The Yale expositor., 1900-09-28
DEr1OCRAT.
No Thoughtful ard Responsible
Man Can Hesitate.
John S. Williams, Vir iEia Democrat,
FearfulIy Rcnds the raugerous
Platform and Program of lie
Bryan-D, mO-Y0pocracy.

The word democrat" with us has COW
cred all shades Of opinion among respon-
sible people. and has meant generally,
opposition to negro rule and social equal
ity. Outsiders can never know the
losses, humilintions and outrages to
which we have been subjected in our
struggles To regain our rights and 10 re-
establish white supremacy.
We have been, politically, under virtual
martial law; and means and methods
have been resorted 10 and made familiar
which only the cNigcncy Of our situation
could Justify.
At last white dominion is being effec-
tually established in the South, and we
will have the ways of peace ANA free
government.
The present phase Of the negro problem
IS convincing the North, ANA the whole
world, of the folly ana dircfulncss of the
effort TO place the negro above or on an
equality with the white. Sufficient
amends can never he made for the insult
and harm done to brothers of a common
stock and household. But those who com
mitted it are dead and dying; and new
race and new era of Americanism is
upon us. Forgetting and forgiving are
the order Of the day.
We Of the South have reached our level
OF citizenship. Absolute unity is no long
er necessary To avert a dire danger. We
can participate in public questions, and
share in government for the common
good.
Moreover. with our minds and muscles
and manhood, we have in spite Of dan
gers, in every department Of human eff
fort and industry in our land, brought
forth wonderful resources and achieved
wonderful results.
For agricultural, mineral, manufacture
ing and commercial advantages and
promise, our section stands as the fav-
Ored land of the world; and our domestic
and social standards and ideals are of
the best and highest.
With our history in the past and latest
present. from our immediate standpoint,
and with our bright outlook, what we
want most is peace and stability i'm our
public affairs. And this is the want of
our whole country.
Uncertainty in our standards OF value
duplicity in our obligations, want Of char
acter in our public men, and mere strife
for party supremacy and spOils in our
elections, must, each and all, point the
way to general confusion and ruin. Un-
der such conditions our best hopes ana
promises may come to nothing. That's
the lesson of history.
As between the present administration
and a possible Bryan administration, |
can hardly see how thoughtful and re-
sponsblc man can hesitate. Those of us
who still cherish old sectional animosities
have but one old idea, that Of opposition
to Republicanism, and they go for Bry.
an. On the other hand. men Of business
and enterprise, responsible and thought
ful ere almost unanimous against him.
To me, Mr.. Mckinley represents, large
L. stability in general management. and
improving financial conditions and sound
principles. lie is trying TO do his duty.
Under his administration cur country has
encountered problems and difficulties Of
immense importance. The Spanish war
was against his will. Both parties rush
cd into il and he could not withstand
them. But in that our country, under
the guidance of himself and his cabinet
organized a great army, ami, 10y the IA
vor of heaven. achieved a speedy an6
overwhelming triumph over great en-
pre, to the admiration OF the world. We
were ut once approved as great power
among nations Cuban and Filipino en-
tangelhents are unhappy consequences.
They can be settled only by experiment
and in time.
The Chinese difficulties have been man
aged with temperance and wisdom and
general credit
Our financial matters are progressing
without panic or trouble. Time and cx-
pcriencc will cure them. Free banking
alone will settle the currency question.
As things are, il is plain wisdom to let
well enough alone. Our ease calls for
temperance
As to imperialism, that is nothing hut
Il party cry. We have ten thousand times
more TO fear from the despotism Of par
ty leaders and the dcmoralizing means
and methods of Tammany and the minor
clubs throughout the country. and poit-
zeal machinery generally, than from the
enlargement or expansion or cxcrtion Of
lowing and protecting the enterprise Of
our citizens.
In Mr.. Bryan can only recognize the
champion Of change, the leader OF the
outs against the ins, the mOuthpiece of
fault-iinders, the head center OF malcon.
tents the mirror and kodak Of every
phase OF politics and fanaticism, an India
rubber man, and an infant phenomenon
In his last canvass he spent six months
in scattering hereses and kindling social
amtagonisms. and feeding envy, hatred
malice and all observation-disclosures.
! regard him as a very apostle of con
fusion. He has covered mp free silver,
with which he was identified because il
did not seem to take What else he has
reserved IN his pandora's box no one
knows.
| am no Republican. | claim my right
to think for myself, and own my respon-
siblity TO vote for the best interests Of
the commonwealth. And | think the
safety OF our country depends on every
man claiming that right and owning that
responsibility. JOHN s. WILLIAMS.
b L.