Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-04-22
OPINIONS OF TWO LEADERS,
Parker and Bryan Explain Different Views of
Jeffersonian Democracy

commanded. and the number or Cover
nors and State legislatures under our
control is surprisingly small
We may. however. recall that this is
not the first time that the party has
been In what seemed TO be a hopeless
minority. II was SO from 1860 To 1867
when great wrong which has been
far-reaching in its effects upon moraSs
and justice. left IL in a minority for
another eight years. But when its con-
diton was least encouraging. IL was
still the same consistent advocate OF
patriotic and manly policies as when
Il was in the fun plentitude OF power
during the first sixty years OF the last
century. Rallying about its natural
leaders-as courageous and patriotic
as any known 20 our political history
II was then. as always. it's virtue to Do
q national party. These leaders kept
themselves in touch with every Ques-
ton OF current interest I'm every ham
let OF the Union. Nothing American
was alien 60 them.
POWER OF THE PARTY AS A
MINORITY.
During the Civil War more than $780,
600 Democrats stood on each side OF
the firing lines OF the two great ar
mics which faced each other. all believ-
ing themselves right. On the morrow
Of Appomattox. they. the victors and
the vanquished had scattered 20 their
respective homes. all bent upon pro-
noting peace. all understanding each
other In their trials. all facing the
same great problems. In the foulest OF
all DAYS in our national life-those OF
so-called reconstruction-thes soldiers
largely recruited from other peaceful
patriotic men in the North. were found
voting together.
During this period there came 10 the
front in our national councils the greai
/ historic figures OF Thurman. Hendricks
Bayard. Seymour. Hancock. Mcclellan
and Tilden. In the face Of preiudices
and opposition. which might well have
daunted the bravest these men were
able 90 combat and 20 overcome that
sectional policy which at one time al
most dominated the whole country
| When. in spite OF aggressiOns. fairly
divided between the misuse of military
power. and deliberate. studied cOrrup-
| ton OF the suffrage. these men had
: been successful. they were reinforced
| by Lamar George. Hampton. Hill
| Vance. Morgan. Vest and many Other
strong and patriotic men from tbs
| South
/ ADDED 10 these leaders. VINO. IN th'
! field OF national politics. so nobly unit
| ed TO combat human passion at 10.
worst estate. we're hundreds OF thous
ands OF sturdy men in the North. who
| as Governors. members OF State Leg
/ islatures. committeeman OF everl
/ grade. and private citizens. carried thu
/ struggle OF free government down int
the smallest political divisions Of tn
| country. Everything was won eXcep
the presidency. in spite Of which Dem
ocracy was able from 1865 to 1855 q
keep at bay the enemies OF good viii
NO ROOM FOR SECTIONALIsM.
SO. too. there Is altogether too much
talk about an Eastern. a Western, {
Southern. or some other Democracy
when the essence of the party is IL.
national character and the entire alb
| sence OF sectional features. The con
troll OF the party machine IN one citl
or another, IN this or that State, o.
even in the country. is not matte
either important or interesting TO tn
great body OF Democrats.