Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-10
what Are True Democrats to DO I?

The New York interview with our Viz
ginia Congressman EPEs, which was men
toned In the DISPATCH yesterday, brings
up once more the question whether the
Democrats intend 10 side-trsck the silver
question in order. so they will profess. 10
prevent dissensions in their party when
would otherwise be unavoidable, or TO
furnish them with an opportunity to place
in the presidential chair man who VIII
veto any silver bill that Congress may
pass. What is the Democratic party to do
under suchlcircumstances II will not be
safe to proceed with the work OF choosing
delegates TO the Democratic National Con
vention so long as IL is not understood
whether the monometallists intend to play
fair or not.
The congressional elections OF Novem-
Der next Will turn upon the silver question
unless the bimetallists previously receive
assurances that the bill providing for the
free coinage of silver is not to be post
poned longer than the meeting OF the next
Congress. II would be more than farce
for q candidate for Congress next fall 10
tell his constituents that he was in favor
of free coinage but also in favor OF the
election of President who would veto
the free-coinage bill. II would be proper
TO advocate the policy of postponing until
after the presidential election the conside-
ration of the bill to provide for the free
coinage of silver, but 1t would not be fair.
= nor lust. nor candid, to mislead the voters
into the belief that you were in favor OF
free coinage and then proceed to ask them
3 10 vote for man whom you confidently
expected to veto any and every free-coinage
I, ,bill that might be presented to him. II,
.for example, you have convincing reasons
kfor believing that Mr.. Hull would veto
tiree. coinage bill, then it would be
trifing with the people for you to
pretend that in supporting him you
had only agreed TO side-track silver
tduriug the presidential campaign. 1t
would be TO give them a stone when they
asked for bread. 1t would be to play q
game in wbichyou would pocket the stakes
tefore the playing had begun; for to elect
10 man President who would veto the sill
liver bill would be 10 postpone free coinage
mot four years only but forever.
We desire to press this matter upon the
attention OF the Democratic members OF
Congress. The immense aud overwhelm-
ing majority which the silverites rallied
last Monday on the question of sustaining
Tho Speakers decision must have opened
the eyes of good many monometallists.
1t is evident--too plain for argument-that
1.-The dollar of the daddies" is popular with
the masses. II is evident, too, that the
Democratic congressman recognize that
fact. Now the next question is: How will
you act when you go to Chicago? Will
Won favor the nomination of q man who
will veto silver bill 2 If so. will you not
be compelled to have double tongue in
order TO address the voters successfully
during the presidential campaign? Do
you flatter yourself the Republican candi-
Oates for Congress will fail to make you
j''toe the mark" upon this all-important
question:
Note that we are not now advocating
cree coinage. We do not now say that II
would be right to advocate such mea
sure. We have never gone further thar
tofavor it as an experiment which could no
do much harm and might do incalculabl'
good. We are not discussing the MAR
question" now. but a side issue. We d.
not wish the Democratic party to go be
fore the people upon platform from
which. as compromise, the silver planl
has been removed, and then, standing
upon that platform. advocate the election
of a man to be President of the United
States who will veto the BLAND bill.
We confidently ask oil fair-minded Dem
ocrats TO ponder the question we hav
thus presented for their consideration.