The sun., 1900-10-06
Not Cowardice but Nearer Imbecility

The Southern reasoning. as exemplifled
by the Times Of Richmond. Is so far apart
from common sense that 1t belongs 10
some other sphere than this and better
bents the topsy-turvy world described In
Alice In Wonderland" Here Is an eI-
ample Of II:
"a voter. particularly a Southern voter, may vote
for BRYAN, al the same time hoping that BRYAN
will not be elected and yet not be smenabl. TO the
chArfe Of moral covardice' or the lack Of civic
conscience There are two great political parties In
this country. and man may believe that II Is best
for the business interests OF the country that there
should be change thi, year In the Administration
and yet also believe that the maintenance OF the
great Democratic party is necessary TO hold the
Republican party in check and 70 prevent II from
carrying It's doctrines to extremes"
What has voting for BRYAN 70 do with
= the maintenance Of the great Democratic
party?" That party IL in danger Of going
TO pieces, has already gone TO pieces. be-
cause Of its surrender to Organism; but the
principle for which II has existed and to
which alone It owes It's vitality. is not de-
stroyed and will continue to be "the main
tenanoe OF the great Democratic party
after BRYAN Is defeated and destroyed
The Democracy has often been beaten
at an election but tho party remained
still and 1t will remain to offer its opposi-
tlon after the reelection Of Mr.. MCKINNEY.
The most the Republicans can hope for
Is to carry the next Congress by a small
margin, so that at every point they will
be met by powerful and vigorous Demo-
cratic opposition. Any Democrat who
knowingly sacrifices his own material
welfare and the honor and prosperity Of
his country by voting for BRYAN, at the
same time hoping that BRYAN will not be
elected, on the theory that the sacrifice Is
necessary to preserve his party as an OPP
position may not be moral coward"
but he Is something else which It would
not be civil for us TO designate. Anyway
he has not common sense enough to be
trusted with a vote.
The great function Of a Government
concerns economic administration. The
well-being Of the people Is its chief concern
That first assured by this election. parties
thereafter will divide according TO other
policies and principles. II. however, there
Is anywhere fear OF Imperialism It can
as safely rely on Republicans as Demo-
Gratis to ward off the danger. for no policy
that squinted at anything resembling or
approaching real imperialism or. as the
Richmond Times expresses It. an empire
set up" would command enough support
to make 1t danger. and what the Virginia
paper pretends is imperialism could
have even stronger support in Southern
States solidly Democratic than in Northern
States invincibly Republican.
Any man Of the South or OF any other
part Of tho Union who votes against pros
perity for himself and for his country on
tho ground that the sacrifice is necessary
70 save this Government from becoming.
as the Richmond paper says. a virtual
Constitutional monarchy" Is unit to
be left In the management Of his affairs.
The Southern citizens who are going 70
vote for BRYAN in spite Of their conviction
that his election would be damaging TO
the foundations Of all prosperity. will be
wiser II they refrain from efforts 10 excuse
the inconsistency; for their motive is well
understood by all discerning men. BRYAN
! may overthrow the gold standard. but he