Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-01
SAVE Tbs PARTY.
A Tidewater Democrat Tells How He
Thinks II May he Done.
10 ne I1iiior Of he Dispa,ch:


10 ne E1uor Of he Dispatch:
Let US all resolve 10 hold the success of
the party above the aspirations of every
man. This is no time for allowing our
preferences for men TO get tho better Of
our judgments. The Democratic party IS
certainly in danger. and danger for the
Democratic party means danger for the
country. If a nomination unacceptable To
the Alliance people shall be made at Chi
cagO we may reasonably apprehend the
loss OF Virginia. Aud 10 lose our State this
fall might provo 10 be the presage Of a SINH
lar and even o sadder loss year afterwards.
With the detection of single Southern
State the Democratic candidate for the
presidency must almost inevitably fall
short Of election. The farmers OF the
South are sturdy and loyal Democrats.
But they have bad and still have their
hearts set upon reform IN the monetary
management of the government, which
they have been regarding as pronounced
Democratic doctrine. And when, with the
overwhelming Democratic majority IN the
House Of Representatives, the bill Tor the
free coinage of silver was tabooed as an
obnoxious thing, these same Democratic
IN their disappointment. Their name Il
legion. and in their Alliance organizations
they have the touch OF elbow that makes
them disciplined soldiers now in the poll
teal field.
THEY ARE PATRIOTS.
These men are not self-seeking agitstors
in search Of Office. They are patriots look
ING to the public good. They are quiet
bu. resOlute citizens, constituting class
which believes il has wrongs TO be righted
and interests 10 be protected from the
gold-bug and his parasites. Many OF them
are intelligent readers and thinkers, too,
and then eyes are wade open waiting ana
watching % sea what the National Demo
cratic Convention means TO do. The south
ern farmer IS conservative and true. He
would be grieved 10 be brought 10 the con-
clusiOn that IN Justice TO himself. TO his
neighbor and 10 the cause of agriculture,
he ought 10 stay away from the polls on
the day Of election. IL would make
his heart hurt him to feel that
al last he must tail to tall IN under the old
flag of Democracy be has followed SO faith
fully and so long. But he has will OF his
own. he is thinking for himself. and il will
be dangerous 10 press hun too hard or
push him too far. The southern farmer
cannot but commend the lofty character.
the great ability, and the OutspOken fear
les, mauiness Of Mir. Cleveland, but Mr..
Cleveland IS opposed TO the free coinage OF
silver. and there IS tho trouble-the IN
superable trouble with Mr.. Cleveland
among the Democrats OF every agricultural
community. Senator Hill, 1t Is thought, TO
say the least. would not veto a tree-coln-
aye bill.
WHAT CAN WE DoY
But even in advance of the Syracuse
convention 10 looks as If Senator Hill is as
UNEQUAL 10 carry New York as ex-Presldent
Cleveland seems TO be. What, then, can
10 done 10 save the Democratic party Z
The answer IL not difficult: Nominate q
western man of high repute and national
fame. who is known 10 be IN favor or the
free coinage OF silver. But that would
bring about the loss of New York, New
Jersey, and Connecticut, You say. ! Do
not iflcre IL All New York IS not IN Wall
street. and all Wall street Is not IN the
clutches Of the gold bugs. There are IN
tclhgent and independent farmers and
other workingmeu IN New York ana New
Jersey and Connecticut, rs we'll "a III VIZ
gInia, North Carolina and Alabama. And
with "a campaign of education" on the
currency question IN those States we
should gam largely instead OF losing
among Their rural population, regardless
Of previous party associations. But, taxing
the HliNNl4'tl NlNWs WIN lAiOip n.y. 80
the main issue, we should save our state
governments IN the South certainly.
THE REASON WHY.
Why must we nominate western man
reply 10y asking why it Is that the Demo
cratic party, the Peoples party, and the
Republican party are ell To hold their con
vcntiOns IN western cities There IS signi-
ficauce in the fact. II is spontaneous
ACKNOWLEDGMENT on all sides of the I'M
portance of gaining ground IN the Wost
and of the opportunity offered there for
appealing 20 spirit higher than q party
spirit. The Democratic party IS about TO
be brought face 10 face with Its crucial
opportunity; and in its wisdom or unwis-
dom / believe 10 Will secure ITS own as
cendaucy for many years, or tall, Ike
Iucifer. never TO hope again" This cur
rencv question temporarily and ration
ailv presented 10 the popular mind
AS an issue between the two par
ties in the approaching contest would,
10 my Judgment, make the west
almost as Democratic as the South. Those
broad-brMucd. self-reliaut western men
are not worshppers OF party idols. they
are too big for bigOtgy, and they are
ALWAYS alive TO the interests of their sec
ton. and especially of agriculture. See
how the pronounced Republican state OF
Kansas struck down Senator ingalls,, tAe
most brilliant OF all the Republican leaders,
because he was believed TO be standing in
the way OF the farmers interests. Now Is
the time for the two great agricultural
sections TO come together, heart and head.
for the rescue Of the country. Val they
be given the opportunity to do NJ we
shall soon see. bAKER l. LEI
HAMPTON, "a, April q, 1872.