The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-26
PEOPLE AND POLITICS.
BY AN OBSERVER.


Arc We developing in this country
class of citizens who follow politics as
business? IL seems so. Some men mere
In Virginia have been so continually In
politics that II is food and drink and the
breath Of life 20 them. and they are in
clned 10 resent anybOdy's taking any
interest In political affairs except them
selves. They look upon II as outside in
reference. and unless they are consulted
about everything which has to do with the
Democratic organization and with politl-
cal matters. they feel sighted. Now, there
i CONGRESSMAN Swanson, Who is very
shrewd. energetic man. and yet he gives
out AN interview indicating a good deal 81
resentment because he and certain others
Of Mr.. Martins friends were not consult
ed in regard 10 calling a meeting Of tho
Democrats I'm May who favor an election
Of senators by popular vote. or course.
those gentlemen who circulated tho can
aid not attempt 10 cover the whole state
or take into tho confidence Of tho move
ment all the prominent and influential
Democrats OF Virginia. That Nj Swan
son or any other Of Mr.. Martins friends
should feel that their Importance IN the
affairs Of Virginia has been underesti.
mated IS but natural They have Swung
tho cat pretty much In this Common
wealth heretofore in matters OF this kind,
and II Is inconccivable TO them that any
ono should undertake political moves
without consulting them. and they immc.
diately begin casting about and impugning
the motives ~ the slgners OF this call
There Is no doubt but that tho signers
Of this call could have associated with
them thousands Of other Democrats but
after getting nfty-two such names to-
gether. they deemed 10 sufficient. True
the CALL like Morcutios wound, us not
so deep as a well. nor so wide as a church
door. but it's enough: twill serve and
II the promoters Of any two mems indi-
v.dual fortunes shall rise up 20 turn
great popular movement like this 20 their
own selfish ends and aims. tho people
OF Virginia can likewise say with the
dying Mercuti0: a plague on both your
houses" Junus. I'm HIS letter 10 the
King said. among other things. that
there was a holy mistaken zeal In poll
tics as I'm religion" Mr.. Swanson seems
10 be actuated hy this zeal else he would
not impugn the motives Of so many hon
Orable gentlemen and attack so vigorously
this great popular movement The real
and proper business Of a coneressman
IS 10 look after tho interests OF his con-
sttuents at Washington, 10 study and
help shape and enact tho legislation for
this country. Tho trouble is that so
many OF them think that the disposal Of
new dignities" is their chief and proper
business. and as they SO about the smok-
ing rooms of the capitol and meet IN the
l0bbies of tho hotels I'M Washington they
feel II incumbent upon them 70 talk over
matters I'm their States and decide who
shall be this and who shall be that and
if the people should suddenly rise mp and
Ike the matter in their own hands. why
OF course. there is n feeling OF natural
resentment Now. that Mr.. swanson 80
Jealous man-zealOus in tho sense OF the
quotation ab0ve-was very clearly evinced
at tho Roanoke convention. When he
was called before that body for a speech
he spoke OF the presence OF the gold
Democrats IN the ranks or the Demo-
cratic party as a. that party were ''pos-
sessod OF devils and said. among otner
things that when the Democratic party
at Chicago cast ont of itS ranks THESE
believers i'm tho gold standard that be
felt Ike the gift had been restored 10
earth OF casting ont devils. and that
the Democratic party long possessed or
devils" had al last been freed from them
and was sitting clothed in IT'S right mind
n seems quite characteristic OF free silver
Democrats these DAYS TO invoke Scrip
ture 10 their aid. Beginning with the
cross Of gold and crown of thorns' az
Chicago. there is scarcely an incident in
the Bible. running through the many
beautiful metaphors and precious mira
cl.s of that divine book. all The way ana
including even the Lords supper Itself
fhat has not been made. under me lead
ership of Mr. Bryan and hts zealois. me
occasion of oharcterizing the issues 't
stake. AN Of which goes To show mat
There is "holy mistaken zeal ia polll'ea
as in religion"