Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-27
SATURDAY. JULY q, 1898.
Georgia and Virginia.

However il may be in other States
there is no good reason for calling DIS
trict conventions or a State convention
in virginia this year. The people VIII
need all the time between now and June,
1896. 10 make up their minds as TO what
the Democratic national platform snail
contain. In other States, where import
ant elections are to be held TINS year.
there may be plausible reasons given
for calling the voters together in district
DR. State conventions but in Virginia no
such reasons can be brought forward.
And the very fact that no important
national elections are to be held IN
this state this year would have the
effect Of rendering the conventions afore-
said gatherings Of mere wranglers. Nhat
subjects would engage the attention OF
thes, wranclers? The silver question
would. of course, be one Of them. And,
not only would the Democratic voters
Soon be divided into two hostile camps
but in all probability, the present Demo-
cratic administration would take part
I'm the fight, and the whole army OF
Federal officials would be found traFerS-
Ing the Commonwealth in search OF the
advocates Of free-silver-cOinage.
What would be gained by anybody
by thus promoting discussions in the
Democratic party Of Virginia? Let us
hold our peace for the present. We may
be needed as peace-makers before long,
IL the silverites and anti-silverites en-
gage IN a grand battle, 1t VIII not DE
long before both factions will wish that
they had Needed the advice Of the cool
headed men who oourselled them to save
their ammunition for their Republican
enemies. The belligerent politician Is not
the safest adviser
Let us look more to Georgia. That State
had been set down as the leader OF
the States which stood for bimetallism'
and all that this word implied. And
vet. when a State convention was assem-
bled at Griffin last week, the persons
who called that convention found that If
fhev had lost nothing by thus endeavor-
ing to get up a silver and anti-silver
war in that State, they had at least
not gained anything by ii. See what
an immense crowd assembled ut Gaines
VILE the other day to hear Hoke Smith
Mr.. Cleveland's representative. Thou
yands OF voters were there. See how MT
Smith is greeted elsewhere. The tele-
graph tells us that he received
regular ovation at Columbus. A pubic
reception was held at the Rankin House.
which was attended by n steady stream
NJ callers for over two hours. Hundreds
came across the river from Phoenix City
and Grard. At night the opera
house was packed TO its utmost capacity
bv persons desiring to hear Mr.. Smith.
In a word. the men who have been recog-
nized as the leaders of the free-conage
Democrats OF the Empire state OF the
South have begun to ask themselves
''Who began this battle?'' Those distin-
suished advocates Of free colnage-Cnited
States Senator Walsh, Editor Howell
Speaker Crisp. and hundreds OF others
have found out that the voice of the ad-
ministration will be raised on the sound
money side II the voice Of the freedom
age advocates is heard on the. other SIDE.
we fear that Georgia is already hope
leasly divided on the currency question.
Can anybody give a shadow OF reason
why virginia should follow her eXampleY
II Is easy to pick quarrel; but it is not
always easy to settle one. Let us here
In this honored old Commonwealth not
forget that our real opponent is the Re-
publican party.