Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-22
SUNDAY. ..............MAY %. 1892


Who Controlled the COnventlonP
Our Bank street nciehbor. the Times,
will insist that the CLEVELAND men were
"msgsnimous" in yielding two of the
delegates at large to their opponents IN
the party
Is il possible that it believes that the
convention would have defeated JONI W.
DANIEL for delegate at large? Did II not
hear many CLEyELASD delegates say that
"CLFvTLAND or no CLKyTLAND they were
determined TO vote for DASiTL"Y What
ever doubt there may be on any other
point II is absolutely certain that the con-
vention never would have defeated DANIEL,
md therefore our CLEVELAND brothers did
not yield" US two delegates at large"
Al the uttermos. they only yielded" US
one.
But We do not concode that IN agreeing
% compromise one side yielded any moro
than the other side. The contendiug
forces were pretty evenly matched IN tho
morning. ne IS shown by the district con-
ferences electing ten CLEyELAND and ten
snti-CLEyELAND delegates. but the longer
the convention sat, the more confident tho
anti-CLEyrLAND men became.
We are sorry ii any of our CLEVELAND
brethren ere discontinued. They certainly
have no night to be dissatisfied with the
division Of delegates for tho State at large.
and tho platform was the deliberate work
o. an excellent committee, Of which
Speaker CALDWELL was chairman and
Nr. SAUNDERS. Of Franklin, secretary.
This committee consisted Of one member
from each congressional district. appoint
ed at the district conferences held IN the
morning when district delegates TO Chi
cago were chosen. The only objection
yaised 10 its report came from Mr.. C0SBAD,
the ablest debater on that side, who said
that il committed the party 10 the free
coinage OF silver. which lie regarded as
unfair TO Mr.. CLEVELAND. but after MI.
CoNnAD had made two speeches and had
been answered By Speaker CARnwELI, Mr..
PArITsoN. and Senator DANIEL the conyen-
tion adopted the platform By an over
Thelmlng majority.
We have heard il said that owing 10 the
iateness Of tho hour many OF the delegates
had retired from the hall TO their
hotels. and that citizens o. Richmond
occupied their seats. True TO a limited
extent. but we have seen too much of the
devotion to Mr.. CLEVELAND Of his Virginia
friends 10 believe that they were any
more dorelict than their opponents. Nor
is il reasonable 70 suspect that of the Rich
monders who gladly took possession Of
these vacated seats HuL men were in
tn majority. Indeed, looking at the con-
Sention from the platform-'he best posi-
ie yiew-it was seen that the number Of
delegates who left their seats before the
convention was over was very small. After
Major DANIEL commenced speaking there
were very few indeed who lett the hail.
We would not take from our CLLvFLAND
brethren a scintilla Of the credit Iuo them
for magnanimity. but we cannot concede
them superior magnanimit
1t is remarkable thing, c. lsiderng
the circumstances under wnlch the dele
gates assembled-cousldeTiag The neat and
excitement. not 10 say fury, attending
the election Of delegates- that th conyen-
ton should have met. don, its work, and
adjourned. without afford Nc any indis-
putable evidence n TO whIca side had the
power 10 control the body. ; II this IS not
70 be deplcred VI each side is confident
that il won the victory each side ought TO
be happy, and happiness and harmony arc
what We want IN our party IN Virginia.
when we look at { d'sseI sions that pre-
vail in some OF our sister Sta.es Of the South
and at the growing menace OK thirdparty-
ism we have good reason TO re- oice that We
harmonized our differences and the news
of the compromise We feel sure sent a
thrill of Joy TO the hearts Of ell OF the con-
servative members of our party in Viz
Cinla.