Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-11-26
1.-The Mystery Of 1903"
Norfolk virginian-Pilot.

~NSAAVAN FhBtul8u-FlOI-
MIR. Bryan's newspaper, The Com
moner, has determined to solve the
Mystery of 1905" and invites the Co
operation of its readers in every part of
the country. 1t asks them to answer
the following questions:
Did the Democratic party make
losses IN your county and precinct? IL
so, to what influence were such losses
due?"
What course shall reformers adopt
for the futurel
Can the Democratic party hope ever
to gain control of the Federal Govern
ment?"
Answers to these questions must be
brief and to the point. the writing must
be plain, the tone must be respectful.
and the language Don-libelous and free
from epithet. The names of the writers
will be published except where their use
Is forbidden, and this symposium, &" we
are told, will be cont lued from week
to week, covering sufficient time and
space in which to clear up ''The Mys-
terry of 1882
The Virginian- Pilot shall not con-
tribute to the Commoner's 'scrapbag,
but we do not mind throwing out few
hints in a general way which may serve
to illuminate the past and safeguard the
future.
The Democratic party for the last
fourteen years has been a party of op-
portunism, filter, wobbler, scarcely
staying in one place long enough to be
counted. Policies have been given the
Importance which is due only to princi-
pies and men have been glorified above
measures. Democracy is a fixed and
immutable faith, with a settled creed.
The Democratic party has wandered too
far and too often from the standards of
that faith, and between old doctrines
and new theories, the worshippers have
failed of a common rallying point and
so lost cohesion. Here / stand" has
been exchanged as a shibboleth for
where am at. The house has been
moved from rock foundations to shift
ing sands, the people have been taught
to doubt for what the party stands, or
What use it would make of power if en-
trusted with control of the government.
The party has had no definite objective.
has followed no coherent and consistent
purpose 1t was ready now to be alb
sorbed in the embrace of Populism and
then to accept the gospel of Democracy
as expounded by Saint Theodore. 1t
has wandered from the beacon lights of
established precedent and bumped I'D
against the shoals of heresy on both
sides of the channel. Finally having
thrown both chart and compass over
board it has brought up on q lee shore.
after half the crew had taken to the
boats, and it is from the dismayed pilots
that the anxious queries come-"How
did it happen? How can we get the
ship atioat and start for the haven
where we would be?''
The answer is not very far to seek.
First, jettison the craft of the perilous
lumber with which she has been freight
ed down. Second, when once more
aswim, put her on the ancient course
and strap her helm down to that. Pur-
sue no routes not prescribed by the Con-
stitution. Adjure all short cuts and ex-
perimental lanes. Follow no lead. Nail
the ancient colors to the mast and sail
straight on without veering to right or
left to pick up passengers from strange
vessels. Become known again as "Old
Reliable" Shake off the reputation of
a derelict and floater on the sea of poll
tics, steer by the needle and not by the
weather vane. The country will not
embark its fortunes in the ship until the
motto of any port in a storm is dis
carded.