Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-16
What the Democrats in Congress VIII
M

Do.
The prospect Ia that the Democratic
National Convention of this year, yielding
10 what it will regard az the inevitable
result Of last falls elections, will decide
not TO declare for the free coinage of sill
yer. Indeed, the simple fact that Mr..
CLEVELAND. an ayowed opponent OF free
coinage. is prominent aspirant 10 the
Office OF President of tho United States
and expects TO be nominated for that
Office, is proof positive that either free
coinage or the opponents of free coinage
must be ordered TO the rear for the pres
ent. Many Of the Democratic leaders in
Washington-not all, by any means-seem
TO hold that il Will be sound
policy for the Democratic National
Convention so TO frame its platform
as TO please the Democrats of the New
England States aud those of New York
and New JERSEY. In other words the
Democrats of those States, bong many OF
them hostile TO free coinage, the Demo-
Gratis Of all the other States in the Union
must yield 10 these dissentients on pain OF
the election of Republican President
committed to the policy of opposing that
measure. In November last we reached
the conclusion that this was the fate IN
store for the Democratic party, and for the
reason given by the New York Tribune
namely, because the silver men, especially
those in the South. will support any can
didate for President the National Conven-
ton may nominate. whereas the gold men
will support no candidate holding views
antagonistic to theirs. The South is still
tied hand and foot. She has no choice IN
the matter. Negro rule, or repetition OF
the evils OF reconstruction times. con-
stantly sbakesits finger at her and tells her
20 beware.
We thus assume-what may turn out not
10 be true-that Congress will not legislate
satisfactorily on the silver question during
the current session of that body. That
question is the only one which now threat
ems the harmony of the Democratic party,
and the Republicans are not Mt all likely
20 do anything that will remove that ques-
ton out of our way. So it may be safely
predicted that even If the two houses OF
Congress send a silver bill TO the Presi-
dent for his approval. he will veto IT. But
IL such a bill shall be sent to him at all IT
may reach him before the meeting OF
the Republican National Convention.
Jf so. and he vetoes IL. he may
lie dubbed BY that convention as not
available" inst as the Democratic Ma
tional Convention of 1874 dubbed MARTIN
VAN buren, because he had committed
himself to the wrong side of the question
Of the annexation of Texas. There are
wheels within wheels" in this matter.
The silver question will not Z" down" Our
zeal AZ a bimetalllst has suffered no abate-
ment We feel that We yield to circum-
stances which we cannot control when we
reluctantly consent to let the Mugwumps
dictate the financial policy of the Demo-
cratic party: and we shall omit no suita-
bic opportunity for setting forth the
merits of free coinage. The South. how
ever. has the first claim upon us.
So much for one view OF the probable
near future. There is another view of it
taken by q number OF the Democratic
members of both houses of Congress For
these gentlemen MIR. TIIIMAN, of South
Carolina, speaks when he talks out in
meeting" as follows. Wequote the Wash
ington correspondent of the Baltimore
sun, n monometalhst paper;
".The majority In the House have determined
10 pass tariff bill and also free silver bill, and
all the New England Mugwumps in the land can
no, Prevent 10. We have the votes, said Mr..
Tillman, 'and our people sent us hore TO pass
those two bills We propose TO do our duty
whether Il suits certain people or not. IL the
President wants - veto tho free silver bill lot
him &c IT, lie will be tho last President VINO will
60 TO tho White House as an opponent OF free
silver Many OF Mir. Humans associates echo
the same continents, and IL remains TO be seen
now the managers Of the Democratic party are
going 70 overcome the obstacle which now con-
fronts them"
We stop to remind the reader that MIR.
TrLLMAs comes from the State of the
monometallistic Charleston Ne,cs aud
Courier.
Itwould seem, therefore, that there-it
is only possibilities q possibility that
the Democrats in the two houses OF Con-
cress may during the present session
commit themselves to the policy of free
coinage. We will keep our readers fully
posted in regard to this important aues-
tion.