The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-10

'Tf you are to nominate man be-
cause he Is eager to be President, you
will not name Judge Gray. There are
other candidates who want this nonii-
nation more than he does.
"If you are to nominate the man
whom you personally love the best.
perhaps you may nominate some other
candidates: for am not unmindful OF
the personal devotion which delegates
here present cherish for other candt-
dates But the question we are now
to decide is too important to our party
and our country to be decided because
of personal preferences.
1.-THE Republican party has been IN
power too long. The government has
grown corrupt, extrayagant and auto
cratic, and the prosperity OF the people
has taken unto itself wings and flown
away. Free institutions exist in order
that at such time as this the country
may peaceably change It's rulers and
change its policies.
Entering on political campaign In,
which victory or defeat means so
much, we are now to elect the politi-5
cal chieftain who shall carry our b,tn-
ner and marshal our forces. If the
country were III a great war, In which
a decisive battle was to be fought. and
the duty fell upon me to choose the
general who should command our
country's army IN the field, would
not dare to put In command the3gen-
eral whom loved the best nor the one
who was the most eager. Neither
would you. The responsibility would
be overwhelming to choose the SOL
dier whose genius for. war, shown by
his record and experience, gave the
best prospect OF winning victory.
You would not hesitate to refuse
promotion and opportunity to your
own brother II there We're available
another soldier. who gave greater
promise Of winning the fight.
Lay Aside Personal Preference.
"In like spirit ask you to put aside
all personal preferenceB.$ and to choose
calmly and prudently the Democrat
who can most surely win Demos
any one OF the candidates suggested
may be able to win Eat the polls II
hope so. But our plain duty is to
nominate not a candidate who may
win. but the candidate who can most
surely win. We contend for too great
a prize to take any unnecessary
chances OF defeat.
'Our candidate must be one who can
command the support Of our party, and
at the same time attract the support
OF independent citizens who arc not
strict party men, We may as we'll
face the fact that a majority vote in
this country is always made up Of
tho party vote, reinforced by thevotes
OF large body Of independent cit.
liens.
Hence successful candidate for.
President must do more than hold the,
loyalty OF his partisans. He must, in
addition, command the confidence and
win the support Of people who caro-
nothing for party. Party opinion is q
great thing, and must be considered;
but public opinion Is n greater thing,
and must be obeyed. Nominate George
Gray, and public opinion will say that
we have proposed a man whose Intel.
lectual and moral stature towers to
the standard set by the greatest and
wlsest Presidents In our history.
Gas to the group of States on the
Atlantic Connecticut, New
York. New Jersey. Delaware, Mary
land and West virginia--there Is no
doubt that George Gray is far away
the strongest candidate that can be
named. After all, these are the States
In which our great political battle
must be fought and won or lost. When
did the Democratic marty ever come
within hailing distance OF victory
without CARRYING those States? 1t
would be wanton reclslessness to plan
10. campaign which abandoned the
chance of carving those o,d-time
Democratic States In the delusiye hope.