Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-17
AUGUST IL. 1894.
0snsral walker and His Platform.

Was II by a Republican convention that
General James A. Walker was on We'd
nesday last nominated for election TO
the House OF Representatives? Yes. the
General now ranges himself under the
standards OF his sometime opponents
and ftands upon the platform which the
Republicans OF his district the Ninth)
erected for his accommodation. We say
''for his accommodation" because there Is
nothing In Its silver plank, we think,
which General Walker has not been known
10 approve Of. He has. too, always been
a protectionist Democrat, II we are not
mStoker. As to the silver plank. the tele-
srr-ph describes 1t is follows:
ct favors the free coinage OF silver.
and the repeal Of all laws which dis
criminate against the silver coin Of the
United States and tend 10 make gold the
only standard Of values.
General Walkers Democratic competitor
for a seat In Congress cannot object TO
tfis resolution. which indeed states in
few words what most Democrats viii
claim TO be Democratic doctrine ON the
silver question.
We do not regret TO find the Republi-
cans trying to steal Democratic thunder
on the silver question. Financial issues.
such as those involved in the silver prob
lem, ought TO be considered outside OF
party II possible. though OF course this is
not always practicable nor always de-
sirsble. We might say that the silver
question is becoming rather a sectional
than a party question. Democrats. as
well as Republicans. In the New England
End Middle States stand up for the single
standard and oppose all propositions look
ing to the free coinage Of silver. Repub-
licans, as well as Democrats IN the
Southern and Western States stand up for
the free coinage OF silver at a coinage ratio
OF 16 TO /. In fact. nobody can forecast
the future of silver. The subject crops
out everywhere and is In everybody's
mouth In the House OF Representatives
on Wednesday two free-coipage resolu-
tions were offered. In every congress
sional or State convention 1t is sure to
pop up.
Though General Walker is the Republi-
can nominee for Congress In the Ninth
District. he seems to have endeavored to
show TO the nominating convention that he
had not been inconsistent In accepting
honors at its hands. TO that convention
he spoke for two hours. drawing the
line between Clevelandlsm and Democ-
racy." But the General cannot feel very
easy In his new relation 10 the two old
parties. If Clevelandism Is not Democ-
racy. and for this reason General Walker
cannot support Cleveland. surely Republi-
canism Is not Democracy, and for this
reason he ought not TO be found CO.
operating with the Republicans.
Look at the other conventions held on
and you will see that In them no line
was drawn between Clevelandsm and
Democracy. In the First (Virginia) Dis
trict the convention heartily endorsed Mr..
Cleveland. In the Sixth Virginia) Dis
trict like action was taken. In the Ten
nessee State convention the mention of
Clevelands name brought out thunders
of applause. In Indiana Cleveland was
lauded. In word, General Walker will
not find IL easy to lay his detection to the
charge OF Mr. Clevelands unsound De
mocracy. However. II General Walker is
q Democrat. let him have his say. If
the Republicans can put up with so sound
q Democrat as their nominee for Con-
gress and as the exponent OF their creed.
the Democrats can surely put up with