The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-09-28
FREDERICKSBURG, w., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 1901


the gold.standard system II signs did
not lie, many Of the silver element want
ed to make change in business all
around for the purpose of making some
money for themselves out Of the silver
standard system
II some rich and money-loying men
were making money dishonesty out OF
the gold-standard system steps should
have been taken to have had such men
impeached and punished. Bryan's rem
edy would have been worse than the
disease. To illustrate-the principles OF
.Ieiiersonan government are righteous,
but those principles are often admins
tered unrighteously because OF the fact
that the ones doing the administering
are unrighteous. In this monetary con
troversy war should have been made on
the ones administering. and not on the
system. Bryan and his ultra followers
seemed to have had three overruling pas
sions which were: Q) to get control OF
the government; (2) to do something no
one else had ever done, and (;) tofeather
their nests with some of the money they
saw going into the pockets of those who
had worked for and, in many cases,
earned it. In these respects they re-
mind this writer Of the ludicrous action
of one Of his cousins. At time when
feathers were high in price, meat scarce,
and the ways to fame few, Cousin A.
conceived the idea TO fire a large body OF
woods. in order TO get the feathers and
the meat OF the thousands OF snow-birds
that roasted in those woods. Besides
all ~ that he thought, in his childish
fan p.v. that such an original idea and ac-
ton would make for him a worldwide
an. favorable reputation lie did make
hi fire. which got away and spread
for miles and miles, soaring many women
and chil lren almost unto death and in
HI ting thousands OF dollars OF damage.
The snow birds few away. Fortunately
for the country Bryan was not permit
tel to make his much cherished fire.
This IL an issue-siver mOnOmetallism-
which should be forever buried.
I'D The manufacture and sale OF spirit
oIs and malt liquors should certainly be
curtailed by law. This writer does not
feel uncharitable towards the man who
can drink without drinking to excess,
because he-the writer-cannot drink
without carryingit toOfar, buthe thinks
some restraining action should be taken,
because OF the fact that there are so
many men afflicted like himself. Take
away the means of drunkenness and the
desire will, in a great measure, cease !;
put the means within easy reach and the
desire is increased ten-fold. Easy acces-
sbilty and otherwise bad environments
generally make the drunkard.
(e) MOI thern men brought the negro to
this country and sold him to Southern
men. The negroes were freed by the ar
bitrament of war. The Republican party
North, and the Democratic party, both
Nor tn and South, now want to get rid OF
them. The scalawag Republicans OF
the South want to keep them for
their votes sake. 1t seems to be the wish
of all sections and parties, excepting the
scalawags, to curtail the black mans
suffrage privileges. While, socially, this
writer requires the negro to keep his
place as a negro, still he believes in giving
him his legal and political rights as long
as he is a citizen of the United States
The negro is not responsible for being
here: he. in a state of savagery, was
brought here. The white aud the black
races are heterogeneous, and it is not
likely that they will dwell in the same
country in peace. Would it not be wise
and justfor this government to set apart
a territory of the United States compat-
ibIe with their nature, so that they could
emigrate thereto or remain here at their
pleasure
Well. the argument is closed. Shall
lovers of republican institutions divorce
themselves from the never-dyiug princi-
pies of Jeffersonian gOvernment2 God
forbid. For the Democracy to return
to first principles would be eclecticism
enough for the most exacting. Let her
alone for n while. Democracy had the
world from which to choose or select the
material for the foundation OF her repub-
lie house. Let her alonefor while. They
say that history repeats itself, and maybe
ere long the good Democrats OF this re-
public will cease to be tricked by political
tricksters and viii select their public
servants from the Marius Jones school
OF politics, which servants will conform
to ,Jeffersonian honesty and simplicity
Lord, let it alone this year also, till |
shall dig about it and dung it; and il it
bear fruit, well; and 't not, then e;eer tnat
thou shalt cut it down.
WALTER B, CHowNING.
Busby, Va.