The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-20
The DUTY Of Independence .


The Duty Of Inde dependence.
Tho rim s-Dispatch is heartily en- en-
4 toying the Democratic .'nlake-up party party
III Is gratified to find itself in sympathy
and cooperation With Its Democratic
brethren throughout Virginia and
throughout the Union. But the attitude
5of The Times Dispatch toward the tu1,-
& damentals has in nd sense changed. It It
is in synpa thy and in Cos operation Will
8its Demo cratic brethren because the
Democratic platform of 1904 is in all Ses-
I scntials a sound Democratic platform
+ $saanl and not tainted with popuIisnl,5 and the
nominee of the party is a sound Dem EN-
i ocrat. The Times Dispatch cares moth
ling for party except for the principles llt's
which the party represents and supports
1t cares nothing for a name except SO
far as it signifies principle or a set
Y OF principles There is nothing IN Al
M me- The; Democratic party was origl-t
nally called the Republican party. It
might to-day be called by another name,
and yet if it was the party Of true
+ Democracy it, would command the sup
i port 5of The Times ID ispatc IT might
10 called the Democratic party, and yet
;Sft might stand for principles and policies
which The; Times-D Dispatch could not con-
fscientiously support, and, therefore.
would not support. We commit our
conscience to no party. We believe in in
4 party organization, but whenever we
cannot affiliate consciento usly$ with our
party, we shall say so. The Timess Dis
patch will never put the party yoke Of
4 blind submission and servitude about its
Il neck, for it could not wear such a yoke
with honor to itself. or with justice TO
i the Commonwealth. a5
The principles of the Democratic party
ca mot change They are the same for
all time, for all true principles are abid-.
ing. The Democratic party Is mot a
Socialistic party, Besides always declar-
Ing for equal rtthts to, all and special
privileges to none; 1t is the party of In
dlvidualism, Of independence, of self-re-
liant manhood. True Democracy has no
ia whatever. form it may show its ugly
head. 1t has ever been our contention
+ that even as matter Of party policy it
was good sense for the Democratic party
to stand by its fundamental principles,
to make no compromise with Populists,
Socialists or disgruntled Republicans.
And whenever the party has made such
compromises and such affiliations, it has
lost character and it has lost more votes
from withina than 1t gained from with
In Its integrity.
To-day the party Is strong, virile and
.aggresslve. Its leaders are not on the
defensive; they are attacking tho Repnb-
lican record; they are attacking the Re
publican leader, and they are doing II
with the courage of those who are strong
In their. convictions and in their con-
sciousness of rectitude; they are doing
IL with that hope which springs eternal
in the human breast when man is hat
against what he knows to he wrong. we
ask our Democratic brethren with whom
We are now so cordially affilia,lng tc
ponder these things. We ask them t.
answer to themselves the question
q whether or not the Democratic part,
ID would to-day be in such position Of
strength and confidence. whether or no
it would have the respect and supper
which 1t now enjoys, II it had incor
porated In its platform plank declar
Il ing for government ownership and con
trol OF railroads and telegraph lines AM
coal fields. or any socIalistic doctrin
akin to this. There is disposition q,
the part oftsome 10 seer al what we cal
the commercial interests of- the Unite
y States. It were base to subordinate princl
pies to fommerciaiism; but commercials
IA Is not thingfto be sneered at II is CON
mercialism upon which We rely to max
lie IA great and prosperous nation. to Civ
ns a commanding position in tho worl,
to support our government and to SUI
ply the means of maintaining our mob
Institutions, The commercial interest
are Not confined 70 a few rich men he,
and there. Every thrifty dntsrprlsir
eitigen9sis part and parcel ~ the con
b, nercial body. There Is virtue in con
Ny mercialismy II implies thrift and indu
* 4 Try and enterprise and II ID one OF II
b greatest forces of 5S.onserya kisn AZ Cor