Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-04-22

seems that there are certain class of voters
in New York who are safer when watched
than when trusted. Would it not be folly for
the Democratic party to be driven off by few
threats, gotten up for the purpose OF frighten-
ing the timid? Ought not the Democratic
party to pursue the same wise course which it
pursued when it nominated Tilden in 1876
and Cleveland in 1884, and disregard such
threatso
You seem to be impressed very strongly
with the idea that it is the business of party
to get votes. If that be SO, pray let us take
thatstep which will gather the large indie
pendent vote in New York. even if they be
what you choose to term "Mugwumps." They
will fully offset any supporters of MI. Hill
who may prove traitors.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT FOR CLEVELAND.
Judge, you sheer at the idea of ''the great
change that is going on in public sentiment"
in favor OF Mr.. Cleveland. You seem to think
that it is not real-that it is mostly brag All!
Judge, to entertain such an idea you must
have been asseciating good deal with our
mutual friends who are advocating Mr.. Hill.
Having become conversant with their tactics
you have become skeptical Of the correctness
OF any political fact.
But you cannot deny that Rhode Island,
Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Nebraska and
North Dakota, and nearly all of Massachu-
sets have all declared for Mr.. Cleveland
You can have but little doubt that Indiana
and Maryland will soon so declare You will
find that while you are enumerating the coun-
ties in Georgia, the friends of Mr.. Cleveland
will be counting the States in the Union.
Perhaps you will reply that the States 1
have mentioned as having already declared
for Mr.. Cleveland are Republican States. I
admit it. But is there not a lesson to be
drawn from their expressions
Such expressions, following the late discus
sion in congress upon the Silver bill, ought
to infoSa us that the commercial and manu-
featuring States are in favor of man who is
known to be opposed to Unlimited coinage of
silver. Have you any doubt but that the peo-
pie Of New York are of the same opinion :?
Then what must the Democratic party do in
order for it to win?
THE SILVER PLANK.
In the Democratic platform we will have
either to put in plank favoring free silver
or we will have to ignore it, IT such plank
be added, surely you would not expect to car
ry New ork unless the party shall nominate
man Who has already declared his opposi-
ton to such measure. With Mr.. Cleveland
as our nominee the people Of the manufacture
ing and commercial States would feel safe,
Notwithstanding such a plank.
Should such a plank be left out? What
III no no Of oh NJ
you suppose for an instant that it would de-
ceive the voters in the commercial and manu-
featuring States? Would there be any chance
of getting their votes, unless we should nomi-
nate man in whom they had confidence on
the silver question? What other candidate
has bravely announced his views on that sub
ject but Mr.. Cleveland? Then can you doubt,
whether in our platform we favor silver OF
omit to mention it, that it would be unwise to
nominate any man but Mr.. Cleveland if we
expect t. carry New York?
You can suggest but one answer in opposi-
tion-namely, that Mr.. Cleveland's nomina-
ton will arouse opposition among the farm
ers of the South. On the other hand, 1 believe
that the farmers of the South will take an in
telligent view of the situation.
OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH.
Our friends, the Northern Democrats, say
to us Of the South: "We will help you to pre-.
vent the passage of the Force bill We will
help you to get relief from the burden of tai
if taxation. We will help you to get full
and deserved recognition in all the depart
ments of our common Government. But oul
help will be of no avail to you if you insist
upOn a mea sure which will bring financial
ruin to us. Is it fair or just in you of the
South to demand all at once 50 much? Car
you expect us to be willing to run the risk Of
bankruptcy? Would you not yourselves
shrink from such course? Will you not be
wise ard lay aside for the present at least a
question upon which we are divided and make
the fight upon issues as to which we are in &C
cord?" Will the people of the South say
"No, we prefer defeat and all that it will en-
tail, including the Force bill, rather than moi
insist upon the silver question:
You cannot believe it. Let us give our peo
pie credit for fair dealing and intelligence
We had better trust to that than accept almost
certain defeat by nominating one whose views
are not we'll known on the silver question
There stands but one candidate to-day whose
views are we'll known on that question. He
is Grover Cleveland. Then the logic of the
situation demands that he be nominated The
time, the place and the issues at stake all
point to him as not only the best, but the
most available candidate.
lam yours, respectfully,
April Is, 1892. g. v. MEREDITH.