Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-26

No more significant demonstration has
been made this year than was that which
was witnessed in 0ttumwa. Iowa, on We'd
nesday last. whom the Democratic State
Convention renominated BoIEs for Gov
ernor bv reclamation and when silver
plank was put into the platform of the
Democratic party Of that State by unani-
nous vote and without word OF discus
sion at the same time that that party formu-
lated other articles and made them a part
of the Iowa Democratic creed.
ProhibitiOnists need not become alarmed
ut the anti-prohibition proceedings of the
Iowa convention. A State tax of $500 on
each license, besides county and city taxes,
promises comparatively good condition
of things. even from the Prohibitionist
standpoint.
The ballot system again
proved to be popular measure.
The proposition 20 elect United States
senators by a direct vote of the people,
and 10 nominate them by State conyen-
tions until the Federal Constitution can be
so changed as TO allow of their election by
the pOpulur vote Is a new and practical
suggestion.
The pension resolution is demagog1sm-
and worse. IL is a measure OF spollation
OF the southern States. We can only say
for the northern Democrats that they feel
compelled by Republican demagogism to
favor pension legislation. We of the South
must make due allowance for the short
comings of our northern allies. Like
LUTHER, they cannot do otherwise"
But the most significant utterance of the
Ottumwa convention was on the silver
question. Iowa is one of the States in
which il was assumed that the silver ques-
tion would be made 10 play second fiddle
10 the tariff question. The people there
were supposed TO be anti-tarlffites first and
pro-silvertes afterwards. This impression
seems to have prevailed up to the
time OF the assembling of the Democratic
State Convention, and to have been gene
raj amongst the wise fnaneiers who have
no sympathy with the masses, but who get
their opinions on all financial questions
from the capitalist class. In fact, the re-
port was sent of by telegraph that the
Democrats would probably recede from
their position of last year upon the SILVER
question. But when the decisive moment
came the silyerites swept everything before
them, and succeeded in having the follow
ing plank inserted in the Democratic plat
form 10y unanimous vote and without a
word of discussion" We quote it:
ave reiterate our demand Of one year ago for
the free coinage Of silver, and that 1t be made
full legal tender for all debts, public and private,
aud denOunce as unjust and dishonest the pro-
YisiOn OF the Law recently enacted allowing par
ties 70 stipulAte against payment In silver aud
silver certificates, thus setting up one standard
for the creditor and another for the debtor; enc
for tire poor man and another for the rich man.
Will the Democrats of Iowa favor the
nomination Of any man for the next Presi-
dent of the United States who refuses to
stand upon that platform Nay, verify.
il would bo to stultify themselves, and
open 10 the Republicans the path leading
20 victory.
Sugar bountes find no favor in the eyes
of the Iowa Democrats. A more unwise
and more unpopular measure could not
easily lie devised. We quote the auti-tariff
plank
We dcnounce the Mckinley bill, the motives Of
its authors and defenders, and the theory under
which It IL submitted for tho approval OF the
American people We demand equal 0ppOrtu-
mites for every section Of our country and for
every citizen; and we insist that every oppres-
aive feature Of the tarif be eliminated, To the
end that our merchant marine may be restored
aud the markets Of the world opened TO the pro-
ducing classes.
1.-The sugar bounty is not tarln; II II epO-
station Of the Treasury for special classes aud in
terests, which are no more entitled 10 be aided
by the Government than the farmers Of Iowa in
raising hogs or corn, or the pioneer settlers Of
the frontier in their hardshiDs. and suflerings as
tho vanguard Of civilization
The Dem ocrats of Iowa express their
sympathy with the Irish people aud with
the prosecuted Jews in Russia. In word,
their declaration of principles is one
worthy Of commentator and &c neral APP
prevail
We expect the Democratic utterances in
Iowa TO have their due influence over the
Ohio Democratic State Convention of next
month. As we said yesterday, events are
shaping themselves which viii open the
eyes of "some people"