The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-30


quarrel. It Is very certain that TINS acuon
wifi not tend to aiiay the feeling Of hos
tility that has existed between these TWO
Powers for some time past, and IT is
equally certain that IL France wants
fight with Great Britain she can get it.
A NUTFol; DEMOCRATS TO CRACK
we submitted some remarks several
days ago in comment upon Mr. Bryan S
conference with Charles a. Towne ana
Frank T. Dubois. concerning the future
OF the Democratic party. The Raleigh
the following comment:
We fear our contemporary in the City
Oh the James is unduly excited-.n be-.
half of the Democratic party.
At shutdown on the 9th day Of Novem-z
Der, the Hon w. j. Bryan became a pr
yate citizen. so far as Democracy Is COLI
cerned. and no longer its official or quasi
Official head. His status IS just that Of
each Of the six and half million. more
or less, OF those who constituted that
day, and who will constitute hereafter,
the Democratic organization unless he
chooses to seek other aftilia tons. Ills
movements or conferences can have no
more significance and are entitled to no
more consideration or weight than coulo
those Of any other or the humblest mem
Der Of the party, so far as committing
il TO either associa tons or measures. lie
is free and Independent, wlthal. a very
intelligent and attractive American Cit
zen, and as such enjoys the right to talk
or consult with whom he peases. II ne
finds Mr.. Towne and Mr.. Dubois. both OF
whom are also said to be of pleasing per-
sonalty. agreeable, not to say satls1ac-
tory and judicious, counsellors. from MS
point Of view. why this at most Is only
a matter of individual taste and judgment,
and by no means involves the Democratic
pirty The party. more or less willingly,
have followed Messrs. Bryan and Townc
AMI Dubois and Butler and Teller and
Weaver and lesser, but not less disastrous
lights for two campaigns, and is now laid
u, in the hospital for repairs as the result.
If these gentlemen. after watching their
victim go through the first stages of s1lrgi-
cal attention, desire to go out behind the
barn and resolve to start a craft of Their
own built to suit themselves and Their
particular cargo, we'll enough; we will
only ask them to get far enough away
from the old home IN which the p;I-ient
is endeavoring to pull himself together.
sosthat their lla-nmering will not disturb
him. In any plans Nj. Bryan man en-
ter upon with his late allies he vii! not
venture to speak for the Democratic party,
we are sure. Until he does, we respect
fully submit ne is not obnoxious to criti-
cisnl-as a Democrat.
Mr.. Bryan is indeed a private citizen,
but he is evidently determined TO be the
leader of the party during the next tour
years, as he mas been the leader; OF the
PARTY during the past four years. Else
rfy n q
IN of members of the Democratic party
who still believe i'll him and MS political
doctrines together with Popultsts and free
silver Republicans. We have insisted
and we still insist, that the Democrats
must decide, and decide quickly, as to
whether or not they propose to follow Mr..
Bryan IF Mr.. Bryan continues to be the
recognized leader of the party then the
party must unquesLionably recognize and
adopt Mr. Bryan's political principles and
must continue to affiliate with Populists
and free silver Republicans. Mr. Bryan
IS very much in love with these Populists
and free silver Republicans. and naturally
SO, because they are in love with him and
nave given him their cordial support in
the past. He will not forsake them lie
vii! never consent, we believe, to stand
on any platform that will not be accept
able to the silverites by whatever party
name designated.
He knows that there is strong oppoSl-
ton to him in the Democratic party. lie
knows that he will never be supported
by the Gold Democrats or by those DEM
ocrats who have ceased to believe in free
silver. He know that he is weaker in the
Soutl, than ever before. for he has doubt
less studied the election returns and he
must have noted the tone of the South
ern press since tho election. We. believe,
therefore, that it is his purpose TO or
sanze a new party to. be composed
as we have said, of silver Democrats
silver Republicans and Popullsts II
that is his intention, Of course the Demo
Gratis cannot prevent it. This Is free
country. and any man who can is at lib
eriy 10 organize new party But if Mr.
Bryan proposes TO do this thing as q
representative Democrat, or as the self
appointed leader OF the Democratic party.
then we say that the great body OF Dem
ocrats who are opposed to him should
protest vigorously, and that right early.
II Mr. Bryan and Mr. Towne and Mr..
Dubois had gone behind the barn" to
confer as to their own political future, or
as to the future Of the independent party
which they propose to organize. what
would have been one thing; burt when this
great triumvirate meet to talk about and
map out the future of the Democratic
party. that is another thing, and that is
the thing 20 wn;ch We are endeavoring to
direct :he attention of the Democrats
of this country. and especially the Demo
Gratis of the South.
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THE NEGROES OPPORTUNITY.
Attention is directed by one of our West
ern exchanges to '.the example of self
reliant development of negroes in the