The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-13
WEDNESDAY. JUNE u, 1900.
= RETROSPECT.

The Richmond Times is almost uniform
in it's antagonissn 40 public sentiment N
Virginia II is u rather unique figure IN
our politics 1t enjoys the distinction IN
land of antitrust people Of being almost
the only newspaper in or ouG OF the STATE
,irat boldly champions the trust pfin-
cples and trust methods. 1t was brilliantly
.rnId bug when the State Of Virginia and
the Democracy were almost a unit for sll-
Yer II harpei for years on the inlcuity
of the tax on the Stale banks wien the
peopie were utterly Indifferent to II, al
thought il was finally inserted IN one or two
Democratic platforms 10 silence the coterle
of which The Times was the 1noutaolece.
II is ardeatly pro-Britisn. while nearly no
l,ody in the State fees anything hut in
,iicuation at the conduct OF Great Britain
in cruelty despoilinc a liberiy-loring peo-
ple and taking their land by force OF
overwhelming aims, without the shadow
of excuse. These are but a few everyday
instances Of a perVerseress w!lch mas De-
come almost chronic. The Times is an eX-
celient newspaper. put an odd POLITICIAN
Henry County Bulletin.
AS 10 whether or not The Times is an
excellent newspaper we defer TO the judg-
inent of our esteemed contemporary, but
we are in 7nodesty inclined tc think that
our contemporary is right. We know that
ii Is right when il says thar The Times
is an .oda politician The politician
runs with the crowd and seeks TO be pop
ular. The Times thinks for Itself, formu-
lates its own opinions on public questions
and expresses Them from time 10 time
without regard 10 the question of popular
.ty Seine Of our contemporaries have
conceived the idea that The Times strives
TO be unpopular, but that is not true. The
Times loves 10 be approved and popular
applause is sweet TO its ears, because The
Times is intensely human But The Times
does not strive to be popular. 1t has
higher aim than simply TO win the piaud!is
OF men. 1t prefers 10 win their abiding
respect. and If when the record has been
closed 1t shall be said of The Times that
il has made the world better for having
lived, that will be a sweeter consolation
than any passing popularity which II
might gain from year 10 year
We are not fond of discussing The
Times or Of exploiting its achievements,
whatever they may DE. But when We take
a reckoning Of the fight which we have
made during the past ten years along
various lines and of present results. We
are by no means dishearteled The Bulle-
tin says that The Times enjoys the dis
Gnctlon in land of antitrust people OF
being almost The only newspaper il or out
OF the State that boldly champions the
trust principles and trust methods" That
is not a fair statement. The Times has
never been q champion Of trusts We
nave siinply tried 10 show that there are
two sides TO the question, and ;tlat a trust
or economic combine, by whatever name
called, which gives the people the best
possible article at the lowest possible cost
IS a blessing ana not a blight to the coun-
try. Mhen We first began ID say these
things there was an indignant protest
from almost every quarter. for trusts
were then denounced without qualification
and without reserve. But now the Dem
ocratic party OF Virginia confesses, by
inalrection. that there may be such a thing
AS a good trust. FOR in the platform
adopted by the Norfolk Convention only
criminal trusts were denounced.
banks Of Issue, our contention was, ana
Is. that the orohibitive tax on State bank
aotes is i vicious usurpatien Of the rights
OF the States ana an unwarranted inter
ference On the part OF the Federal GOV
erament with individual rights. The con-
eention of lSae recommended the repeal OF
this tax, and If Congress had redeemed
the pledge watch the convention made to
the people. the tree silver campaign OF
1886 had never been. There is a growing
sentiment in favor of the repeal of This
tax. and while We may MOI live TO see it.
tbs time viii come when there viii be free
banking in all the States
In 1856 The Times cut loose from its
eontical associations of years standing and
under stress OF circumstances. which out
elders viii never know. stood for what il
conceived 10 be Democratic principles and
for The gold standard. In three years
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