Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-08
The Virginia Democratic State Con-
yention-Platforfns

Next week the Democrats OF Virginia
will assemble in State Convention for the
pnrpose Of nominating candidates 70 be
voted for IN November next for the offices
of Governor. Lieutenant Governor, and
Attornoy-G General. Whether the delegates
20 that State Convention will or will not
consider it their duty TO lay down plat
form for the voters to mount when they
deposit their ballots we cannot foretell.
II ought, however, 10 be regarded as n sig
nifcant tact that the county and city meet
lngs held TO select delegates to the state
Convention performed this duty, and left
all questions rs TO crecds TO be disposed of
elsewhere. Very few counties. If any.
undertook 60 block ont work for the State
Convention 10 DO. Either the people have
concluded that they want no platform. or
else feel that they ought to entrust the
duty Of erecting one to the State COnven-
ton itself or else 10 the Democratic lead
ers in the two houses of Congress.
II the State Convention lays down a
platform. it must make It's widest plank
declaration on the subject of the currep-
CIV. IL we do not know what we hold as
TO the difficult questions involved In the
currency problem, then let us say moth
Sng. But il We are for the free coinage of
silver, let rs say so. IL we favor return
10 the autc-helium banking system, let us
ray so. Il wO prefer the present system OF
banking, let US say so. II we prefer green
backs to State-bank notes and TO national
bank notes. let us say 80. And as there is
no good reason to hope that a bill to re-
peal the SHEKMAN silver law will be passed
before our State Convention meets, we
might once more denounce that q" make
shift" as fraud upon the people. In a
word. If we must have platform, let us
have one that is worthy of the name.
But it would be rare spectacle TO see
The administration IN Washington calling
upon tho Republicans in Congress to aid
the Democrats in repeating the SHERMAN
silver law, and at the same time de-
nouncing the Republicans as the origina-
tors of that measure. At present the In
dications arc that the SHERMAN law will be
repealed by the combination referred to
that is, by the efforts Of Democrats and
Republicans in the two houses of Con
gress.
Again What is tho creed of the Demo-
Gratis of Virginia touching an income
tax? We have repeatedly seen it stated in
Democratic papers that the Chicago con-
ventlon pledged the Democratic party to
the enactment of a law taxing incomes.
This Is mistake That convention did
not declare for graduated income-tax:
but the fact is not material to the issue.
If the Democrats Of Virginia favor taxing
oil incomes exceeding five thousand dol
lars, let them say 80. Do not leave it an
open question. 10 cause a wrangle upon
every stump, as TO whether they are for
exempting small incomes or not. But let
the limit of exemption DO stated in the
platform. If the Democrats OF Virginia
lay down platform the income-plank
cannot well be thrown aside.
Once more: There IS heard 10 some
quarters the charge that the Democrats
ore in favor of levying customs-duties for
revenue only. and will therefore tax our
breakfast tables. In word. that they will
lay high tariff upon sugar. tea. coffee,
nnd other articles which produce large
revenue. Governor VANCE says that the
present is "a rioh-man's panic" But We
think that the Democrat who proposes to
tax our breakfast tables will find himself
encircled by "a poor-man's panic"
Nevertheless. if we feel that we must have
local OF State platform, as well as local
OF State currency, then let ne say so.
These are only few Of the many SUBJ
iects that may appropriately be treated in
platform if we erect one.