The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-09
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 8, 1900.
INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

The question that is going to confront
the great body of independent voters this
fail is the issue that will be drawn between
party affiliation and what the voter be-
l:eves to be the essentially correct atti-
tude for the Government to take. Until
1886 there was one great issue dividing
the American people. 1t appeared under
various names, having been known both
as Republican and Democratic 1t had
various adJuncts and was often confused
with minor issues, but in the last analysis
1t was the distinction between two parties
OF men who believed that NE Government
gave the greatest b..1efit to the greatest
number whep IS powers were centralized,
and thps. Nl1o believed that the spirit of
orr Institutions made it imperative for
their continuance that the Individual COM
immunity. especially the States. be entrusted
with al possible Initiative and power for
themselves.
This spirit is by no means that of a dis
organized mob. 1t has been capable of
wag.ng war and annexing territory I'M
der jefferson. Ii has Instituted and car
RED out successfully foreign negotiations.
1t has seen to 1t that the republic should
take no harm under its guidance. and at
the same time ii has held unsweryingly to
the principle that the source of power is
the people and that that power is best
used when the least of it is entru.ted TO
the cetnral government.
II is the principle that believes that So
ciety depends for its success on the
strength and character of the individuals
that compose it. and that this strength is
best developed and maintained by giving
the individuals responsibilities and powers.
in matters that concern them locally, and
leaving to the central government only
such matters as from their necessity can
not be regulated by the several States.
In addition TO this great principle the
South has the memory of bttersand re-
1entless war and the cruel carnival of
corruption that was ushered In by the re-
construction days under Republican adj
I 1ninistration- The South yearly pays
Z millions of dollars In fraudulent Federal
pensions, and from the beginning of this
sears had been solely an agricultural sec
tion, has groaned under a protective
& tarin for the benefit of Northern manu-
facturers, and SO the fundamental princi-
ple OF Democracy has been driven home
into the heart of the Southern people and
cannot lightly he removed.
In the ultimate success of these pr.nci-
pies The Times has the deepest conf
dence. for re do not believe that the Re-
publican party, In spite of the clever oppoT-
4,,r,isn which 1t has shown in successfully
dealing with many new questions. can III
t.,nateIy triumph over principles winch are
founded in The deepest convictions OF the
human heart and which must finally con-
srol Government like ours or drive us
1nto centralized form of government
which viii NOT materially differ from a
constitutional monarchy. But the bei!et
Ia these principles and the love OF ne
spirit of Democracy does not mean many
things for which Air. Bryan stands in mat
sers Of administration at home and
& abroad For this reason there are many
z "a uisAts 60
opposed 10 the programme thai Mr.
Bryan has laid down Just as there are.
q many Republicans who are opposed to Mr.
11cKanley.'s plan. and the question comes
# hack finally to the voter whether they.
IN hold 10 their party regularity and
& ,,post i principle that they believe to be
s1hndsmentally wrong, or whether they
~ lease their party and support their
lsaent or whether they VII exercise
Is IN ienabio right OF The American
~ ana 3 refuse to vote for either
idate Esor <iespiie ~ statemen,s 10
9 stlaxy. thero % s. large class of
= 40 accept the lesser 81
slsespsss. q great deal of Eclap-