Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-03
Whnt ave We Here For?

When Republican from Texas several
years ago asked the above question IN
Republican national convention he made
himself notorious and reflected no credis
upon Texas or her delegation. Whyf BE-
cause he had declared in effect that the
spells were what he understood the Repuo-
iican National Convention to be seeking.
But II the same question had been put
to the Democrats in attendance upon the
national convention of Chicago last week
IL would never have occurred to them that
they were in search Of the spoiis OF once.
They would have referred the interrogator
TO the magnificent platform which that
convention gave 10 the world as contain
ing the creed of the delegates to tnat
body and of the Democrats at home who
sent those delegates to the convention 10
perform for the party not only the duty
of selecting its candidates for President
and Yice-President of the United States.
but of setting forth once more the sounu
doctrines which have rendered the Demo-
cratic party invincible and uncouquera-
BILE and always ready to accept the gage
of battle from their old opponents.
There ought not to be two factions IN
the Democratic party after its national
convention has spoken. The last word OF
controversy as between the Democrats
themselves ought to have been spoken
when the Chicago convention pointed out
its nominee and set him upon the Demo
cratic national platform. We are all
Federalists. We are ali Republicans" 80
said Mr.. JEFFERSON. Varying his formula
the Democrats ought to say, We are all
Democrats There is no place for HILL
men or BoIEs men or PATTIsos men or
GoRMAY men except in the ranks OF the
hos. of CLEVELAND men, whom we shaii
soon see and hear upon overy hilltop.
Virginia made no mistake IN chicago.
She proved herself to be true to her trust.
She maintained throughout position
consistent with that to which her dele
gates were assigned when the Virginia
Democratic State Convention selected
mixed delegation of HILL men and CLEvE-
LAND men to represent her. But the Chi
cago convention is & thing of the past. IL
has accomplished Its mission and dlsap-
peared from the face of the earth. 1t 49,
50 to speak, fsacius OGiciO--that IS, II has
effected the ,ect Of its existence, done
all that il had 10 do. aud been sunk IN the
history of the past. 1t is for us to con-
tinue the work so well done. 1t is for US
to make the ringing tones of the plat
form as familiar to the general puOlic as the
words of the Declaration of independence
It is for us TO make the nominee of that con
yention the representative OF the good
men and true OF this country as we'll as
the representative of the sound principles
which those good men and true profess.
But what as to the free coinage OF SILVER
Nothing. 1t would never have done to
nominate monometallist for President
and then place him upon bimetallist
platform. Besides, there are more impor-
tant things claiming our attention al TINS
time than even the free coinage of 81 yer.
| The force bill threatens to come to life
again. The Republicans hope TO secure
control once for all of both houses OF Con-
gress and the presidency, and then pro-
| coed so to legislate as 10 render IL lmpOs-
sible for the southern people ever again to
| be heard in the councils OF the nation.
Once more: Tho international bimetallic
conference may come TO our aid, though
we confess we fear that we lean upon
broken reed when we lean upon any Euro
pean bimetallist. In Mr.. CLEVELAND we
shall got a friend of the southern people
and an advocate of sound Democratic
principles. His position on the silver
question may be cleared up when he
writes his letter of acceptance. But we
have no right to ask him to. 20 farther
than the convention went, especially
since the States which lie closest TO his
own State-Pennsylvania Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut.
Vermont. New Hampshire, Delaware. and
even Maryland-may be set down as
monometalist States.
In word. let US get ell we can in 1872
and the rest in 1896. We cannot hope 70
have our way in regard to every question
of difference between us and our Demo
cratic brethren in other States. There are
forty-four States in the Union now.