Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-04-22
PARKER. OR "ANYBODYl"

PARKER, OR "ANYBODYl"
The Democrats are in "straights. ~
Hearst is aggressive, German is silent.
but watchful and dangerous. Mcclellan
is a shadow-a possibility. Bryan is
NIL Cleveland says ''No," and where
are they "at"? This now is the status of
once great and dominant and vigorous
political party. There was time when
1T meant something; when it stood for
something; when it represented some
thing; when it had plan and knew
whence it came" and whittier it was
going" Now, in 1904, after eight years
Punishment from power and authority it
as divided, and split into several factions.
There ls no real or substantial agreement
on any policy, SYSTEM plan or platform -
We are not afraid to reproduce the
foregoing, heading and all, from our
Republican contemporary, the Bristol,
Na', Ns'cs. The truth may hurt, but
no one can learn or profit by suppress
ing the truth. Let us face the truth,
and see if it will not make us free.
That the CITIZEN now may be
fully understood we recall its past
position In national politics: FIRST,
last and all the time" Democratic, it
5 took Cleveland the second time
Third nomination. with nostrils
= ee!ptched; Bryan the first time with
eclat; the second time as the nominee
against our wishes. Today we want
Neither of .hese, nor the personal and
conceited ideas they stand for, but
will support either to our level best
If nominated.
Feeling this way we raise obiec-
ton to the methods being pursued by
some of the leading State press.
They pose as Democratic organs, yet
openly say that if certain men (of
undisputed Democratic records and
against whom they particularize no
personal or official misdoings) be
nominated they will not support the
ticket Is this the doctrine that
Virginia Democrats have been taught:
or is it a new order of things, intro
duced by biased newspapers which
the fortunes of the State journalistic
field have cast to the front? Is it
principle, consistency or mere person
al production that wishes to dictate
the way for Virginia Democracy?
Surely not consistency, for Just
few days ago was an editorial in one
OF these Richmond leaders deploring
the fact that Capt. Gordon had been
retired from the Democratic mayor.
atty race because he had voted, as a
gold-Democrat, for Mckinley, ad-
ding that it was thought this old
feud had been buried and that Pal mer
ana Buckner (or Mckinley Demo
Gratis had been received into good
Fellowship. And almost on the same
breath our contemporary declared
against Hearst even if nominated.
on the grounds that he was a
Bryan Democrat If the appeal to
take back into the fold the Demo-
Gratis that 'strayed into Republican
ranks would avail, should they not
remain in the fold with those who
had never left it? We confess we
are very much tangled on the posi-
ton of the Times Dispatch and the
fe'cs Leader and do wish they would
let us know where they are cat"
and what they expect of us little
fellows that may be too timid to
desert ranks. 1t would seem that we
are between two fres-If the country
press does not line up in strict
fealty to the Democratic party. the
party is going to the demnition bow
vows; if it does so, then it may ex-
pect to be buffeted by the biggest
dailies for not falling down in wor-
ship to their leadership.