The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-01
THE GOOD OF AGITATION.
The Chesapeake Waterman says:

Our esteemed contemporary. The RlcH-
mond Times. looks upon Mr. Bryan as
an agitator. and says: That he not 50
much concerned about what the people
need as he is about what will make
STIR" We do not endorse Mr.. zBryan's
silver theories but we cannot join with
The Times in regarding Mr.. Bryan as
an agitatOr in the general acceptat1on OF
the word. We would prefer to call him
an enthusiast of deep and honest con-
victions.
We have not inlpeached Mr.. Bryan's
sincerity. but Mr.. Bryan is a politician
seeking Office. and. therefore, he is neces-
sarily an aEitator The effort is made
on tho part of Mr.. Bryan's enthusiastic
ADMIRERS to make it appear that his sole
object in going about the country and
stirring the voters up is to promote the
interests of the people. and that he has
no thought whatever of himself. Non
sense. We do not mean to say That Mr.
Bryan has not the good Of the people
at heart. as he views it. but Mr.. Bryan
is ambitious, and we doubt If ever there
was candidate in the United States who
more earnestly desired to be elected Pres
ident than William ]. Bryan. We do not
condemn him for this. 1t is laudable
ambition, but we lose our patience with
those who Set Mr.. Bryan up as some great
and unse1fish parsonage apart, running
for office simply and solely that he may
confer some great benefit upon his fellow
men, and that therefore, he is not actu-
atcd by any of those considerations which
ordinarily move ofiice-seekers.
AIr. Bryan is an of1ice-secker-one of
the most diligent and importunate Office
seekers that this country ever knew. and
being an ofiice-seeker he is an aSitator.
lie agitated the people with free silver as
Ions as that was potent issue, and now
that free silver is more or less in retire
ment, he is asitatinS the people with an
tl-imperialism, anti-trusts and the like
best that he can to rally Democrats, Gree
Silver Republicans. Popuiists, and voters
Of all shades of political differences around
his standard, that he may be able, if
nominated by the Democratic party. to
beat the Republican candidate and " in
MS way INTO Inc w ilItc House.
What is the real need for this sg:tation?
The country is more prosperous tlan
ever before in its history. The people
generally are employed at living wages.
Our foreign trade is breaking :aa record
every month, and these r,,.ch-nle oted
questions of trusts and expansion are
rapidly solving themselves. Yet, Mr..
Bryan keeps on agitating. If he did not
do SO his occupation would be gone. the
people would forget him, and somebody
else would probably capture the Demo-
cratic nomination for the Presidency.
Yet. there is much to be said in Mr..
Bryan's behalf. For one thing his asita-
ton is not doing any particular harm
at this time, for as tho Wall Street specu-
lators have recently cut loose from the
Transvaal war, the business of the coun-
try has cut loose from Mr.. Bryar's asita-
ton, and everything is getting along about
as well as if Mr.. Bryan did not aGitate.
But a certain amount of agitation is nee
essary TO the well-being of this country.
Nature does not work altogether by calm
and sunshine: but it is necessary in her
economy that there be storms and Garth
quakes and upheavais, and every now
and then general shaking up This sort
OF agitation is necessary in the religious
world. and 1t is especially necessary IN
the political world. Indeed, we have about
reached the conclusion that the great
mission OF the Democratic party is to asl-
tate, to stir UP the people. and especially
10 stir up the Republican party and make
that party behave itself. Mr.. Bryan is
watching every act Of the administration.
He has the ear of great number of peo-
pie throughout the various States. and he
does not lose the opportunity to point out
the delinquencies Of the Republican adj
mimstration, and 10 put the people on
warning. Therefore. through his agita-
ton. the Republican party is kept more or
less on its good behavior, and Is restrained
In its tendency toward Capitalization, pa
tcrnaiism and monarchy. There is good
IL, all things, and there is good in AR.
Bryan's agitation. Let the good work go
or, say we.
Mr. Bryan is coming down to Virginia
to agitate the people In this State, and
We have no word of protest. We shall
cordially unite with our brother Demo
Gratis In giving himBa welcome to Rich
,nonl, and We shall esteem 1t a pleasure
and a privilege to hear him agitate.
GEO. ~. STEVENS. PRESIDENT G. s
O. RAILWAY.
ii performing the difficult task Of filling
the place made vacant by the resignati ton