The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-31
MORE aHARMoNY TALK

MORE alIARMONY TALK
The Danville Register. in referring to
the harmony talk in which the Nor
folk virginian-P1lot, the Charlotte OBJ
server and The Richmond Times have
been recently indulging. says:
1t is q good work, IL they can carry
1t to happy conclusion. II we may be
excused for seeming intrusion, we
would suggeH that to secure smooth
sailing, there should be no ordinations
and recrininhtions; no charges on the
one eide abou. irregularity. party trea-
son and desertion and mono on the 9TH
er about frreg.llarfIy and ueachery, only
q little less apparent in Che division of
electors In North Carolina and elsewhere
between Democratic and Populist vice
tpresidsntia candidates. or course, we
plead guilty to ono OF these ofrenses
against party fealty in that past era Of
unhappy confusion. but which one does
l not matter now. It Is not thing that
i ws care to squaoble about. Each side
IS prepared to make ugly charges and
Invest them with plausibility. II one
3 side sinned In its refusal to acQuiesce In
the will OF the dominant element, that
element sinned likewise in its conccs-
4 sions for the sake Of fusion, involving
partial abandonment of tho Democratic
nominee for second place on the ticket.
( to whose undivided support every mem
fber Of the Chicago Convention was
j, pledged md In honor bound. So each
side has something which Il may bring
itself to condone and may ultimately for
fEet. Each side has faults which should
tbeget charity for the faults of the other
| The concessions we make to others for
lr> NJ co-cnes,a tim should be
!, willing to make among ourselves. What
I'VE commend as a virtue In others we
cannot consistently condemn in our own
faouschold Neither side is called upon
ito make as large a concession for the
sake OF harmony in the party as has
been made for the sake Of alliances with
discordant outside elements Laying per-
sonal ambitions aside and putting the
country's welfare above everything, there
is no reason why Democrats should not
unite upon the time-honored principles
OF the party and move forward in the
patriotic fulhllment of the party's mis-
sion.
We assure our esteemed contemporary
that it is no intrusion for 1t to come to
this makeup party. We give the Regis
ter cordial welcome. and are glad that
it has come The Register, under its
present management, has been a strict
party paper and was one Of the most en-
thusiastic supporters of the Democratic
ticket in 1900. But the Register is fair
minded and this review OF the situation
above quoted is eminently fair and ju-
dicia1 When gentlemen once deter
mine to settle difficulty and be friends
again they never go over the ground and
rehearse the trouble. The fact that they
have agreed to settle upon amicable and
gntiemanly terms Is accepted each by
the other as satisfactory proof that the
issues between them have been retired
and that they forget as well as forgive.
If the Democrats are going to make up
they should put their differences well be-
hind them. They can certainly not come
to a friendly and satisfactory settlement
SO long as they indulge in elimination
and recrimination," as the old orators
used to say.
TIE Registers article is prefaced with
some most sensible and patriotic remarks
on the true principles Of Democracy and
the aims Of the Democratic party. 1t
says that oil Democrats have much in
common and many bonds of sympathy;
that they are trained in the same school,
dmbued with the same principles and
view the mischievous tendencies of eX-
gsting policies from the same standpoint.
On the other hand. our contemporary
goes on. Democrats are like-minded. hold
ing In common their beliefs as to prevail
tng abuses, and united in their desires
for reform.
That is the true gospel Of Democracy.
Democracy is something deeper and
broader and nobler than any mere ques-
ton Of a monetary consideration The
Democrats of this country are those who
believe in the fundamental principles Of
popular government, which have been
from the beginning. They believe in in
dividual rights, in the greatest possible
liberty Of the INDIVIDUAL. and they are
opposed with all their might and without
compromise to government oppression or
corporate oppression. and to all powers.
public and private. which would tako
away from the individual citizen the
rights which Gcd gave him and which
the American Constitution guarantees.
Democrats can stand together solidly and
forever on those principles. and it is rid-
culous for them to divide on mere ques-
ucns OF passing policy.
It has already been demonstrated since
this little discussion was begun that the
Norfolk virginian-Pilot and the Danville
Register on the one hand. md the Peters
burg Jndex-Appeal. the Richmond Times
and Charlotte Observer on the ether. are
thoroughly "harrnonized" and would have
no difficulty whatever in formulating
platform Of true principles upon which
they could all gather in comfort and
work for the cause OF Democracy. This