The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-06-30
INSTRUCTIONS AND THE
PLATFORM.

The Richmond News-Leader, quot
ing from the New York Times. says:
The policy and the platform and the
appeal our New York contemporary out
lines are the components OF the rule hat
should control the action OF the Denver
convention, all Instructions to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. II the conven-
ton makes a declaration 20 harmony
with the Times suggestion, IL Il promise
the conditions the masses would 81 glad
ly welcome. aud Mr.. Bryan Indicates
lack OF harmony, he VIII be In rebeiii IN
against the party, aud no matter how
hidebound may be the instruction of any
delegation IL will be absolved from obey
Ing the mandate. In such a situation il
would be little less than a crime against
the party and the nation to nominate
him.
The above comes dangerously near
advising delegates to break away
from instructions and vote as the
situation dictates; and while at first
blush this is startling, yet we might
well conceive circumstances under
which such a course might be- pur-
sued In the interest of the party
The present condition confronting
the Democratic party goes "a long
way towards demonstrating the alb
soiute unwisdom OF sending instruct
ed delegations to conventions.
Since the Republican convention,in
It's platform, directly charged the
Democrats with favoring govern
ment ownership OF railroads, vast
number OF Democratic newspapers in
South and elsewhere and we observe
among them some OF our Virginia
country exchanges-are calling on
the Denver convention to hurl back
the charge as false by platform
declaration. Now, we unhesitatingly
lay down the proposition that tie
South is more interested in prevent
ing governments ownership" which
Is socialism pure and simple. than il
Is In bringing about the election Of
Mr.. Bryan, or any other man, and
the South, and Virginia in particular.
desires a fiat pronouncement against
II In the platform, or in lieu thereof
a candidate known TO oppose this
ism OF modern socialism.
Now, suppose Mr.. Bryan dictates
the platform, and that he refuses to /
take up the gage thrown down by the /
Republicans, thus by silence tacitly
admitting the truth OF their charge.
then we have our delegates in the
anomalous position of having TO
vote for a man who has refused TO
repudiate a policy obnoxious to
every true Southern Democrat. Tn
der such circumstances, and they
may present themselves, not even in
structions should cause Southern
delegates to place one man above
the good OF his section and his coun-
try, and Mr.. Bryan should be given TO
understand that the South is not so
welded TO him as to be ready to
swallow such doctrines. The folly of
our own convention having instruct
ed Its delegates becomes more and
more painfully manifest as the con-
vention draws near, but there is to
us feeling of satisfaction In remem-
bering that the city OF Fredericks-
burg and the counties adjacent
tSpotsylvania excepted), including
Stafford, Caroline, King George and
Prince William, voted against it.
Even though Yirginia's delegates
are instructed, they can do much to-
wards giving the party real Demo
cratic platform, and il Mr.. BRYAN
won't accept it, some one else can be
found.