Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-04
OURSELVES AND THE TIMES.


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OURSELVES AND THE TIMES.
Under a caption, In which its takes
broad liberties with Paul's Second Epis-
flo to the Corinthians-garble the In
junction of the Apostle as it sometimes
does the language Of its contemporaries
IN order to make it fit its argument-the
1.ichmond Times CT yesterday essays to
reply to the Dispatches article Of the
exy before touching the latter's relation
10 the Democratic party.
Il we had not had previous experience
nth its methods. 1t woald be amazing
to us how SO pious a contemporary as
lns Times would appear to be. can over
ooe or ignore fact. when It is to Its
advantage, or serves its purpose to do
go The Times says it did not provoke
ihe discussion now on between Itself and
the Dispatch. That is distinctly not so.
AS everybody knows, the Dispatch was
quietly going about its own business.
without thought OF the Times. when the
latter, without a provocative word from
thriving to put us in false light re-
specting the publication OF the Wise let
ter. We submit it to our professional
brethren throughout the land II that is
not bad case Of peanut Journalism,
The Tmes's object could not have been
other than to hurt the Dispatch--that,
/ TOO, when tie two papers were at peace
sxf>S t..14l a.,
Times always has at hand a scriptural
text-epen though it may be n1isGuoted,
as in this fnstance-with which to attempt
to justify Its various and sundry policies.
professions. and performances.
For the rest, the Times begs the ques-
designed to confuse the pubic. Here it re-
sorts to insiauations; there It travels far
Into the future, and would have US COM
nit ourselves on propositions that are
purely Hypothetical as yet, and whose
practical naturalization would seem ut
terly discredited. These tactics are anus
ing to us. The Times. In it's ''unsopIns-
I ticatedness,' would try to make the pub
lice believe that we are as lacking In
conanone sense as it is wanting in fair
ness.
First, our contemporary wants to know
t'if the present owners of the Dispatch
. did not in 1896 also refuse to support
Bryan and free silver. if, indeed. one of
them did not, in signed letter, after
wards made public, declare that he would
cote for Mckinley. and advise his Demo-
cratic friends to do likewise
That question is put with the Times's
usual disingenuousness. Its purpose is
clearly to mislead. as will ne obvious to
any discriminating person. The Dispatch
is a stock company, and has number
Of stockholders lowners). We who control
the papers editorial columns are not res
ponsible for their opinions; nor are they
for ours.
Next the Times asks: If in the year
1904 the National Democratic party should
again declare In favor of free and unlim-
tied coinage OF silver at the ratio Of IL
I to i. and nominate William j. Bryan
the candidate. would the Dispatch dc
asst did in 1896 and in 1900, and give that
platform and candidate its cordial and
,inuualified support" Also, the Times
IS ANXIOUS TO be Informed whether
The Dispatch would favor govern.
men ownership and operation OF
the anthracite coal mines. should the Ma.
Nonal Democratic platform declare FOL
atpolicS, as didthe New York State Dem
scraiic platform. The Times knows as
rYell as we do that Mr.. Bryan has re.
,eatedly announced himself out OF the
race for the nomination, and that the
Democratic party has taken him at his
werd. It is as fully aware as we arr
that the free-silver issue Is dead. and
shat that fact IS accepted by the over.
whelming majority OF the Democratic
party. II knows as well as We do tina!
the eoal-1nine ownership declara.
ton in the New \ crls platform
was a piece of demagogic bun.
combe, which was denounced by alnaos,
every Democratic. paper in the country
and that there is about as much chance
OF its being Incorporated in the naiona
platform as there IS. tina; the party vii
favor union OF Church and State
and the Reputation of the Declaration o.
Irdendence. It would be equally rea,
sonable for us to ask the question
whether IN the almost impossible contin
genc.es it oonjnrss up the Times wou.s
Eenounce M. Bryan. the platform. and
ths majority Of the party, as it did i.
tbs campaign OF 1886 Of. remain siien,
6 Il aid 1n the suceeeuinE campaign. ant
thus srdsapor ia hold With hsshare AMI
81 1asn with The Aonnda
Ats besfan zlsttye The T,l1sl
6 sut = Aaa. -.