The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-12
THURSDAY, JULY l., 1900.
CONSERVATISM AND DEMOCRACY

Argument in politics is method of
making converts that Thomas jefferson
discredited greatly. 81 never discuss poll
cal questions with one who does not agree
with me-, said AR Jefferson, for / only
thereby increase his opposition, and there
is no need TO discuss them with one who
does agree with me, therefore / abstain
from discussing them at all.
s This may be true of fanatics and parti
sans, but it is not true of that great mass
Of American citizens who with open
heart and fair mind seeks earnestly to
discover the right, that they may be
guided with justice in their political life.
The history of American politics shows
10 a wonderful degree the conservative
force of the Democratic principle Of gov
eminent There have been in this country
no wild and extraordinary revolutions
effected by the ballot. The people as a
nation have shown discrimination and
judgment in entering any new and ex-
traordinary course OF action With the
exception of the black page of recon
structlon. when the country was still in
famed with partisan passions. when the
South was muzzled. when the opposition
party was in a hopeless minority legisla-
4ion has been characterized by a due re-
gard to the rights and interests OF the
country as whole.
In the week just past The Democratic
convention met and assembled at Kansas
City with The foregone conclusion that
the man who had already received over
half of the votes of all the delegates from
the various States would inevitably be
nominated as President. But it was not
believed that free silver at l6 10 / would
be given a specific and dominant position
in the platform. That it did receive his
position is due solely TO the over-master-
ing personality of Mr.. Bryan.
1t is not our intention to discuss at
present why he was able by his own in
diyiduaIity to force an unwelcome issue
on the platform committee But we do
wish in the name of Democracy to pro-
test against an editorial which appeared
in the New York Evening Post of Mon
day last a paragraph from which is
follows:
Moreover. il is Organism Intensified
which is offered this time. The sudden
taking UP of the young and unknown
Sebraskan, four years ago, by conyen-
1ion which had lost possession OF its
senses seemed like display Of emo
1ional insanity, for which time would
work a cure. The deliberate endorse
unent of his candidacy for the second
time without the slightest opposition
from any quarter. means chronic in
sanity The impression of hopeless lu-
macy Is deepened by the blindness with
which the gathering 'roaffirnled and en-
dcrsed' the principles OF the crazy plat
form which was adopted four years ago,
and especially hy the Federation Of its
demand for financial system out of
touch with the rest OF the civilized world,
8 with 1G TO a. its cornerstone
No. one who was present al the Kansas
city Convention can doubt but that the
INSANITY was of the aberrational type. if
it existed at an. For The public has taken
TO heart the lesson learned from the facts
OF the past four wears, Prosperity, high
value for wheat. good wages, cheaper
necessartes haze stood as mute but in
exorable and ineonuoyertble weaknesses
TO the unsoundness of the Free Silver
advocates Nowhere have these truths
sunk deeper than in the South, which
is NOW leaving its character as a purely
agricultural people and stridIng forward
as great competitor into the iron. cot
ton and corn markets of the world
Ny. Rryan's personal views on free
silver were neither desired nor agreed to
by the South. and although he was able
10 force his personal preference upon the
convention. there Is re doubt bur in the
South 3, least the, great underlying prin-
ciples of Democracy are strong and sure
end VIII inevitably shake themselves free
from passing faiiacies.
The statement on the part of The Even
ing Post if nncontradlcted. would leave
81 the impression that The convention of the
Is Democratic party Of 1863 was in its essen
& 1ial characteristics carried away by the
saans revolutionary spirit that in 1886