The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-29
TUESDAY, MARCH %, 1904.
Bribery and Intimidation.

7srom tho day when Catliinc sought 10
h AZ, b,,nscifss.ttc leader IN Rome "
wholesale bribery and BY ln1' a.
aud seditiot,s speeches, there mas 'isso ~
bce, SO colossal an attempt TO iiitiil y
Inc strong and to bride the weak as e''o
,,,oscnt scheme OF William Il. Hearst
Ar Hearst has not exhibited any force
Of character Or Intellect, ana ms 2"lue-
snread notorlcts'a is due TO the tact NY ! =
,n hong lit sns great chain ofkpapers WIN
Inherited millions. and hired the oese
hrains 10 i,c had ITO aids him IN pu'pilshi.ls
,hcn At.firso, Mr Hearst was Regarded rtd
AS u young sanan with a rad a.. iie ''as
since discovered himself as young ,tE' man
.oyermastered by |. falacy. IL ms lag 'S'
vas to ruin sensational papers, ms 1alia '3s
& "a bclievc that to be notorious Is 70 De
s-,ont and To offer brides Is to secure
leadership. 1t would be Impossible lo u
a. sane man TO put into words Inc hs ,''
terica] frothings of which Mr.. E lea IS IS
raid hirelngs would have been guilty.
had any Republican or even Democrat y
dIstasteful to Mr. Hearst, attempted 70
,r,in. no presidthtia nomination by ad-i
vertiscment through his own papers
bought for the purpose, ard by Offering
a campaign fund Of a million and half
dollars.
No matter What Mr.. Hearsts motives
would have been in attacking snch
f course. his action would have been right,
fifor II one man may buy his way INTO
The presidency BY purchasing papers and
offering campaign furds, then why not
another? There are decencies in politics
which must be regarded, and the A rftel
can peoule have yet enough conservatism
and cfia1ta cter'sto make "A breach OF these
Fundamental laws an objectionable SIN.
.Ar#present Mr.. Hearst has gaired some
little metallic applause from the paid
followers Of paid organizers, but nc mas
S not touched the hem Of the garment OF
the real Democracy Of this country IT
may well be that Mr. William Jennings
Bryan, in The jealous bitterness OF
disappointed ambition, will throw his
entire strength to Hearst believing
thereby that he will eternally disirte-
CRATE the Democratic party, and Will
leave himself at least the opportunity
tof gathering up the crumbs that fall
from the table which was once spread
for the principles Of local self-govern-
.mcnt, political purity and conservatism
But, thank Heaven, Mr., Bryan can wreck
only small part of the Democratic
party today. IL s..
The backb.me-"and strength of the
Democratic party IS in New York, New
Jersey and Tie. South. In the two former
States MrJ5ffearsts known life and per-
sonal rcpntatapA,c.as denounced on the
floor Of flfeesfioise Of Representatives.
would make, his candidacy an impossible
credited leader and Mr.. Hearst a pre-
posterous candidate. We of the South
know what true Democracy stands for.
We have the great and ennobling exam
pie of the many leaders who have made
the Democratic party great and national,
and 1t Is not credible that the Socialists
and Populsts of few Western States,
combired With the bought delegates of
:ihopeiessly Republican States. can make
any real impression against the good
sense. the good morals anu the real
Democracy Of those States in whose
shands tho fortunes OF the Democratic
party finally rest.
Mr.. fIearst's candidacy Is an insult tc
tho intelligence and character OF The