Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-17
WHAT WOULD
JEFFERSON DO !?
Continued from Page 1.

This campaign is going to be q cam
paign of mighty questions and not of
candidates.
Those men who imagine that If they
could by hook or crook-by trick or
trade-nominate some hero In the Ma
ttonal Democratic Convention, that
then, with the aid of money they could
carry the country-had better be dis
iliusioned, for they could not carry six
States in the Union.
This is not year in which politicians
can deliver. Even the Democracy Of
the East is Strengthening its spine. To
simply say that we are Democrats may
sound laconic, but unless we stand for
something definite that earnest men
and earnest women can lay hold on in
life, unless we offer hope to the toiling.
suffering. sorrowing children of men,
we will be despised by mankind.
HON. w. J. BRYAN.
What is 1t that gives Mr.. Bryan such
hold on the Democracy of America
as no man has had since the days of
Jackson? 1t is his principles and his
earnestness.
There Is no hero worship about 1t.
They favor the principles he advocates
and have absolute confidence in his
honesty and courage. He is an Idol,
not a hero. People love him because
they believe he sympathizes with
them.
hear some good man say. why
could not Bryan consent to modify
some features of the Chicago platform
SO that we could all unite and then we
could win?
My friend, you have simply read the
newspapers and have not studied the
conditions. You have not heard the
earnest heartbeats of our people.
The moment Mr.. Bryan consents to
modify the Chicago platform in any
particular that moment he Is de-
stroyed.
He would at once sink to the level of
the ordinary politician, who was trim
ming his sails to catch votes.
He would at once cease to be the idol
or the Democratic heart. Now you re-
spect him for his sincerity-then you
would despise him for his weakness
Look around, you can count hundreds
OF able. learned and eloquent men who
hold high place in the Democratic
councils and are to-day wayside wrecks
hidden In dust because in the supreme
hour of trial they wavered
NO, II you are weary of the Mckinley
cant and hyprocrisy-if you believe in
the declara ton of independence-if YOU
wish to transmit the blessings of free
institutions to your children-then take
hold and help to save NILS republic
take hold and help to overthrow this
reign of debauchery, destruction and
death.
And if. when the pirates have been
driven off of the ship you can show that
we are wrong on any or on all points
the American people will soon help YOU
establish the right.
FORCING A CRISIS.
We are at crisis in the history of
the race
Shall the hand OF toll be emancipated
or snail 1t have new shackels rivctcd
on it?
Shall the American millions be free
men or serfs?
Shall government protect the weak
or be n mere convenience for the
strong?
Shall Justice uphold the right or
smile on iniquity?
Shall liberty illumine the earth or
be slain In her own temple?
For many decades this Republic has
globe; not through her armies or her
navies or her wealth. but through her
moral force; through high ideals
through the divinity of human rights
snail she go on In this course, lifting
the hopes OF all people, and brighten
ing the skies OF all nations, or shall she
abdicate her high position, get on to
the low plane of brute force and move
along the barbarlc road of tinsel, OBJ
preston, misery and death?
These are some of the questions that
confront our people.
Let them but clearly understand and
tEere VIII pc no doubt about the issue.
My friends, look up; this republic has
not yet performed its mission.
IL Is not going to fal-Liberty will
not die-the human race Is about to
move forward.
Something like industrial and flnan-
GA freedom will be established.
come.
While we cannot name the day or the
hour. yet the mighty movement i'm
which We are all laboring is going to
Dtlns the human race to higher
plane.
The Almighty is cutting n road
lhronsh the forest and It's coming is
tiny.