Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-12
u Democrntic Life-Boat'

Tho address issued 20 the people OF inc
,-r,ted states last week by the wouiu-pe
leaders who desire to make the free coih
AGE Of silver the paramount issue III 'ne
next presidential campaign mas atlrae'eN
a good deal Of attention, but up 10 inns
,,,,o has not had the effect of showing
,ha+ either of the two old parties Is ready
for the work of disintegration to begin
The Democrats profess to think that they
are not likely to lose as much by inns
sort NJ detection as the Republicans
,,,,,st the Republicans are almost ready
70 aver that il is a matter in which they
are not concerned The Brooklyn IN ~
Times saws that as life-hoat 10 take
southern and western Democrats out OF
the sinking ship Of Democracy, that paper
thinks very highly of the new party, but
insists that II Is not probable that the
Republican party will suffer very seri-
ously from the new party even in the
West.
Our Brooklyn contemporary oVerlooKs
the important and undeniable fact that
so long as the Republican party in the
Southern States is dominated by ignorant
negroes the Democrats are not likely 10
take TO the life-boat TO make sure or
landing upon some more friendly shore
than they have been occupying-we may
say ever since the war between the
States ended. The Virginia people have
not, In fact, felt free to desert the Demo-
cratic party. Not Mahoneism, nor green
backism, nor bimetallsm, nor any other
to Ira of
the voters from the time-honored old
Democratic party. of which 1t may be
said 1.-THE nrmer he roots him the ruder
1t blows"
Has the situation changed? Can the
Democrats OF Virginia see aught in their
present surroundings to induce them to
desert their principles and their party
associates and take up with their old enc
my?-thelr enemy Of reconstruction days?
Is there anything in the experience Of
their friends In North Carolina or else
where which ought TO have the effect Of
causing them to forsake their friends and
unite with their enemies? Is 1t not the
same old Republican party with which
they are expected to unite their fortunes?
Note the fact that the Democrats are
called upon TO leave their party friends
because that party Is not controlled by
the advocates OF the free coinage Of sill
YER and to cast in their fortunes with
the party which is largely monometallis-
tic. We repeat. they are asked TO desert
a party large number Of whsse mem
bers are in favor OF the free coinage OF
silver 10 cast In their fortunes with n
party a large majority OF whose members
are opposed to the free coinage Of silver.
So that when we are told that the Ameri-
can Bimetallic party is a new party we
must say to those who commend that
party 10 our favor that we like its men,
bers very much but that they have got
into bad company. We do not say that
the Democratic party is controlled by BIZ
metaliists. but that the Republican party
is controlled by monometallists.
We conclude that the Democrats OF Vir-
ginia will hold themselves aloof from the
new party. They Will not tie themselves
up. II the International Timetable Con.
ference shall settle the silver question.
they will thus be found ready TO stand
super antiques yias--upon the old ways.
They viii not need a new party, nor a
new creed. nor new leaders. but will find
their old enemies still fayoring a strong,
central. consolidated despotism, and their
old allies or party associates standing for
government Of the people. by the peo-
pie. for the people.