The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-09-20
DEr1OCRAT.
No thoughtful aud Responsible
Man Can Hesitate.
John S. Williams, a Virginia Democrat,
fearfully Rends the Dangerous
Platform and Program of the
Bryan.Demo-Popocracy.

The word Democrat" with us has COW
cred all shades Of opinion among respon-
sible people, and has meant, generally,
opposition to negro rule and social equal
ity. Outsiders can never know the
losses, humiliations and outrages to
which we have been subjected in our
struggles to regain our rights and to re-
establish white supremacy.
We have been, politically, under virtual.
martial law; and means and methods
have been resorted to and made familiar
which only the e~xigency Of our situation
could justify.
At last white dominion is being effec-
tually established in the South, and we
will have the ways of peace and free
government.
The present phase Of the negro problem
is convincing the North, and the whole
world, Of the folly and direfulness Of the
effort to place the negro above or on an
equality with the white. Sufficient
amends can never be made for the insult
and harm lone to brothers Of a common
stock and household. But those who COM
mitted it are dead and dying; and a new
race and a new era Of Americanism is
upon us. Forgetting and forgiying are
the order of the day.
We Of the. South nave reached our level
of citizenship. Absolute unity is no long
er necessary to avert a dire danger. We
can participate in public. questions, and
share in government for the common
good.
Moreover, with OUT minds and muscles
and manhood, VIZ have in spite Of dam
gers, in every department of human eff
fort and industry in our land, brought
forth wonderful resources and achieved
wonderful results.
For agricultural, mineral, manufacture
ing and commercial advantages and
promise, our section stands as the fav-
ored land Of the world; and our domestic
and social standards and ideals are Of
the best and highest.
With our history in the past. and latest
present, from our immediate standpoint,
and with our bright outlook, what we
want most is peace and stability in our
public affairs. And this is the want Of
our whole country.
Uncertainty in our standards of value,
duplicity in our obligations, want of char
acter in our public men, and mere strife
for party supremacy and spoils in our
elections, must, each and ell, point the
way to general confusion and ruin. I'm
der such conditions our best hopes and
promises may come to nothing. That's
the lesson Of history.
As between the present administration
and a possible Bryan administration, I
Gan hardly see how a thoughtful and re-
sponsible man can hesitate. Those of us
who still cherish old sectional aniimosities
have but one old idea, that of opposition
to Republicanism, and they go for Bry-
an. On the other hand, men of business
and enterprise, responsible and thought
full, are almost unanimous against him.
To me, Mr.. Mckinley represents, large
ly, stability in general management, and
improving financial conditions and sound
principles. He is trying to do his duty.
Under his administration our country has
encountered problems and difficulties Of
immense Importance. The Spanish war
was against his will. Both parties rush
ed into it and he could not withstand
them. But in that our country, under
the guidance of himself and his cabinet,
organized a great army, and, by the ia
vor Of heaven, achieved a speedy and
overwhelming triumph over a great en-
pire, to the admiration of the world. We
were at once approved as a great power
among nations. Cuban and Filipino en-
tanglements are unhappy consequences.
They can be settled only by experiment
and in time.
The Chinese difficulties have been man
aged with temperance and wisdom and
general credit.
Our financial matters are progressing
without panic or trouble. Time and ex-
perience will cure them. Free banking
alone will settle the currency question.
AS things are, it is plain wisdom to let
well enough alone. Our case calls for
temperance.
AS to imperialism, that is nothing but
a party cry. We have ten thousand times
more to fear from the despotism Of par
ty leaders and the demoralizing means
and methods of Tammany and the minor
clubs throughout the country, and polit-
ical machinery generally, than from the
enlargement or expansion or exertion of
| AK oLiOhS aim VI u government lOl-
lowing and protecting the enterprise of
our citizens.
In Mr.. Bryan I can only recognize the
champion Of change, the leader Of the
outs against the ms, the mouthpiece of
fault-fnders, the head center of malcon-
tents, the mirror and kodak Of every
phase of politics and fanaticism, an India
rubber man, and an infant phenomenon.
In his last canvass he spent six months
in scattering heresies and kindl1ng social
a~ntagonisms, and feeding envy, hatred,
malice and all uncharitableness.
I regard him as a very apostle of con-
fusion. He has covered up free silver,
with which he was identified, because it
did not seem to take. What else he has
reserved in his pandora's box-no one
knows.
1 am no Republican. I claim my right
to think for myself, and own my respon-
sibility to vote for the best interests Of
the commonwealth. And I think the
safety Of our country depends on every
man claiming that right and owning that
responsibility. JOHN s. WILLIAMS.
Richmond, Va, Aug. 20, 1900.