The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-16
wnlcn II is threatened. And he adds:

Wtt'it ~ " b'itRtJH'Ns ffiit it
The movement for conference could
very properly originate in the south Tha
section - tho backbone or the national
Democracy and its electoral vote IL es
sen1iaI 10 the success Of the party. IL
stood Loyalty by the nominee OF the Chi
cago convention in 1895. and went down q
defeat with him Since then the represen-
tatlye Democrats OF that sec ion have hal
time 20 weigh the situation cool Y and de-
nacratey. They have seen Eastern aud
border states which were formerly Demo
cratic wheel into the Republican column
on the silver issue. Jhey have seen the
IRcpublicau minority in the Senate grow
Into an overwhelming majority. until now
there - only one Democratic Senator from
the east. They have seen Western States
upon which the men who made silver the
paramount Issue relied return X Dub'ical
maJOriiics. Last. hut NEST significant Of
all. they have seen Democratic gains IN
tho East I'm 1895 I'm States IN which the
silver plank Of the Chicago platform was
ignored. These are facts and conditions
which reasonable men cannot overlook
and the Democrats OF the South are too
Intelligent not 10 understand their sig
inincancc.
N southern Democrats should determine
mat IN the Presidential election next yea
the silver question viii not be given IN
duo prominence. or. better still II they
should decide 10 eliminate Il as an issue
they NAV pave the way for a united
party. 10 continue the agitation will be
20 play into the hands az the Republicans
and give tncm a club with which 10
pound the life ont If the Democracy I'm
1000 II the Democracy Is beaten next
year. inc chances are that II vii he
minority party for many years so come.
There Is no question OF principle involved
IN reducing the silver issue 90 its proper
proportions The lnexorlble laws Of H.
nance have already done that and the
finishing stroke was administered when
the British government decided rccontiv
10 adopt the gold STANDARD for India II
IS incOncoivahle that the Intelligent Demo
Gratis % the South viii stake the existence
Of their party upon on ISSUE on which
they cannot win and which viii lead the
Democratic organization 10 certain de-
struction.
This is sound sense and those who have
the true interests OF the party AZ hear
VIII De impressed by a. u As the duty Of
the Democratic party to win If it may d.
so without abandoning It's PRINCIPLES. But
the highest duty Of Democracy Is to pre-
serve ITS integrity to hold aloft. to exploit
and TO defend the great principles Of the
party and vigorously to fight all antago-
nists. The Democratic party may BE- i'm
the minority and yet accomplish a great
work. n Repubncanism and Popunsm
were not held in check by the Democratic
party under one name or another. this
government would soon DRIFT far away
from me principles upon which 1T was
founded
.ffrar nfr.lf r..l fHnI
lead the country into Socialism: the Re
pubncans. If unrestrained. would lead st
into monarchy. II IS the Democratic
party. and tbat party only. which takes
ITS stand and says TO PoDullsm on the |
one hand. and to RepubAcanism on the |
other: Thus FAR and no farther.
me Democratic party has been more /
often than otherwise n minority party, /
and vet who shall say that IT has NOT per 1
rormcd great mission IN this govern /
ment. Nor is dts mission as a minority /
oartv by any means ended. II the two /
wings OF the Democratic party should /
come together in 1870 and reunited De |
mocracv declare for the old time Jener- /
sonian principles by which it had stood I
untu 1896. the defeat OF that party by /
the Republicans would De "a misfortune. /
But If the party torn 10y cations should +
make the night of 1886 over again and go .
down IN defeat, that defeat would be /
disaster because # would mean the ever
lasting disruption of the Democratic /
PARTY
me path Of duty is the path Of safety \
Let the party but stand by its principles
and preserve its integrity and it will have {
honor and victory even I'm defeat.