The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-28
SATURDAY. JULY IS. 1900.
A CALMER VIEW.

The student Of the present political sit
cation in America cannot fail to be struck
Ky the change in points Of view on the part
of great number of voters. This time
four years ago Intolerance and bitterness
were the order OF the day. Now we see
men of both parties. Democratic and Re
publican, discussing the issues of the COM
ing campaign. and the duty that our country
owes TO itself and the other nations Of the
world with al astonishing calmness. Terms
of reproach and contempt for ones oppo-
rents have been all but banished from the
vccabularies of the editor and the orator,
and the American people are having their
: minds directed to a calm judgment on the
issues that confront them.
There can be no state of public mind
more likely TO bring forth results worthy
the people than this. And it will be needed,
for the coming issues of currency and i'm
peria'is:n are grave. and VII require the
best judgment and most faithful service.
On the part of the American voter and
statesman if are to hope TO deal with
them successfu lly. Now, il is an interest
Ing fact, AID one that is so apparent that
it is too often overlooked, that the spread
of Information through the daily papers
places in the hands of each voter the pos
sib.lity of starting with a certain ground
work in which he may believe. This bene-
fit is often more than offset by the fact
That through ignorance, prejudice or malice
prepense newspapers have been led, as
orators, to mis-state facts. and SO to give
the voter a false starting premise for his
conclusion.
The Very essence Of the Democratic idea
and principle is that the people, not small
cliques or interests but the great mass of
the people. are able. when put in proper
possession Of the facts. TO Judge with
Righteousness and truth on the situation
that confronts them. The cross currents
OF hard times, low wages, high tariff, crop
failures, taken with vast amount of mis-
information, produced the agitation Of the
money question in 1896, that greatly dis
turbed the popular mind. To-day the
American people know more of these cues
tons than they did some years ago, and
with the Illuminating influence of exper-
fence, we feel as sure as we do of any
thing that the Aemrican people. backed
by their strong. good sense and natural
honesty, will not take the course which
Was so strongly urged on them in that
memorable campaign
Imperialism will also be strongly forced
upon the public attention, and ii viii de-
serve The careful and earnest consideration
of every voter who feels himself in the
slightest degree interested in the future
welfare of the country, but here. also.
there is much to be said that is not com
pretended IN the terms backbone like
chocolate eclair' and criminal aggres-
sion" The presence Of our troops in the
Philippines, in Cuba and in Porto Rico:
how they got there; why they are there:
when they should come away, and If 50,
under what terms. are matters that cannot
be decided with a mere snap of the finger
As the London Spectator has Very wisely
said even Mr.. Bryan, with all OF MS
promises abou; Imperialism, viii expert
e!lce a very SOLDERING shock when he takes
his first look into the secret papers of the
State Department and begins to see what
limits inerc are 10 ms WISHES from the
mere necessities Of things. And Mr.. Nc
Kanley, admitting that he Is bent on sub
5ugaiio.i, slaughter and imperialism. will
have a hard time N carrying out his pur-
pose if the public sentiment of the Ameri-
can people is against it, even though he be
in power.
i, is not. after al, the intelligence of the
people that guides and saves them in their
hours Of peril: It is their earnest desire to
do what is right. and NOT 10 be turned
aside by any policy Of enlightened selfish
ness from the welfare of America as it was
oseina1ly planned
Iae success or failure of a country de-
ponds IN the last analysis. not on s,s lead