Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-04-05
DEMOCRATIC LEThARGY.

DEMOCRATIC lETHARGf.
Some of our Democratic contempora'
ries are blowing their trumpets about
the bright prospects of their party at the
coming election. Others, that are more
carefully scanning 1.-THE political field, are
not so hopeful. The Richmond "News",
which is now the organ of the Democrat
ic party in Virginia, in its issue of the
29th ult., under the head Democrat
ic Party Leaders," said in part {: "There
is the brightest outlook for the Democrats
that there has been in three yeare. and
the time calls for strong men. Men OF
wisdom and aggression can carry the par
ty TO victory this fall if they get together
and combine the strength of the party
all over the country. There is a lethar-
gy that is not wholesome, and reticence
upon the part of public men that does
not tend to develop the interest in the
coming campaign that will be necessary
for victory"
This is a truthful confession of the
"News' as to the condition of the Demo
cratic party; brit it is rather paradox
cal for one to say that there is the bright
est outlook for the party that has been
seen for three years, and to state that
there is a condition of lethsrgy and reti'
cence upon the part of public men that
will not develop enough interest in the
coming campaign to secure q Democratic
victory. Who ever heard of Democrat
ic politicians public mem being lethar'
gic or reticent when there was the slight
est prospect for victory Even the
merest chance for success will fan the
Democratic fire into a blaze of intense
enthusiasm.
The state of lethargy and reticence
which the "News" admits now exists is
caused by no lack of desire on the part
of the Democratic leaders to win, but
comes from the distasteful conviction
that there is no hope for party success as
long as the masses have in view the
elaring blunders the party has made I'M
der the leadership of Bryan, which blum
ders, with new ones added, are to be re-
peated in the coming Presidential elec'
ton.
There is one Democratic leader who
has not been reticent, if he is lethsrglc
We refer to Chief Justice Snodgrass, OF
Tennessee, who at the recent banquet of
the w. ]. Bryan Club, of Chattanooga,
in a speech said
"To succeed we must present living, ag-
gressiye issues, not dead negatives OF OBJ
lection.
"We 1.-THE Democracy have gone be-
fore the people biennially and preached
relief by professions in favor of tinkering
with the tariff and amending the Ten
Commandments.
"Let us offer them something broad
and hopeful, the addition of great. terri
tory, the freedom of great body Of PEG
pie, the extension of our trade, and the
upbuilding of all business.
"Let us 60 before them to show that we
will soon cause every fragrant breeze that
blows over these distant islands of the Pa
cifc to be laden with the hum of Amerl'
can industries, the music OF American
civilization, and the shouts of American
freedom.
"Let us teach the world new lesson in
national enlargement, prosperity and
power for the advancement Of human
liberty"
The lethargy of the Democratic lead
ers comes from the realization of the
truthfulness Of the sentiments which
Judge Snodgrass had the courage to ex-
press. They see, as he does, that they
will have to abandon the negative policy
that has been controlling their party, and
offer something broad and hopeful to the
people before they can hope for or de-
serve success. Can the leopard change
his spots
THE HYP0CRITES.