The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-07

York sun intimates that it is a move.
ment to forestall Bryanlsm and head
off Bryan. Is 1t? We ask for infor-
nation"
The News did not suggest that the
South commit itself to Southern man
for the nomination. It has consist
emily opposed the nomination OF any
nevertheless, believes that Southern
men should have as fair and Just an
opportunity to be favorably considered
in connection with the nomination as
men from other sections OF the coun-
try. The News protests against con-
tinuance OF discrimination against the
craftsmanship OF the South in the
councils of the nation or or any ma
tional political organization. 1t espe-
cially resents the disposition. on the
part of the national Democratic party.
while enjoyinv the electoral support
of every Southern State. to serenely
assume that the hateful badge OF
presidential ineligibility must cling to
our Southern men, for no other cause
than that they reside In this section.
So while resisting the idea that.
Southern man be supported by the
Southern States for sectional reasons,
no one is prepared to more vigorously
insist upon the nomination of a South
ern candidate IL he more fifty responds
to the demands of the occasion than
Northern or Western man, than the
News. We would favor his nomination
because of the force Of conditions, just
as we might favor the nomination of
New England Democrat, did 1t seem
that he were the highest and best eX-
creed that could be selected.
But while all this is true. our sug-
gestion did not contemplate man
movement" At this stage Of Demo-
didate Is the one whose record and
belief will best respond to the test OF
Democratic doctrine as defined by the
national Democratic convention. The
doctrine as the first and supreme con-
sideration of the hour. The choice OF
candidate should be dependent upon
such declaration-and thus partakes
therefore urged the Democrats OF Vir-
GINA as matter of political duty,
now when Generalization appears to
prevail in the Northern and Western
and with the hope that the South will
follow that lcnd-in boldly proclaim
ing what they conceive to be true
Democratic principles, and the manner
applied to present conditions-and to
expressly repudiate what they conceive
to be un-Democratic ideas. Our hope
is that such action on the part of the
bugle call to the Democracy Of the
nation-that it will serve as would the
hosting of banner that called the
faithful to It's defense-and that wheth-
defeat in 1905, 1t shall at least per-
form the great service Of saving the
Democratic party from hopeless chaos,
and perhaps a hapless dissolution:
we would have Virginia say in her
next State convention. and this the
splendid fact which we would see OBJ
tain. when the smoke of conflict lifts
from the presidential election of 1908.
To come specifically to our contem-
porarys question: Is our early con-
|vention suggestion based upon an idea
to forestall Organism and head off Mr..
Bryan? We answer, No. II the result
of that purpose flowers into decla-
ration by the convention. which is
plainly contra the principles enunci-
ated by Mr. Bryan as his own-then 1t
will. or ought to. operate to leave Mr..
Bryan entirely out Of the equation as
presidential possibility. But. under
stand us. We deem it the height OF
unwisdom to allow considerations OF
men to becloud the Importance OF doc
trines. We deem every gratuitous blow
aimed at Bryan, the man. by Demo
cratic newspapers, to reflect. a mistak-
en- policy. II we don't believe In what
Bryan teaches, then fight his doctrines
and let him stand or fall with the fate
of his doctrines. At this juncture, we
want n proDemocratic, and not an
anti Bryan, movement. II the former
| involves the latter, so be 1T. But don't
put the horse before the cart. 1t Il
needless to take up cudgels against
| any individual Democrat. Virginia
should fight, and the South should fight
for the supremacy of wholesome party
doctrines, let the chips fall where the!
may. So far as the News Is concerned
it has purposed to inausurate a ''prin'
4 ciples movement" and not one having
| paramount relation to the politica
| fortunes Of any man or set of men Ii
isthe United Stafes-I4ynchburp News