The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-03
A PARADOX.
celebration

A PARADOX.
What is surely one of the srangest and
most paradoxical things this country
has ever seen is about to happen now.
It seems that the National Democratic
Convention will certainly nominate VIII
liam j. Bryan for the Presidency, and
yet it is very certain that the most in
teIligent part of the party is opposed to
his nomination, and it is very certain that
a very large body of the party is OPP
posed to his nomination, and 1t is very
doubtful whether majority of the party,
If the individual views Of each member
of it could be got at, is in favor of his
nomination. Here then is a case in
which the brains of the party think it
which he cannot say that even a bare
majority of the party wishes his nomina-
ton, and yet it is a case in which his
impending nomination moves along
steadily and surely with the crushing
force of a Juggernaught car. Surely
this is a paradox, and can only be &C
counted for upon the theory that the
party has been bitten by some strange
infection and has subjected reason to
sentiment On all hands one can meet
with evidences that the opposition in the
party to Mr.. Bryans nomination is posi-
tive, widespread and almost violent. We
called attention several days back to the
fact that in the primary voting recently
in Maryland, where the individual voter
expressed his preferences. there was
great majority against Bryan. Until
Richard Croker made his strange declara-
ton few days back that the Kansas
Convention should declare for free silver
as well as nominate Mr.. Bryan, it seem
ed a, foregone conclusion that the whole
influence of the State OF New York
would be cast against free silver in the
convention although it seemed probable
that her delegation would yield to the
torrent that seemed to be setting his
way A day or two ago the State Dem
ocratic Convention of New Jersey was
held and it was attended by more than
q thousand representative Democrats.
This convention yielded as the New York
Democracy had done to the torrent that
seemed to be setting towards William j.
Bryan, but the platform which was
adopted said not one word of the Chicago
platform. It is true it contained this
sentence: Eve favor the bimetallism that
has always been advocated and supported
by the Democratic party from its in
ception to the present time" But such
{lo ri fro
coinage, at ratio Of is to 1 has cut,
and after an express effort had been made
to get the convention to declare Tor free
coinage at 16 to j, makes a farce Of the
whole business.
Now, no sane man can believe that the
people we have referred to, while ac-
ouiescing in the nomination of Bryan,
want him, when we see their antipathy
manifested so strongly for free silver, Tor
Mr.. BRYAN is free silver or nothing. The
past would be sufficient poof Of this,
but he is industrious himself in seeing
to it that no one shall fail to understand
that he is as radically for it to-day as
he has ever been, and that he Will con-
tinue as radically for it if he is made
President of the United States as he has
ever been. He contributes an article
to the June number of the North Amerl-
can Review. in which he declares as
openly for free silver as he ever did in
1896. He also renews his suggestion OF
government control of trusts, although,
as we have pointed out in another article,
Democratic leaders in the House are vio-
lently opposed to any such measure
Are we not justified then in saying that
this impending nomination OF Bryan Is
a paradox? He is not wanted by the
bone and sinew Of the party and every
body knows that he is not wanted by IT,
and yet through some strange and I'M
accountable influence it looks like a GER
tainty that he is going to be imposed upon
the party.