Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-05
SATURDAY. MARCH 8. 1872
The Understanding.

We said Yesterday that the Democrats
had agreed 10 postpone silver iegislatloh
not for FIVE years but for four years. By
slip of the pen or a mistake OF the printer
the words -four years" were substituted
for the words zone year."
This il an important question which we
have raised. The binetslllsts have shown
I'VE do not refer now TO the action OF the
Democrats in Congress). a. we have SAID
heretofore. that they are Democrats hrst
and bimstallists afterwsrds-that is. so
far MS the pending election for President
of the United States ia concerned. They
have agreed to postpone silver Legislation
for the present and TO 60 into the presi-
DENTAL battle carrying the banner of
tariff REFORM" and advocating whatever
measures may be get forth in the Demo-
cratic national platform. but they have
not agreed to postpone silver legislation
for four wears, IA they would practically
do if they consented TO surrender silver
till after the presidential election and then
nominate man for President who would
veto free-coinage bill. To do this latter
would be to kill free coinage outright. We
commend this point to the consideration OF
the Democrats in Congress and every
where else. Let us play fair. Let us have
no misunderstanding. In agreeing to side
track silver we agree not to press bill
which we know the President would veto
II it we're passed by the two houses OF
Congress and sent to him for his approval.
There is no sacrifice of principle involved
4 w 10.
submit to an unavoidable postponement
of legislation which we favor, but which
we know we cannot secure so long as
Republican occupies the presidential
chair. If the Democrats had the control of
both houses Of Congress and Democrat
in the Executive Mansion they could not
consistently consent to drop the silver
question even for a year; but circum-
stanced as they are they can consistently
and, we might say, wisely dose.
But If the Democratic National Conven-
yention should construct a platform igno-
ring the silver question, and yet deter
mine TO nominate for President no man
who would veto silver bill, would not
this determination be equal to striking
from the list of presidential possibilities
number of aspirants to the supreme execu-
tive chair? Would il not, to be candid
and plain, rule out Mr.. CLEVELAND? We
do not know, We know that he is an
avowed monometallist and opposed TO
free coinage. but we do not know that he
would veto free-coinage bill. He might
be willing to yield to the wishes of his
party and of the people, and allow such
bill 10 become a law by the lapse Of
time, though we must add that he
is not worry likely to be party
10 such an understanding. We will
not discuss the question at present. We
consider it one, however, which ought to
attract the Ute ption of our leaders. If we
are willing to postpone silver legislation
for four years-that is to say. forever-let
us tell the people of the United States so
and be done with il. IL we are not will
ing TO postpone silver legislation for four
years-that ia TO say, forever-let us not
nominate for President man whose cleo
ton would be equivalent to its postpone
ment till the Greek calends; but man
who, if his opinions on the free
coinage question arc those of the Repub-
lican party and the Republican creed
rather than those of the Democratic party
md the Democratic creed. is nevertheless
willing to pledge himself not to use the
veto 10 override the work of Democratic
Congress on aimeasure which large ma
jority of the Democrats in that body have
promised their constituents they would
support in good faith.
Shall we be told that the Mugwumps
and monometallists will not agree to such
a COMPROMISE, and will vote for no man
who is not avowedly hostile to silver legis-
lation THAT they are determined to
rule the Democratic party or ruin it?-
that they care naught for Democratic
platforms or Democratic creeds?-that
they have no respect for the opinions of
the masses on economical questions, nor
indeed for the opinions of anybody or
any set of men who are. such fools as to
suppose that Congress can by law make
so cents worth Of silver worth as much as
25 $40 grains of gold, or. in other words, a
dollars worth Of gold? So be 1t. Let all
the facts come out. Let US 60 to Chicago
with our eyes open. If We are willing to
be ruled by the Mugwumps let us say So.
II not, let us construct there platform
setting forth the Democratic creed. Let
Us then nominate for President man who
stands erect upon tho platform" four
square" TO all Republican Withstand APP
peal to the people for their SURFACES.
Let us not have creed which our candi-
date cannot profess. nor candidate
whom our platform will be unable to up
hold.