The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-06-08
A PLEA FOR HARMONY,
GEN. WALTHALL'S PATRIOTIC LET
TER TO THE DEMOCRACY.
SEES NO GROUND FOR DIVIDING THE
PARTY INTO WINGS.
Believes the People of Mississippi Favor
Free Silver Coinage.
DcpreciateS Administration and Antl.Ad,
mlnlS(ratlOn Discussion BY the
Press Of the State.


The following communication was s
prepared by General Walthall in re- {
spOnse to request for his views on {
the subject to which it relates:
GRENADA, Mss, May 26, 1884,
Editor of the Clarion Ledger
am unable to appreciate the dis.
tinction which is supposed to exist
between administration and anti-ad-
Einistration Democrats in Missis-
sipi nor do l believe there is any
occasion for it, or any true basis upon
which it can be defined. There is no
principle to justify it and its manifest
inexpedicncy should forbid the draw
ing OF such line. am sure there is
no sentiment in the body of the party
fayorihg any such needless and hurt
full division in this State. Mississippi
Democrats know the value of party
unity and deprccate all illiberality
and intolerance which tend to breed
dissensions. In former years they
had some bitter experience, when
their party was out of power, and this
they will not soon forget. They sub
ordinate individual aspirations and
interests to the general good which
they believe can be best subscryed by
! the continued ascendcncy Of the Dem
ocratic party. If they do not enjoy
i all the benefits expected from Demo-
cratic rule they know they are cscap-
ing many wrongs and burdens which
) they endured under Republican rule.
II Those who agree with Mr.. Cleveland
in his financial views, equally with
those who differ from him, have too
much stakcd upon Democratic su-
prcmacy to subject their party's Or
ganization or integrity to any unnec-
essary strain on account of any matter
of detail involved IN the SO-called
silver question. They are generally
bi-metalistS, and the signs OF the
times encourage most Of them to hope
that the demand for silver coinage on
reasonable terms cannot much longer
be resisted; but they consider the
unity and success OF their party OF
paramount Importance to the triumph
of any particular views as to the terms
on which silver coinage is to be re-
sumed, for they do not believe it will
be resumed at all If the Republicans
are returned to power.
They reelected Mr.. Lamar to th(
Senate, unanimously, after he hat
voted against a silver bill, IN violation
of instructions, and some of his
warmcst supporters, myself among
them, were the open advocates OF th'
free coinage of silver. We found NJ
more reason for dividing our party OF
such an issue then than we do now
The friends of silver in Mississippi
honored and trusted their great Sena
tor, despite the single difference thel
existing between him and them. The.
stood by him because they had faitl
in him, and the same men for lik
reason are standing by Mr.. CLEVELAND
now. between whom and themselve
there is much the same difference nov
that there was at one time betWce
them and Mr.. Lamar. The differenc
was and is important, but Democrati
unity is vital now, as then.
believe a large majority of tn
Democrats in Mississippi are in favo
of the free coinage of silver at tn
present ratio, but not one OF then
whose views have been given to tn
az public, SO far as l am informed, ha
gu authorized anybody to class him a
'a' an anti-administratiOn Democrat. l
oi' is well known, If may refer to M
49, own position in this connection, tina
'"e am a free silver man, open and dt
Dr. cided, but known as well that am
49, party man and have always urge
,to party unity as party duty though
may involve concessions.
was IL loyal supporter of the Pres
e' dent In the Senate on all except tlnat
'"' cial propositions, and like other silye
Democrats in that body, was willin
rc' when the bill to repeal the purchasin
'"e clause of the Sherman law was unde
"a, discussion, to concede much for tn
'co sake of party harmony. In that d'
bate after stating my individual pos
:. tion made the following declaration
~ roo still, sir, as Democrat, believin
the general good can best be subserve
by a united Democracy, stand read.
,ce as I have before declared, to max
to reasonable concessions and meet til
los single standard advocates, or othel
lst from whom differ in my party,
md any point Of agreement where u y
or. metallic party can be established a
the cording to the pledges we have given
Of | introduce this extract here as
public utterance In harmony wit