The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-05-24
CHASING JAoK-o'LANTERNs.
To The Free Lance :


infiammable gas, judging by the brill
liaHt Jack-O lanterns now floating before
the eyes Of the Democratic party. And
the party seems TO be in full pursuit Of
the elusive emanatiOns from the plat
form Of that disastrous year. and the
chimerical creations Of later date, as
we'll.
IL will be noticed that the Norfolk con-
vention reaiiirmed the party 3 allegiance
to the Chicago platform In toto It Will
also be remembered that some Of the bold
or spirits questioned the advisability
Of such action, and were promptly sat
down upon. There are many believers
In free silver who doubt the expediency
Of forcing that issue to the front. They
regard the question as settled for some
time at least, and think that nothing
good can result from bringing IL up
now. but that defeat is certain. There
are those who assert that nothing Is
settled until IL is settled right II go.
there are a great many questions In this
world that are unsettled, and will ro-
main so to the end Of time, but 1t will
be observed that they are not periodi.
cally brought up for discussion, perhaps
because they are without the pale Of
politics.
The calamity bowler Of four years ago
finds his occupation about gone, al.
though occasionally some lonely speOi.
men lets loose q few bowls, merely. IL
appears. 30 keep in practice.
One Of MoKinley's catchy phrases
In '96 was that he would rather OPT q
the doors Of the mills to the workmen
than open the doors Of the mint TO sill
yer. " Whatever the agency. the mills
have been opened and wages have been
advanced, as the Republicans claimed
would be the case If Mckinley was
elected. 1t may have been in spite Of
McKinley's election instead Of because
Of it, but he will get the credit all the
same. He was heralded as 1.-The sd.
vance agent Of prosperity" which as.
sertion 10 apparently justified by subse-
quent events For many moons the
papers, Democratic and Republican.
sectarian and secular, have proclaimed
the increase Of trade in the CONNER
cial centres. and noted the advance in
wages. and the general prosperity all
along the line. An inspection OF the
files Of such papers willshow an uupar-
allied report Of good times coming. From
the Democratic standpoint these are
unweloome facts, and not in keeping
with the declaration Of the Chicago
platform, but there is no reason for
shutting the eyes to the reality and in
dulgiDg In day dreams It will be diff.
70 Ia hn n hn
great manufacturing centres that he Is
worse of now than four years ago. As
he looks at the substantial gain 20 him
he will shut his ears TO the calamity
bowler. and rest content. A satisfied
man Is not apt 30 wish for any change
Nothing succeeds like success or. as
Josh Billings paraphrases it, when |
see q rattle snaix he'd sticking out Of
hole bear off to the left, and SEE TO my
sslf that hole belongs 90 that snaix.
IL is rank heiesy TO admit IL, but
many, very many, Democrats believe In
a high tariff instead Of tariff for
revenue. or free trade As evidence,
look how each Democratic OosgressmaD
seeks to secure the highest rate he can
get for the industries Of his district. A
low tariff is another instance Of the
elusive jAok-o' lanterns within the
vision Of the long suffering Democratic
masses
The brightest, and most alluring and
most misleading Of all the jack O.
lanterns Is the hideous spectre Of
imperialism.
The acquisition Of the Philippines
and various other islands may be for
eign to the intention Of the original
and the colonial policy
may be entirely unconstitutional, but
the party in power will soon fix IL all
right. History tells us that the consti-
tuition was made to ft the conditions
then existing. and had special and ex.
elusive application TO the white race,
but following events showed. that where
lt failed TO fit any particular case, it
was either stretched or patched until it
did fit. When the constitution rated
the negro about the same as cattle, it
was found necessary 10 add a patch to
give him freedom, aud then in order
10 further humiliate the southern white
man another patch was stuck on TO
give the negro a right to vote. When
necessary 90 give the party in power
all authority needed additional patch.
ing will be resorted to, and If the
courts decide adversely why then the
courts will be changed to suit, just like
the constitution.
Long years ago the Aboliti0lists de-
clared, in convention assembled, that
the Constitution was "a league with
Satan, and q covenant with hell
Since then they have found it better to
amend than to denounoe, and also that
It works better. The Democrats need
NOT worry about the strain on the Con-
stitution the Republicans will either
stretch or add to it to suit every ex-
Igency.
And the people will sustain the sd.
If the experience of the pa {
Ia any criterion Of she future. History
shows that noman was ever more bitterly
lssailed than George Washington when
he was President and all of the Presidents
following were vituperated in the vilest
terms. The war OF 1912 was not pop
1lar one but the people upheld the party
In power. The purchase of Florida and
If Louisiana was bitterly opposed, but
Il awaited nothing. The Mexican war
was 80 unpopular in the North
hat one Congressman said he hoped
that the American troops might be
welcomed with bloody hands 10 hos
Ditable graves The spOliation Of
Mexican territory was deprecated In the
Itrongest terms, but the people upheld
he party In power. Aud so IL goes
Whatever the failings and faults Of the
PRESENT Administration may be, they
will all be condoned and forgiven long
before election day. An appeal 90 the |
patriotism of the people never has
allied, and Is not likely to fail this
ime
Prosperity and patriotism" will be |
strong card In the game this year, and |
he sooner the Democrats realize the |
act the better for them
Whatever ones belief may be, IL Is a
,ood thing 30 know that discretion IN |
II things lisa valuable possession.
deacon, said the Dominic, "shall
pray for rain today
No-o-o," said the deacon, 1.-THE wind /
sn't In the right place
The rattler.