Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-10
There Is Danger to Our Party.


To ne Editor Of ne DisDdtct:
Ii would be inexcusable folly for intelli-
gent Democrats to deny to the world and
to themselves that the party is seriously
in danger. However 1t may be elsewhere
there are certainly ugly foreoodlngs at
least in the " solid South."
The unrest and dissatisfaction mani
tested in the first appearance of the Farm
ers' Alliance as an aggressive organization
in the southern States showed loos6nlng
of the soil around the base OF the tree that
meant much in the way OF admonltion 10
observing minds. Ii was soon and sensl-
blv concluded, however, that in Its AMI
mating spirit the Alliance was little more,
little less. than primitive Democracy Itself,
and therefore that If regulated by patriotic
men il would help rather than hurt the
party with some OF the new policies or
bOmespun craftsmanship which 1t was
bringing 10 the forefront All went well
enough until the free coinage OF silver bill
was choked into relegatlon at the hands OF
prOfessed friends of the farmer III the lower
house of Congress. with an Overwhelming
Democratic majority controlling there.
Then. IT Is to be feared, blow was struck
that NAV be found TO be dangerously dam
aging in its effects upon the party ieaity
OF thousands Of good Democrats IN several,
If not indeed, In each of our southern
States. If so. and the solid South shall
break up. will not the noble old Demo-
cratic party be found to be breaking up,
tooY Is it too late to save the snip! l
think not. To see and hear the breakers
ought 10 be warning enough Tor cool
headed seamanshlp TO get away froIn them
as quickly as possible.
An unequlvocal espousal of free coinage
bv the Chicago convention Is lndlspensa-
BILE now. Ii might make us lose largely IN
the East. but II would save us In the
South. and with an aggressive canvass on
that issue / confidently believe that
we can secure strength enough III
the West TO give US the national
victory in November. 1t is idle to argue
TO the Alliance people that at best the
Third party can only serve TO throw the
election into the House, where tho Demo-
crafts would choose their own party can
didate, Of course. 1t Is idle 70 present
such an argument, because the reply Is
ready. that # that be true the Third party
would but be proving TO be the coadjutor
nj the Democratic party, with strong
claim upon the Democratic admlnlstra-
tion. and with its own policies presenting
themselves In organization, Dacked Dy u
recognized popular power, demanding 70
lie considered. Let us not mlsiead our
selves by too confident reliance upon
,he race issue as an unfailing factor for
ever In holding the southern Democracy
steady and sold in every national election.
Such an issue. though ~ may never ulsap-
near amid such surroundings as those of
The South, must necessarily be found
waning where depressed agriculture -
aUakened to the importance OF political
mower for Its own protection. Ana, say
wbat we NAV. the color line politically has
faded percepubly. In my Judgment, the
th,nc TO do and do at once Is To demand
IN the namo of Democracy that the
;ssue be made straight and strong
and hot between free coinage
and monometallism, between Demo
cracy and plutocracy; and trust 70 INC
inteiIigent seif-interest OF the awakened
,,,ssses of the people to give the victory to
the true Democratic doctrines. Without
such a course rs this we shall surely lose
| The south. and of course the coaarf.
| With this course brayely. broadly, enthu-
| s,ostically carried out. from the beginning
! 90 tne and OF the canvass, our state gov
srnmeuts IN the South would be saved 10
ne and believe IN my heart that tee me-
tional party would be saved IN saving
victory outside OF the House OF Repre-.
sentativcs by great triumph OF the peo'
pie at the polls. A.
The Democratic party Is on the very
| crest of q per,lous crisis. Wili 1t be true
=, itself and live, or will it compromis'
With lie gold kings and die? The issue n
Inevitable. and it will not allow itself TO %
| ont aside or postponed. IL takes mtn e
,rnaa, &. Let us send level-headed. self
no,sed sagacious men TO represen. Us II
Tie Convention at Chicago, and lot the in
teilisent farmers of Virginia have styonl
! voice Ia choosing them. nALIwArkh