Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-31
The Silver Situation.

In considering the luOIant predictions
indulced in on Wednesday last by MIR.
WATSON. of Georgia, as to what victories
would DO won by the Peoples party next
fall "a result Of the defeat of MIR. BLAND's
bill in the House Of Representatives. we
must not lose sight of the tacts-frst. that
the election of President is made by the
House Of Representatives in case the cleo
toral colleges fail to cast majority for any
candidate second, that the Peoples party
cannot possibly carry more States than
enough 10 throw the election into the
House of Representatives third. that in
elections of President by the House, each
State casts only one vote New York no
more than Nevada. and fourth, that the
Democrats have IN the present House of
Representatives the control of so many
States that they will infallibly elect
their nominee if the choice of the
President shall be made by that
body. SO that Mr.. WATsoNs boast
ings are not calculated to frighten
the Democrats from their propriety or TO
cause them TO stampede into the self
styled Peoples party" We take it that
the Peoples party IN Georgia IS very much
the same in character and organization and
creed as the Alliance party in Virginia.
The Ocala platform is their platform. and
does not seem to hold out much hope
to its trainers just now; for the
free coinage of silver having been
refused by the present House OF Re
representatives., what hope is there of the
success of such radical measures as that
platform championship wit, an abun-
dance of irredeemable greenbacks having
the full and legal-tender feature, an in
come tax. free silver, and we know not what
other features. all of them to be opposed
by both the old parties.
Under these circumstances. Mr.. WAT
sons boasts. as they appeared in the DIS
PATCH yesterday, seem TO be as unfounded
as 1.-The baseless fabric of vision" If
the Peoples party has no reasons for hope
better than those stated by Mr.. WATSON,
it is poor indeed"
1t is the Republican party that the Dem
ocrats have to fear this year. Possibly
we ought to fear coalition between the
Peoples party and the Republican party
is powerful party. and will stand up for
itself and its creed during the pending
.ca,qbaiGn. 1t will not surrender until it
is, compelled TO do so. Nevertheless, il
snnst not be forgotten that the electors of
President and Vice-President. who Will be
chosen on the first Tuesday in November
next. will be free under the Federal Con-
stitution to vote for either the Republi-
can or the Democratic candidates for those
Offices. The November elections decide
nothing except the question as to which
of the electors are chosen. 1t would be
difficult. probably, but IL would be posi-
bic, to induce some of those electors so to
cast their votes as to prevent the election
of President from going into the House of
Representatives. 1t would be a breach of
faith under ordinary circumstances for the
electors chosen by the people to vote for
any other candidate than the one whose
name headed the ticket upon which they
were chosen. but it would be no violation
of the Federal Constitution, and might
possibly be justifable under peculiar con-
dtions. Anyhow, if it should happen that
on the first Monday IN November electors
enough were chosen on the Republican
ticket and the People's-party ticket to-
gether to throw the election into the House
Of Representatives, there might be des-
perate effort made to induce these electors
TO unite their forces and not only keep the
election out of the House of Representa-
tives, buS TO elect either O Republican or
People's-party President.
However. it is too soon to indulge in
these speculations. The silver convention
20 be held at st. Louis may have some iu-
huence upon the pending presidential
campaign. The Senate or the House of
Representatives may yet do somethingsto
change once more the conditions under
which we are 10 act next tall. The free
silver advocates may take their grievances
TO Chicago and vex the ear OF that great
Democratic national conclaye with their
complaints as 10 the treatment which the
dollar of the daidies" has received.
Virginia's services may be needed in the
extremity which seems 10 be the possible
fate OF the two great parties very soon.
That extremity will not be the fate of the
Democratic party if Virginia's counsels
are needed. Let us do our part by electing
as delegates 10 the Chicago convention
men who desire the success of the Demo
cratic party and the welfare of the South
more than they desire the success of any
aspirant 10 the Office of President of the
United States.