The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-30
Communicated
Mr. Bryan on the Duties Of a Citizen.
To Tho Free Lance.


10 Tho Free Lance.
Mr. Bryan In his Fort SCOTT. Kansas,
speech said that no patty had claim
upon % citizen except az q means If
promoting his welfare. AL, Intelligent
persons must admit that this doctrine
~ Mr.. Bryan Is sound Every voter
should compare the result % party POI
icy and vote with the ono that estab.
fishes It's claim IS the best 60 promote
the individual aud pablo wolf-re-
that ia the only sure test The states
men OF the different parties are, in the
main. equally honest In their desire 60
promote che prosperity Of the country,
sec that facr does not prevent one
psfty's principles from being detrimen
tai 10 progress. md another party's
principles being helpful CD that oud
All political economy IL experimental
until tued IN the balance OF actual
experience, aud the last seven years
four Democratic land three Of them
Republican, homogeneous. furnish
for the fret timo IN moe han third
Of century, the opportunity for thu
people 90 contrast the practical working
- the policy Of the Democratic ana
Republican ideas OF government
The history Of the f0ur years, 1893
20 1897. is about the same al over the
land. Take Richmond Va, as lu illus
rration II had its huudrods Of vacant
houses; no increase Of population dur
nc those years, It's manufact0fies
either shut down or worked on short
time, consequently idle people and
numerous appeals TO charity for aid.
lt also had its many very many. fail
ures Of business men whose names fof
enterprise and wealth had been house
hold words. all caused by an honest
yet mistaken public policy
Overwhelming testimonies prove
that those yeas OF misfortune have
fed But one incident alone 10 nee
essary 60 emphasize the fact: Last
year the prosperity IL Richmond wa
s0 great that 10 attracted the presence
u the President If the United state.
not o. witness some Brilliant civic or
military pageant, but 60 share IN thc
celebration Of q great industrial event.
and % see the products Of one Of that
city's magnificent Inulacturing
plants and although as is always the
case 10 a Presidential year, certain
lines Of trade are haltlng, yet all feel
that this Will be only temporary. pro.
yded no change be made IA the policy
which has proved 20 DO the Fight one
90 give rs good times.
Vlfginiaus are as sensible az any
people on earth and kn " the cause q
the prosperity Of the lass three years.
and If all those who would be grieved
% o change IA the present policy would
discard sentiment and vote az they feel.
oar State would give a big majority
sgainst the possibility Il legislation
changing tho present helpful laws,
and ihat q change would hurt the
country does not need stronger testi
mony THAI is furnished by many OF the
most practical statesmen 10 the Demo-
cratic party. Hear the ex.Demooratic
Mayor and Congressman that great
business man. Hon. Abraham Hewett,
when be says the election Of Mr. Bryan
hostile as he is 90 a sound financial
system, would cause almost irIepa.
rable business calamity. How do we like
the picture? We had it not long ago.
Do we want 10 again Men OF Virginia,
what is Mr. Bryan to u that we should
make such sacrifice just 20 crafty
his ambition 60 be Presidentg Shall we
SOutherners never know our friends
until they die: Did we not regard Lin
coin as an arch enemy, and after his
death we said he was a well-Wisher
aud friend Of the South: Did not the
South turn away from Grant at q time
when We needed such q friend, after
his generous treatment at Appomattox?
Does not Mr. McKinley's firm adhe-
renee to principle on economic questions
appeal TO u.s. containing as they do
principle vital 10 the prosperity Of Vir.
GINA (prOtection TO our raw materially
This is up building all our cities and
towns, increasing our manufactures
and thereby increasing the demand for
labor. which creates memo demand
for all farm products. And ii regard
for our material welfare does not suffice,
and a touch OF nature, MI king all OF Us
Oonfederates akin, is needed, we should
remember Mr McKinlcy's bold decle
rations OF friendship for the South and
his oxidation Of Loe. Wheeler, Kosser
and many other Oonfedsretes living,
and his touching offer Of homage and
care for the Confederate dead
O. e. Brsqdou
Fredericksburg. Va. oct 25'h, 1900