Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-28

The following IS from gentleman who Is
now m private life, but who in times past
held high Office. His political ssgacity Is pro-
verbal.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
As It's becoming fashionable TO discuss
the future 81 the Democratic party and us
platform. &C., will YOU allow greenhorn
from the rural districts a word? II you VIII
/ promise 10 try 10 cOndense what have 70
say into q few pitby paragraphs ~.
Boiled down and simmered, the issue IN
side the party for the past ten years or more
has been between wbskey and IRON. WINS
key won by capturing Mr.. Cleveland, ana
then Whiskey forced the issue iuio the Ds.
iional canvass, and was dis0'iTously deIcAeu
November 6, 1S6S, at the baloi-boX.
Now should not whiskey retire TO the rear
and iron come 10 the froniI
n Mr.. Cleveland and the party bad carried
out the platform Of 1884, not as interpreted
by Mr. Cleveland but As interpreted by the
people who elected him, aud abolished the
internalrevenue system as the party pro-
missed, ~ is the opinion in this neck OF the
woods that he would have succeeded himself
ss President oi the United States.
Mr.. Cleveland was elected on the platform
NJ 1881 without he aid Of Federal patron
azc. lie was defeated on the MllSbill
platform backed by The entire Federal
patronage. How can this be accounted Tor
except upOn the hypothesis that the people
prefer the platform Of 1884 20 that Of iSSSf
VIXEN the party departs from Democratic
principlcs n /, sure % get hurt The Mills
bin aud the retention o. the internal revenue
system were undemOcrtiic, hence The result.
The party i'm Virginia endorsed the National
platform Of 1854 aud carried the state. II
adopted the Rosuoke platform and carried
the State. Il endorsed the MIlls bill and the
retention OF internal revenue. and but for
cxttqncou, or some other kiud Of influences
brough, 10 bear in some Of the negro dis
tricis 10 would have lost the state.
II 10 pc trnc, as asserted by some Of the
press, that The party cannot return 10 the
Democratic principles cnunciaied 10 the pat
form Of 1884 AMI those Of TIE Roanoke pat
form. then the Republic ans are likely to re-
tain power ior many terms.
II coal and iron ore had been placed on
the free list, ~ was intended st first by the
authors Of the Mills bill, the Ninth district
would have gone Republican by 1000
to 500 votes. BY great pressure
brought 10 bear on The committee
from the iron districts Of the South
the committee WIS lOI ecu ~ i'hNV Nvdt
a7d IRON ore rs they were. This quoted TO
some extent and carried the southwest
Democratic by a small majority.
Another question OF importance in State
notifies il tie d.bt. ThCre IS an aDprehep-
eioR IN The plbhc mind that the party simply
acQuegced nj the Riddeberger settlement at
Lyuchburg, aud that II doe, not intend 10
carry thst settlement into effect. II IL does
not take decided steps 90 rCassure the PEG.
Die I'm this natter VI will lose the State il the
Republicans promise 10 take hold OF the
question.
Another question: Are the BeS1iusters,
who restored the party ~ pOwerin 1883, and
have held Il in power since, TO be treated Is po-
ltical vassals. mere hcWcrs OF wood, &c, in
the party, or shall they he treated ss the
EQUALS Of The FLndeT eiemcntI This cle-
ment received q niggsrdly recognition for a
short time after 1t placed the party in power,
but lalbcTly it has been ignored altogether.
This may be good policy, hut It IS doubtful
This element hiss no voice in the EXecu-
tive Committee. none In the State Commit
tee, no representation on the electoral ticket,
and none in the congressional delegation,
sc.
u the party sticks TO the principles OF the
Mills bill. 10 the internal revenue, does not
take decided steps 10 settle the debt on the ba'
SIS Of the Riddleberger bill, and does not
recognize the equality Of every element Of
the party, Its only bope OF success next year
VIII bethe cry Of NEGRO and Malone" a
victory won on principle VIII be worth inf
nitely more than a victory upon prejudice.
RURAL.