The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-26
w. j, Bryan and The Times
Dispatch.

The delay in publishing the vigorous
communication of Captain calnm Pate.
Il son, which appears in another column
III Is due to no lack Of appreciation OF its
author or the forceful way In which he
handles his subject. Whatever Ca plain
$Patteson writes is written with such a
vim that whether you agree either with.
his premises or his conclusions, you
Y read with interest
The Times-D Dispatch is a newspaper
and 1T is obliged to print the record of
current events, and it properly makes
reasonable comment on subjects affect
4 ing srea, public interests. In this con
iseetion the publication of views OF Lead
ing statesmen and politicians and the
oy,iniov.s OF the contemporary press are.
necessary for the proper Information of
Cur subscribers. 5 ..5ss
K Mr. William Jennings Bryan has oc-
cup!ed such !, space in the public eye
and has been such a factor in Dem ocratic
4 politics that q failure 10 portray him
X faithfully In the recent crisis at ST.
Louis would have been dereliction OF
III duty on The part Of this paper:s We.
have for many years past respected the
feelings of the admirers OF Mr.. Bryan
30 fer as TO omit all offensive criticism
of him. although we did not agree with
those views Of his which he considered
most important. We were content to
let him run his own course believing
that in due time there would be a split
between him and the great body Of
Democrats, from the simple fact that
Mr.. Bryan dotk not...in our opinion.
accept those :ffundamental principles Of
individuality and limited government
which are the true criteria OF the DEM
ocratic faith. We have never pressed
our views, however, as strongly as We
might. becuase Democrats rely upon
principles and not upon men. Men fail,
principles are eternal. 1t was none of
our dong that Mr.. Bryan was aban-
dCned and even denounced in st. Louis
by some OF those who had been his
most faithful and distinguished follow
crs in 1896 and 1900 Neither Tillman.
nor Bailey, nor Daniel, nor John Sharp
Williams, nor Carmack consulted The
Times-D Dispatch or any OF its corps when
they openly fought Mr.. Bryan. and said
w that he was producing discord in the
X party instead Of peace. This was I'M
auestiolably notable event. and was
worthy not merely Of telegraphic report,
but Of editorial comment. These were
simply facts. and If the idol has been
" cast down by its own priests and wor-
shippers. II was no fault of ours,
How far Mr.. Bryan is aiding the cause
of harmony in the Democratic party and
keeping the clements clear and still for
successful navigation of the Demo-
cratic ship of state into a safe harbor,
has been recently illustrated by his
proposition. promulgated by himself at
the beginning of this canvass for State
ownership OF railroads and government
ownership OF telegraph lines such
A propositions coming from man like
MI Bryan on the very eve Of this cam
# Iaign We're certainly not calculated to
help JuGge Parker. Mr.. Bryan still as
sumes 10 speak for the Democratic
'fai ISa'Ns CIV ~ Jay up"it l.S principles ex
cathedra The dilemma Is absolute. and
all The followers Of Mr.. Bryan VIII have
4 t. choose whether lie is a wise and
proper leader for the party or whether
he is not. II he Is not leader ther
he should not assume TO be- II he Il
leader, then he is propounding Iii,
most important and serious proposition,
without any consultation with other rec
ognixed Democratic leaders In the mids
of u campaign when II was calculate,
to do the Democratic party great harm
and to defeat Judge Parker.
Whether Mr.. Bryan's course has bee
wise and loyal TO the Democratic part
or otherwise every intelligent pemoera
must Judge for himself,
IN y recent editorial the Norfolk VII