The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-26

lot OF PEOPLE out Of the party, for 1t is
certain that many would decline to pledge
themselves to support the next Demo-
cratic nominee for President three years
In advance OF the convention"
rho Greensboro Telegram is inclined to
agree with Tho Times Dispatch.
THE attitude Of Democracy" says the
Telegram, SHOULD be to give the voter
all reasonable freedom and not, by pro.
cess OF too strict elimination, get rld OF
votes that may sooner or later be graveiy
needed. In other words, 1t seems that
1t would be a wise policy to give the re-
fractory a little rope before invoking the
party whip With n little more freedom
TO be independent, might not the result
BIO that there would be less OF q desire
to 20 counter to the wishes OF tho ma
jority Of the party? Tor we do net
doubt that often times n man estranges
himself from fellow Democrats out OF q
sense Of resentment rather thar Il sense
OF duty. And, to consider another Phase
OF the subject, 1t is probably true that
many lay themselves liable to criticism isl
for not being n true blue Democrat VIII
out due cause. For instance we think
that some consider too lightly the claim
that the National Democratic Conyetl-
ton has on them and refuse to sanction
by their suffrages the acts of that great
body when they might just as well DEFER
To tho wishes of the mnjorlty-a thing
ono can dowthout sacrificing III the least
his own personal Views and opinions
While the party should be charitable and
forgiving as FIR us 1t cal, reasonably
DO so, the would-be recalcitrant should
look we'll before he leaps.
Tho Charlotte News says
1T was asking too much of the voter IN
the city election to support all nominees
OF the party, national or otherwise, VINO
nrc nut IN in the future. 1t was u case
Of carrying the thing too far, ana me
committee did the wise act to modify It's
original, ruling.
Does not this discussion show IN Itself
thnt there has been q change IN polltlca,
sentiment in tho South? Time was when
no Democrat would hesitate to pledge
himself in advance, for 1t was necessary
for white Democrats to stand togcth1e1r.
Time was when no Democratic newspaper
would tolerate anything like independence
On the part Of the white voters. When'-
ever a white Democrat came out as an
4.indcpenhent' he was consigned $then
and there to the ranks OF the Republi-
cans, ana into those ranks he usually
vent. But glory to God the situation
has changed ,The black cloud no longer
y 1 n !, -.
hangs over us md white men are now
FREQ to think and vote for themselves and
TO make their own party affiliations with
ont fear or hlndrance. This political
emancipation is q blessing to the South.
& Wc say TO our North Carolina contenl-
porarles that Tho sArines-D Dispatch has
simply been warning tho party leaders
IN Richmond against q manifest DISPOSE
ton to apply the party lash. We have
told them that under the new reglnic the
crack Of tho party whip is apt to drive
out of the party moro men than 1t VIII
drive in. We think It good policy TOT
the local committee to do what 1t can
to encourage Democrats to vote III lle
local primaries, and we think it bad policy
for them to mako the terms so ooice-
tionables as TO keep many Democrats away
from tho polls. Our North &c Carolina con;
tcmporaries arc also informed that thu
local primary in Richmond is to be hello
under a planadopted by, tho last general
convention OF the Democratic party OF
Virginia, and the plan provides simply
that the voter in a, primary shall shat pledge
himself simply to support the nominee OF
nominees Of that primary int hes:ensuins
general election. Is 81