The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-13

Capital Gleanings.
wAsHNGToS. d. c.. Feb. 12.-lSpecial.l
Ex-President Clevelands letter reaffi. ming
ais antsgonism 10 silver has been the only
subject Of discussion at the Capitol to-day.
The Democrats thought Of nothing else Sen
tors and representatives gathered in groups
20 discuss the new phase Of the Presidential
race Of 1892. Among the silver men there was
tut single opinion. That was that Cley,-
snds letter had very materially diminished
ais chance Of getting the nomination. Many
f them, indeed most Of them went 80 far as
10 express the opinion that the letter has viz
;ually taken Cleveland Out of the race. Some
nf them are severe la their criticisms. Rep
.esentative Bland. Of Miss Jur is one If the
very foremost representatives Of the silver
sentiment. He expressed himself in the fol-
lowing emphatic manner.
Every one must soc that Mr. Cleveland has
made q mistake. This is the first time we
have heard from the Reform Club Of New
York. We have been under the shadow OF
threatened despotlsm controlling the elcc-
hons of the country. This club has been
dumb. II was not the East which rescued the
country from Capitalization and despOtisiu. An
alliance of the West ami thc South fought size
battle of freedom. They got no encourage
.Athl liOlA llt ltfiIlil ilU fA new 7 'iAs
Only when the money bags Oi Wall street
we're disturbed patriotic Indignation seems 20
have seized hold upOu tnel The free COIN
age Of siycris % Weston and southern measure
IN tnei ercs Oi freedom from tne thraldom of
Wall street Free elections and free coinage
60 hand in hand and 10 Inan can be elected
on the Democratc platform who is not IA
sympathy with that movement The farmers
If the West the NMthwes, and the SOutIare
solidlv bound together on this proposition
the freedom Of States, the constitutional
money Of our fathers, free silver and free
gold, and they propose 30 press The
aghting on that line. Even the State Of
Kansas denounced the Election bill rs q SEC
tiOnGl measure while the money bags of
Wall street were silent on the question.
Mr.. Cleveland 3 letter makes ms candidacy
ridiculous. He will nave no following west
Of the Allegheny mountains.
THE VIRGINIA DELEGATION.
THE TIMES correspondent obtained other
interviews, beginning with tine Democrats Of
the Virginia delegation:
Senator Barbour expressed the opinion that
the letter would repel Cleyelands supporters
ia the West and South. lie said the party
sentiment was clearly III favor Of free silver.
The Democratic party. added Senator Bar
bOur. does not need 10 win recrdsAs from Wall
street and money centres They want TO at
tract the farmers, the producing classes. The
great object was 20 make the party what IL
was IN the days Of jefferson, where the farm
ing and producing classes constituted its great
bulk. II Is clear that the farmers and pro-
ducers favor free silver. They demand IT.
and the Democratic sentiment is very largely
in sympathy with them.
Senator Daniel said that his position on the
silver question was well understood Ia labor
ing and speaking for free coinage he was con-
fident he represented the sentiment of his
constituents Senator Daniel said that a
great danger 10 the country mad recently been
ayerted by the defeat of the Force bill. 1t
was defeated through force of public or popu-
lar Will, and the popular demand IS for free
silver. He regretted very much that Mr..
Cleveland had seen ft TO write such an mop
perfume letter.
In the present Congress Senator Daniel
has been one Of the ables, and most effective
advocates Of free silver His spec hes on that
subject are ranked among the most valuable
silver literature OF the time, and while the
Senator refrains from uttering any harsh
criticism il plain that he regards the letter
as a. big barrier 10 Clcycland's nomination
Representative Edmuuds SAWS Of the letter:
1T viii be the death of Cit vciand political
ly. The West and South are certainly in
earnest in demanding free silver, and the
people Will not nominate man who opposes
that
Representative Lester said his imp assion
WAS that tAa letter would operate to
prevent ClevCland's nomination He further
will not enact any silver legislation and that
the question is too prominent, too f0rclble 10
be put down. The free coinage Of silver he
says. is bound 10 be one Of the principal
issues of the next presidential canvass and
the Democrats will have candidate IN accord
with their principles and one VINO, if elected
VII enforce these principles.
General Lee said II looked 70 him as If tho
letter had certalnly and seriously damaged
Cleyeland's chances lie said that among the
leading free silver Democrats Representative
Wilson, Of West Virginia was most out
eral Lee said Mr. Wilson held
that the Democratic party could not
afford 70 make the silver question an issue, as
il would certainly divide the party; that such
an issue would repel Eastern Demo
Gratis Mr.. Wilson maintains that
each Democrat should be accorded the priyi-
lege OF maintaining and expressing his own
idea OF principle as 10 silver; that there are
other ISSUES upon which the party can be
united and can WIN, and that cleveland
is the best representative OF these
principles General lee added referring TO
Wilson's position, there IL a good deal IN
that thus apparently intimating that while
he favors free silver, he would not, other mat
ters being considered retire Cleveland be-
cause OF his attitude;
Representative Gibson. of Maryland, said:
IF there remained a shadow of doubt III the
mind Of anybody rs 90 the nomination 81 NJ
Cleveland. II mas been dissipated by the plO-
lcation Of this letter The Gornan boom has
received great impetus"
LIVELY DEBATE IN PROSPECT.
A lively debate in the House ON the civil
service system is in prospect rs soon as tie
consideration OF the Legislative Appropriation
bin is concluded motion 90 strike out the
paragraph for clerks for the Civil Service
Commission will be made, and Alessrs. Gros-
yenor and Butterworth, Of Ohio. will have
some remarks TO make: The debate has been
postponed until the other items Of the bill are
disposed Of owing t. the fact that a good
many members desired TO speak ON this
motion.
SENATOR GoEMAN FOR PRESIDENT.
In connection with the publication Of the
Cleveland letter. opposing silver, aud as bear
ing upon the possibilities Of the next Presi-
DENTAL canvass. an expression OF Representa-
tive Rusk. Of Baltimore, TO IHE inns cor
respondent is significant.
Rusk is chairman Of the Democratic commit
tee Of Baltimore and an Influential leader OF
ho ,,artV IN that State He declined 20 be