Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-07
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER Z. 1891
The Issues Of 1uesday Last.


paper declaring that the silver question
was decided last Tuesday adversely TO the
white metal and another sound Demo.
cratic paper declaring that the only YER
dict pronounced by the people that day
was against protective tariff we feel at
loss to know upon what either paper bases
its affirmation. Let Us take Pennsylvania
for an example and see what her elections
mean. In that State the Republicans
achieved an overwhelming victory. They
routed the Democrats horse, foot. aud
dragons. viii anybody pretend to claim
that that victory for the Republicans and
disastrous defeat for the Democrats was
declaration OF the people OF Peunsyl-
wanna against tho free coinage of
silver? Ii was no such thing. IL
was victory for the doctrine
of protection. This Is not an after-the-fact
opinion Of ours. II the reader will turn
to the DESPATCH of Tuesday morning he
will find that we said that morning that
Pennsylvania was so much devoted to the
doctrine Of protection to American indus
tries that II might seem unreasonable to
expect Democratic victory in that State.
We say now. therefore, that it was nothing
but an old-fashioned protective-tarif vic
tory--or rather, an old-fashioned Repub-
lican victory--that was gained in Pennsyl-
ysnia last Tuesday. The $4,000 or 6O,00O
majority for the Republicans was de-
6ance to the Democrats and pledge in
the shape of votes actually cast that in
November OF next year, though all other
Republican States may drift from their
moorings. the old Keystone will be found
anchored safely within the Republican
party.
Facts are stubborn things. Platforms are
sometimes useful after an election. Let us
pee for ourselves the silver plank of the
platform upon which the Republicans OF
Pennsylvania stood during the campaign
which has Just ended in that State. Here
IL 1871
1--WE favor blrnetallism and endorse the &C
t!on Of the Fifty-hrst Congress In providing Tor
she purchase and coinage Of all the silver pro-
duced from American mines, and We recon-
mend such tariff duties will protect our coun-
Try and its currency from the debasement which
will surely follow II this nation Is made the
dumping ground for all the silver of the world"
What sort Of victory for the gold-bugs
can anybody find in a resolution which de-
clares in favor of the purchase aud coin
age of " all the silver produced from Amer
acan mines"f Why. the pretence of be-
lieying that there was such victory is
based upon nothing absolutely nothing.
The resolution is a silly one at best. 1t
shows the Pennsylyanians to be so de-
a. ha nt
and 20 have been so bent upon
making the tariff the one issue in
the then pending campaign that they
inserted in their platform plank in favor
of protecting American silver. These one
idea-d Republicans actually recommended
such tariff duties" as would prevent
this country from becoming the
dumping ground" for oil the silver of
the world. And yet we are to be told that
"silyer got d black eye" last Tuesday.
Wait and see. The silver men have al
lowed themselves to be quoted by such
professions as those made in Pennsyl-
wanna and other States, but they are not
alarmed. They know their strength and
will show il In good time--possibly not in
1881.
How many monometallists were elected
last Tuesday to the Virginia Legislature
Where is the newly-elected member who
does not stand with JOHN w. DANIEL upon
the silver question? For what party did
the tens of thousands of Alliance men work
In the late campaign? Where would the
Democratic party of Virginia be to-day If
the Alliance men. or silver men, had split
Of from that party9 How else was the
sub Treasury scheme ordered to the rear
than by the efforts of the Alliance men, who
made free coinage more important ques-
tions VIII not Virginia stand by her
senators? We several times pointed out
before the elections that it might be for
tunate for her that she had this year held
no State Convention and committed her
self 10 no creed. The result may be that
in 1892, as in 1876, her Democrats may be
put prominently forward to lead the way
20 victory in the presidential election.
"Old Virginia never tires" She is reliable
st all times and everywhere. She will not
allow mischief-mskers to put her sons in O
false position