Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-25
WEDNESDAY,. FEBRUARY 25. 1891.
Plain Talk.

We have not read IN long time another
letter 80 outspoken a. that of Hon. John
q. STILES BLACKBURN. of Kentucky, which
was printed in the Dispdtch OF Yesterday.
Recently in writing about Messrs CLEvR-
LAND and HILL, of New York, We said that
IL would be inexcusable presumption In
them TO assume that the next Democratic
candidate for President of the United
States was to come from their State. Mr..
BLACKBURN goes much further. He would
have the Democrats select the next nomi-
nee Of the Democratic party for that high
Office without paying the tribute that
New York always levies." In word, he
would have the southern and western
States stand up for their principles and
their rights, evidently being fully per-
suaded that the time has passed when the
Democrats of al the southern States could
be expected to vote for any candidate and
any measure who would save their States
from the sectional war the malignants are
always ready TO make upon them.
Por moro than twenty wears the noml-
nees of the Democratic party for the
highest Office in the land have been New
Workers either in fact or in effect. In 1863
SEYMOUR, of New York, was the nominee.
In 1872 GREELEY, of New York, if anybody.
In 1876, TnDES, of New York. In 1880,
HANCOCK, who really resided in New York,
though his nomination was charged to
Pennsylvania. In 1884 and 1888, CLEyE-
LAND, of New York. Personally we would
II q, ha nomination next
year Of a New Yorker. We have no pre-
judices which would lead us to object to
nominating any man for the simple reason
that he is a New Yorker, but we don't by
any means like 20 be forced TO consent TO
nominating candidate from that State.
"lf reasons were as plenty as blackber-
ries " we would not give them under COM
pulsion.
Mr.. BLACKBURN charges Mr.. CLEVELAND
with antagonizing his party upon the
silver question" This charge is true i'll
the sense that large majority of the men,
bers of the Democratic party in Congress
and out are in favor of opening the minis
of the country 10 silver upon the same
terms upon which gold is there received
that is to say, they are unwilling longer to
allow gold, which is never seen in the peo-
Piles hands. TO dominate silver, which not
only constitutes 1.-THE dollar of the dad
dies" but is the only metal money upon
which the masses of the voters and tax
payers are ever permitted to look. We say
Senator BLACKBURN's charge is true in that
sense. But il is not true in the sense that
any Democratic National Convention has
ever had the courage 10 declare in favor of
the free coinage of silver. We shall be told
that Mr.. CLEvELASD's anti-silyer letter of q
few years ago, wherein he spoke of silver
and gold parting company" lay at the
bottom of the reasons which prevented
such a declaration in 1883. No doubt this
is true, but still the fact remains that no
Democrats hands were tied up by any
such declaration either in 1888 or pre-
viously.
How will Mr.. WArTERsoN receive the
letter of the distinguished Kentucky Sena-
tor? We know not. How will the Demo-
Gratis of the country at large receive it?
Probably with regret that he deemed it
necessary to write such letter, just as
they regret that Mr.. CLEVELAND deemed it
proper to write such letter as his last.
"He who doubts is damned He who dal-
lies is bastard is now as years ago MIR.
SLAcKBURS's motto.