by it.
The increasing lawlessness and viO-
lent crimes of the blacks in the South,
the great domestic insecurity, the re-
cent sufferings of the people Of North
Carolina, under mOngrel rule, ought to
admonish the Democrats of Virginia
that it would be unwise to get into
wrangle over this question. The fact
that all modern amendments TO the
Federal Constitution have operated
disastrously to the South, is very sug-
gestive. This present mode of choosing
Senators may have caused some debate
prior to its adoption, but once adopted
in 1899 it has received the assent Of the
great body OF our public men for over
hundred years, and has worked as
we'll as any other feature OF the O0nsti.
tuition. Indeed, if we are to look out
for deterioration in our system 1 should
look Just to the House Of Representa-
tives. which is practically abolished as
a free representative body and acts
habitually under Presidential innu-
ence. and to the great Presidential Of
flee itself sold in 1896 to the highest
bidder
should be glad to see the Richmond
conference reafilrm the Chicago plat
form, endorse Bryan. denounce trusts
and imperialism, and the employment
of black troops to coerce white men,
and then have q jolly good time and
adjourn. OF course few speeches
would be unavoidable, and julips after
wards are always in order in old Vir-
ginia. If these ingredients are omitted
from the bill of fare the people will
shake their heads and ask the reason
why.
had forgotten to mention one thing
We are told the Republican Legislatures
of Delaware, California and Pennsyl-
vania have failed to elect U. s. Sena-
tors and have adjourned. l cannot
grieve over this result On the con-
trary, am delighted.
L. Q Washington.
May 5, 1899.
Dr Oadv's Condition Powders, are