The Atlanta constitution., 1894-05-14
The Richmond Resolutions.

lIOtIl lliiS ci. AhNt
the situation. They lift the real issue
above personalism and prejudice, ana
strip it of all confusion, so that the dull
est understanding can perceive and APP
preciate the principle at stake. MI.
CIeyeIand's character and the honesty OF
his motives are duly recognized, and at
every point where he has stood Tor ana
maintained democratic principles, ms
course is endorsed, but, on the money
question, which is the most vital ana
pressing of all the issues, his course is
not approved There is Il franknesS,
manlinesS about the Richmond resolu-
tionS that must commend them TO all
democrats Candid and courageous, they
nevertheless embody the conservative
and sober spirit that is the essence OF
true democracy. There is not a word too
much nor Il word too little. There IS
no attack on Mir. Cleveland. and there
is no endorsement of the Wall street
financial policy. ON the other hand, the
resolutions make Il perfectly clear and
simple declaration of democratic princi-
pies and re-endorse. discretely and So
berly, that pledge of the democratic plat
form which has been epudiated-the
pledge that calls for the opening of our
mints 10 silver.
But the impressiveness of the Rich
mond resolutions does not depend en-
tirely on the fact that they are simple,
clear. manly and conservative The place
and the occasion are to be taken into &C
count rs well as the fact that they
were offered by the gentleman who, i'll
the late contest, as chairman of the
campaign committee of the tenth dis
trict. had the burden and the RESPONSE
bility OF the congressional canvass on
his shoulders. The resolutions We're
moved by Mr.. Boykin Wright, who made
himself conspicuous as the leader of the
democratic forces i'll the campaign which
resulted in the defeat Of eX-COngress-
man Thomas L. Watson.
The mass meeting which adopted the
resolutions was the largest that ever
assembled on a similar occasion i'll Rich
mond county-the largest and the most
thoroughly representative. After the
democracy of Richmond had chosen dele
gates to the gubernatorial convention
and instructed them to vote for General
Evans. Nh. $. W. Woodward offered Il
resolution reciting the danger of demo
cratic division. and endorsing in toto the
administration of President Cleveland.
There was no shutiiinE or evasion in Mr..
WoodWard's resolution. 1t was Il straight
forward endorsement of Mr.. CleveIand's s
financial policy. The issue was squarely
made and squarely met
Mir. Boyllin Wright, in temperate
and conservative manner objected TO
such endorsement of Mr.. Cleveland's
financial policy. He paid Il high tribute
to The presidents character, but said
that the democracy of Richmond could
not afford to discard its own principles
and discrcdit its own leaders because Mr.
Cleveland had made an error of judg-
mcnt Mr. Wright then offered, as a
substitute for Mr.. Woodward's resolu-
ton series Of declaration of which the
following is the conclusion:
While expressing confidence in the per
sOnaI honesty, integrity, courage and pa
tTlGtlGl}l DTpSidant and according
him unstinted praise for his patriotic ef-
forts III general in behalf OF the people, we
feel it to be our duty to sympatheticaly
dissent from his financial policy and tC
place upon record our disapproval of his
unfriendliEess TO legislation in favor of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver. as ev.
idenced by MS attitude on this subject dur
ing The present session of congress- De
mocracy can afford, without discreditng
the party, to crltciSe it's own servants and
IL need be- supplant them with others; but
il can never afford to change its principles
or To turn over to the enemy the sacred
trusts OF the people which IL is the peculiar
office Of the democratic party to preserve
and perpetuate. We take occasion in this
connection, therefore, to warn our demo
cratic brethren against becoming estrangeC
from the party itself because one or any
aumber Of its members, however exalted
prove unsound upon one or more principles
which we cherish.
The simple and only rational remedy ir
such a case is to change the servants anC
not the party or its principles.
Now. here is the essence of the whole
issue i'll nutshell; the essence of demo
cratic duty; the essence of democratic
policy We might say also that the
policy marked out in the declaration is
the essence of conservatism, for it cuts
clearly and sharply between the extreme
of pOpulism on the one hand and the
extreme of cuckooism on the Other-be-
tween those who would seek remedy
by deserving the party and destroying
it and those who would sacrifice party
principle because it does not commend
itself to the judgment of Mr.. Cleveland
We take it that the declaration which
we have quoted is a complete answer
in brief shape to the arguments put for
ward i'll yesterdays Constitution by
Judge Hines. There must be something