The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-11

nted the extreme element OF tree #siisst@5
democrats. and has made no concealneHt
: of It's extreme views. The editor is MI
s. Charles L. Stewart. who formerly edited
the Roanoke Evening World Mrs. stew
art is a vigorous writer md has main
tanned the cause which he espclssd with
courage and ability. Several months pc
fore the Democratic Convention was HID
at Kansas City. he said that there were
Two elements in the Democratic party
the conservative element and the radical
element. He declared that the raeGcai
element was IN favor of taking 30 step
backward in free silverism, while the
conservative element was disposed TO re-
tire the silver issue. Mr.. Stewart showed
that there was little or no difference be-
tween extreme free silverism and
Populism, and everybody knows that
Populism carried to its logical finality
leads to complete Socialism.
But the remarkable thing in Mr. Stew
arts political career is that he has leaped
from free siiverism into Socialism with
out going through the medium OF Pop
ulism. In the Dispatch of october Sth lie
prints a letter which he wrote to the
President Of the Young Mems Democratic
Club of Louisville, withdrawing from thtt
organization, and declaring his purpose
to support one or the other Of the Socialist
nominees for the Presidency.
Mr.. Stewart had always been an ardent
supporter of AIr. Bryan, and in eX-
PLANTATION of that course Of action he
says:
1 supported Mr.. Bryan four years ago
because l had always been Il Democrat,
and because l believed his election would
contribute to thu advancement OF Social
ism in this country. There has been Il
marvellous crystalization of the Socialistlc
idea in the United States during the last
four years. l have watched the process
with the lseenest interest. have also
watched Mr.. Bryan. have seen MN
make terms with the machine politicians
of the Democratic party. have seen the
forces overthrown at Chicago in 1885 re
capture the machinery Of the Democratic
party at Kansas City in 1900
l have seen the growth OF the Sociat!Sl
Labor party and the birth of the Social
Democracy. under the ladershlp OF
brave and honest and able man, VINO
loves his fellows. l have seen others VINO
behave as I do, and who supported NJ
BRYAN in 96 for the reasons that actuated
me- forming other political affiliations
But. still hoping that Mr.. Bryan's success
would be a step in the right direction.
still suppress;nS desire to come out IN
cuuvocally in support of a Socialist tscket,
it hal been my intention to vote lof Ut.
Bryan until his Endorsement of the crimes
against the first principia of free govern
ment committed in Kentucky, until he
showed so plainly that he is q mere pol1u-
clan. a demagogue, who is much more
anxious to be President than to be right,
a partisan who has not the courage to
resist the demands of gang OF political
freebooters who, through an infamous
counting machine. hope to control thir
teen electoral votes. My faith in Mr..
BRYAN having been completely destroyed,
believing that the election of such man
to the Presidency would not be even SO
much as a step toward the application Of
the economic principles in Which [ be-
lieve being convinced that Mr.. Waiter
son is right when he says it makes but
little difference whether Bryan or Me-
Kinley wins there is no longer the slight
est reason why should continue to sacri-
fee my honest convictions to partisan
prejudice.
In reproducing this much of Mr.. Stew
arts letter, it is with no desire on our
part to print disagreeable things about
Mr.. Bryan. So far from that it 5rems to
us that it comes in poor grace. from Editor
Stewart thus to characterize a man whom
he has SO persistently exploited as
Americas greatest living statesman. We
give prominence to Mr.. Stewards remarks
for the purpose OF fo-tifying the conten-
ton OF The Times, that the Democratic
party cannot hope to retain the support
of Populists and Socialists without adoDt-
ing the principles of Populism and Social
ism The Popuists have time and again
avowed that they were not contsnt with
free silver that it was only the means to
an end, that they wanted an unlimited IS
SUI. of irredeemable greenbacl1s, and that
they would not be content until they
should accomplish it. Mr. Stewart says
that he and many others joined with the
Democrats in 1896, in the hop. that the
party was going or step by step to
Socialism, but having discovered his
mistake he withdraws from the party and
gives his support to the Socialist nominee.
Make this the occasion to say once
more that III, Democratic party is
stronger when acting by Itself and pre-
serving its integrity. Whenever it com
promises with Populicts, Or Socialists. or
free silvsr Republicans, or with any other
party which does not believe in the car
dinal principles OF Democracy it necessa-
rily undermines its own character and
weakens its organization.
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