The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-01
THE GULL DINSEH-pA1L."

1 We hear so much nowadays of the full
! dinner pail from the Republicans. while
| Mr.. Bryan offsets it with such fine and
| scornftl denunciation of those who put
! the dollar above the man. that il is about
1 time little common sense was applied to
| the matter. There are undoubtedly GER
| tain principles of government that are not
| 10 be yielded. whatever the eX:gency may
! be. Neither the flesh pots of Egypt. nor
| the full dinner pals of America are to be
| secured at the expense of the writ Of
| habeas corpus trial by jury the right Of
! an accused person to be confronted by his
accusers. and many other rights of the
citizen which pertain to his liberty and his
character OF citizen, and il any person or
party were threatening any Of their funda-
mental rights that relate directly 10 liberty
and freedom, the citizen should be deaf
to all appeals made 10 him by that person
or party. though those appeals were at
tended by more fun dinner pals than would
supply all the world with food in all time
TO come. But next in importance to these
IS the full dinner pail, for that implies ma
tional prosperity. Il implies sound finan-
cial condition, busy factories, busy rail-
roads, busy merchants. busy workirgmen,
good wages, active trade among ourselves
and with foreign peoples. The stump ora
tors often refer 10 political economy and
exploit their knowledge of Adam Smith
and John Stuart Mil. But what IS the
grand purpose with which political econo-
my concerns itself? Wholly and entirely
with how it can increase the wealth OF the
people. and most widely distribute amongst
them the comforts and Injuries which
wealth can secure. Whenever any party
threatens 10 take away the God-giyea
rights of the people, then, indeed, should
the people ignore the question Of meat and
drink and put that party down regardless of
cost and consequences Life itself is not so
sweet as 10 be purchased at the price OF
chains and slavery. Our forefa.hers did
not think of the full dinner pail when they
took up arms against the brutal doc
trine of taxation without representation.
Nor did the men of the South consider the
full dinner pail when they marched out
to resist the unwarranted invasion of their
territory by the Northern forces. But the
commercial question is not to be lightly
considered. for nations greatness depends
upon its commercial prosperity. We can
not have churches and schools and asy-
lu.ns and comfortable houses and other
great institutions without wealth, and we
cannot have wealth without trade.
Notwithstanding all the fine sentiment
involved in that ideal '.love in a cottage
ne never yet knew any such lovers that
were NOT signing for the castle on the
hill.
Those who pay no attention to the fun
dinner pail and fire their whole minds to
the rights OF man., are in danger OF
iapsing into the. character Of Dickens
Mrs. Jeliaby, who, with sia;ternly children
wrangling around her. down at heels and
grlawing crllsts and bones for dinner. kept
her fine eyes looking to Borioboola-Gha.
while studying out plans to aid the be-
n.ghted saNages there.
=--------------.-------------
DR. Depcw experience with the hood
lums at cah1eskln VII probably recall his
fost--prandtal speech In New York several