Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-14
SUNDAY. MAY il. 1904.
Ytrcinin-rhn Peonle,s Party

The elections to be held in Virginia six
months hence promise to be important
md interesting. In fact. when we COZ
slider tho circumstance which surround
u and, as we ought TO do, look the future
full IN the face. we shall find that though
there Is abundant work for every good
Democrat 20 do II he would have the
Supremacy OF the Democratic party main
tainel and the Offices Allied 10y the best
men in that party. yetthore are side issues
which threaten to push from their stools
the issues which arc ordinarily involved in
our state elections. II is an important
DUTY winch the people have to perform by
proxy when the Legislature comes to
choose judges OF che Supreme Court Of
Appeals; but the Democratic party can
not afford - stake its existence upon
that ono issue. 1t IS an important
duty for the Legislature 70 choose
competent circuit judges. but the Demo-
cratlc party has duties TO perform
in no way connected with the election Of
these judges. 1t IS an important duty 10
elect a Governor OF this hon0rod oil Com
m0nwealth. but the Democratic party can
not leave all other matters out OF sight IN
the effort 20 secure q good Governor. 1t
T. an important duty for tho Legislature TO
elect d United States senator or two OF
them, but although this duty Is connected
with the welfare Of the Democratic party
tn every state. yet We in Virginia cannot
blink all other issues out Of sight aud elect
hLegisia;ure pledged 70 elevate any par
tlcular man to that cXa,tcd station. Finally,
because o. the multliarioUs duties which
WILL "a above intimatai deyolve upon tho
boxt General Assembly, II would seem to
follow THAT the mostimportant duty which
a., people Will layo t. perform next No
Yember VIII ba the election Oi a General
Assembly, because upon that body VIII
dcyolye not only some or all the duties wo
have named but numerous duties which
~ have not mentioned.
The present condition Of unrest IN the
popular mind may be the precursor Of q
condluon of things n tie political world
3or which the Democratic party is not pre-
parcd. 1.-THE People, party" threatens %
try TO dlsiutesrlts tine Democratic party
nextfall. What that threat VII. result IA,
tob6iy yet knows. Bat wo can oil under
etaud tina. Of the Peoples party shall make
o fight upon the issues winch were con-
FAMED IN their platform OF last year they
viii come before the voters under very
different circumstance rom those which
surrounded them then. They carried seve-
r.. States last year. although the election
w. Tor President OF the United States.
They are good AZ making promises and at
GenounciIg tho old parties.
WHAT Is the creed Of this Peoples
party? 1t Is too long TO DO reproduced
here. But We Will give some Of It's Grti-
ella. First. they demand the destruction
Of all banking corporations as issuers OF
currency. and declare for a national cur
rency Of "iuil legal tender" BY full
legal tender" they mean q currency which
Is not t. be redeemed anywhere or 0y any,
body. but is to be made as good as gold
and SILVER by the fat OF tho government.
They also demand the free and unlimited
Coinage Of gold and silver Is 10 l.. Also,
thai the amount Of the currency shall be
speedily increased to so per capita.
Also, for a graduated income-;ax. Also,
that the government shall own aud ope-
rate tho railroads, the telegraphs, aud the
telephones. Here are questions enough 10
employ the attention Of the voters this year.
How many Democrats who voted for
CLEvE1LYD last fall Will be found ready to
mite with the Popnlists in the effort to
Secure a more abundant currencyS Inc
advocates Of wildcat banks and wildcat
currency hays declared again and again
that there is not currency enough, and
have told tho farmers that they cannot
nave ell the currency they need until new
banks are established authorized to issue
nnrrency winch will not flow to the money
centres. Tho Peoples party will JOIN
hands with the wild-ca;-currency adyo-
Gates and demand a circulating medium
which will show its face in no money CEN
IRE. but only in the rural districts.
We throw ont these hints for the con-
eideration Of the people. We wish, as we
have said, to induce them to look the fu-
ture full in the face. We would have
them consider well before the Democratic
State Convention shall meet-even before
they appoint delegates to it-what tho
issues arc likely 10 he # the Peoples party
shall have good reason 10 hope TO be re-
Enforced by the votes in tho Democratic
party, who may be induced By ~alluring
promises to trust their fortunes 10 tho
kame boat which carries that so-called
Peoples party"