Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-13
THE LAMP HOLDS OUT TO
BURN.

Hon. John p. Irish. of San Francisco,
is not n humorist; he is u member Of
the National Committee Of the social
Cd Gold Democracy. What Hon. John
Irish was before he was elevated to
that pinnacle VIC know not. We only
know what Irish is now. The Balti-
more Sun asked him If there are any
conditions upon which the Gold Dem
ocrats would support MIR. Bryan should
he be nominated at Kansas CITY. Mr..
irish said yes. and named his terms as
follows:
First" replied Mr.. Irish. That Mr.
Bryan shall publicly disavow the Chi
caGo platform of 1896: second, that HE
shall admit that the silver issue OF
that year was a false issue. and that
cation of the financial views of Jefcr-
son ana jackson. Then, he must adj
init that every prophecy made by him
in that campaign regarding the disas-
trous cffecis which would follow adj
herence TO the gold standard has failed
TO come true. Ii he will do these things.
repudiatc the Pppulist nomination
given him nj sioux Falls. terminate all
relations with the silver Republicans.
and declare that tho financial measures
of Mr.. ClcNcland's administration were
sound and Democratic. he Will easily
receive the unanimous vote of the gold
Democracy OF the country"
There have been some rather hard
things said Of the aggregation of which
Mr.. Irish is at once Il distinguished or
nament and Il sonorous mouthpiece.
but 1t has never received at the hands
of Its opponents quite so black 4 char
acter as Mir. Irish is pleased to bestow
upon It. Possibly the country has yet
to learn some things about the spartan
band; certainly it was not known be-
fore just what qualifications were ne
cessary in any candidate for its hun
dred thousand or so of votes. Mr. Irish
makes il clcar-tilc candidate must be
n political renegade. an intellectual
imbecile ana a moral coward. There
Will not be any particular difficulty in
filing the bill from the ranks of the
"spar;ans." but Mr.. Irish. by stating
his cond tions so clearly. has doubtless
greatly facilitated matters. In the
hurry of the interview. however, he
seems to have omitted one item from
the conditions on which his aSgrega-
ton would support Mr.. Bryan-the
latter would doubtless be expected to
make n pilgrimage to indianapolis on
foot, rend his clothing, put ashes in his
hair and offer incense ut the Shrine.
After that Il Ike pilgrimage to Prince
ton ana a deep salaam to the Stuffed
Prophet would perhaps contribute TO
Il restoration of cordial relations.
The terms imposed upon Mr.. Bryan
arc crystal clear. doubtless. in Mr..
Irlsh's very best manner. and infinitely
diverting: but are the six million de-
luded followers OF Baal to be permitted
to return to the ranks OF the hunderd
thousand without doing a few recanta-
tons and penances? Are all their ri
bald jeers forgot and their heresles for
given? We cannot. dare not. hope that
such is the case. In due time-when
Indianapolis once more embraces In its
sacred circle all the nations ripened
sariency rank and file will know
what pains they are to bear until the
hour has struck; they must wait with
trembling and humility. not unmixed
with precious joy. that at last they are
to be restored. on any terms. TO the
fold. and that once more they will have
Cleveland and Olney. and Irish--per-
chance even Hon. Billy Bynum-to
lead. direct and guide them.