The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-22
1861 90 HsavN 1vdIad
DEMOCRATS AGREED.

1t is Interesting 10 The Times to note
that several esteemed contemporaries.
which only n few days ago We're
soundin. the praises OF Mr.. Bryan. and
exploiting him as The greatest living
Democrat ard Insisting that the true
test Of Democracy was loyalty to MI
BRYAN aud belief in the financial doc
a1-ine which he preached. are now
singing quite another song. FIRST
among the foremost Of these news
paJperS is ollr esteemed neishbor. the
Dispatch. and we have been recently
employing some Of our spare momelfrs
in looking through the files of the Dis
patch of 1896. and reading in the edi-
rerial columns its high tributes TO Bry-
an and free silver and its denuncia-
lion Of all Democrats who did not sub
scribe 10 such sentiments. But the
Dispatch now says that the free-silver
Issue is dead, DIT hopes that Mr.. Bryan
will never "a gain be the nominee OF the.
party. and it thinks that that disun-z
guisheti gentleman should proclaim.
without delay his purpose TO retire
ilreroeably from the candidacy for
leadership and take in the next conflict
lieutenants part.
How 1ueasonable that would have
been regarded only Il few years ago.
But sc the leading Democratic papers
of the country had taken that stand
before the last National Democratic.
Convention was held. if they had then
come out boldly and sand what they
are now sayins-tllat free silver Was,
an impossible issue and that Nh BY
an was not the man 10 lead the party
the convention at Kansas City would.
probably have taken a very different
turn. A genuine Democratic platform
would i'll al. probability have been
adopted. David 3. HILL would have
been nominated by reclamation and
the party would have had Il splendid
chance to beat Mckinley and Hanna
There were some Democratic news
papers which took that view They
insisted that it was suicidal for the
Democratic party 10 so into the light
again with Bryan and free silver. but
they were snecTed 1T and denounced
as traitors 10 the party and aiders of
The Republicans.
In recalling these facts we do not do
SO for the purpose OF clarifying those
Democratic newspapers and leaders
that have not changed their views, nor
of chiding those who lave changed.
We desire simply 10 emphasize the
-, IaS 1Aanfa
change in public sentiment within the
mast few wears and that there is now,
So far. as NE can discover, no subStan-
1ial difference between Democrats. 1t
seems TO us that they are more nearly
sn ae,cerd than they have been for ten
years, and there ought 10 be no diff
fic,ilry whatever in reuniting the party
and bringing together the mighty hosts
of Democracy in this country
AS for Mr.. Bryan, we cannot see that
he is called upon TO come out and make
declaration that he Will not be a
candidate four years hence. If he
should make such q declaration. il
would have very little effect Those
who wanted TO believe il would be-
lieye ii, and those who did not want
to believe il would not believe it, aud
there the matter would stand. Mr.
& BRYAN cannot say what he will do foul
wears hence. He may change his
views as Others have done and SHOW
himself in the meantime TO be a great
Democrat and the logical candidate,
and The man OF all others TO lead th,
.,arty TO victory. u no knows Strange
saiinrs happen iii politics. as ne hass
lust pointed out, and it would be idle
for ar. Bryan or any either party mai
10 come o.rt ut this ldme and say Niia,
he VIII do or what he Nsll not do il
the campaign Of 1901
we sometimes have very grave
doubts as 10 whether or moi Air-#Br,yal
wanted to DE the llarty s candidate las
year This may seem starilius g
so,ne, hut N is not. when you come e
Hi ink &c II. altogether unreasonable
III. RryAr must have known. 2 s. ai l'
rte he ~ 80 advised ly party lead