Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-26
"silyer sioetracked "

OF course, the Democratic National
Convention did the only thing II could do
whom 1t refused to put Mr.. CLsvkLAxp
upon q free-coinage platform. Time and
again before tho convention assembled we
had contended that 1t would not do to put
q free-coinage Democrat upon M anti
silver platform. nor an anti-siiver Demo-
crat upon frse-coinage platform. I'M
mcdiatoly after the results OF the last
November election became known we laid
this down as proposition that would
be adopted by the Democratic party. II
would have been embarrassing to the
Democratic orators and writers TO have
had to explain day after day how it had
happened that the platform declared for
principles which the candidate repudi-
ated.
However, the election is long way Of
more than four months. We shall all have
abundant time in which to present the con-
siderations which ought to influence the
Democrats Of the whole land TO stand by
the nominees of the Democratic National
Convention. Ii was to preserve the life OF
the Democratic party that our leaders thus
assembled and once more formulated a
creed tor US 70 adopt. Whatever we may
think of its faults Of omission or commits
son. tho platform is ours. and we will OF
course have to vote for the men who stand
upon it.
As we snid Yesterday, the international
bimetallic conference might afford Mr..
CLEVELAND an excuse or reason for not
going too far In his letter of acceptance III
den'ouncing free coinage. That confer
ence ought to result in good to the whole
world. But it is not altogether certain
that it will not be q mere gathering OF
monometalists, as far at least as the Euro
pean delegates are concerned. The OPP
ponents Of free coinage and silver cur
rency. wherever they reside, whether IN
Europe or America. know it ALL" They
do not acknowledge that there are two
sides to any of the questions involved IN
the silver problem. The United States
NAV have good representatives IN the con-
ference. But Mr.. HARRISON will consult
the interests Of himself and his party in
all that no does in regard to this confer
ence.
We quote once more the principal por-
ton of the financial plank of the Chicago
platform:
eve hold 20 the use of both gold and silver as the
standard money OF the country, and TO the coiii-
age OF both gold and silver ", bout discrimination
against either metal, or charge 70. mintage, but
the dollar unit II coinage OF both metals must
...fo oxof,o, AMI "a al
be adjusted through international agreement or
by such safeguards OF legislation as shall insure
the maintenance Of the parity OF the two metals
and the equal power of every dollar at all times
in the markets and in payment of debts; and
we demand that all paper currency shall be Kept
at parwith and reieemable in such CON-"
The words international agreement J"
seem to refer to the international bime-
tallic conference.
The platform says there must be no
charge for mintage." This phrase will mis-
lead some into supposing that the Demo
cratic National Convention meant by the
words mo charge for mintago" to declare
for the free coinage of silver. But not so.
The platform also declares for both gold
and silver as the standard money of the
country. But the national convention did
not mean by this declaration to come out
for free coinage.
But the platform was made to suit the
candidate. we are told. Well, we repeat. it
never would have done to nominate Mr..
CLEVELAND upon free-coinage platform.
Let us content ourselves with what We
have gained this year in the bimetallic
cause. Four years is sho;t time in the
life of nation. Perhaps the next Demo-
cratic national convention will be almost
unanimously for the free coinage Of silver.