Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-06
Fighting the Administration.


we would saw 10 our good friend OF the
yvncbburg News that when we warned
the Democrats Of Virginia n few days
ago against engaging in fight with the
administration. we did not by any means
intend TO advise any Democrat TO JOIN
the forces which have gone out from
washington to take the stump in opposi-
ton to free silver coinage, but to try 10
GET every Democrat to recognize the true
situation at Washington, and decline TO
take part in a war upon the President.
We said:
.Dav before yesterday another member
of the Cabinet mounted the stump. MT
Secretary Hoke Smith began a campaign
of education i'm his State of Georgia. we
ask our Virginia readers who favor call
ing State or district conventions OF silver
ties in Virginia whether they are prepared
10 enter the field as enemies OF the au-
mnistration?'
What is the condition Of things In Ken
lucky. Georgia, and elsewhere, brought
about by indiscreet attacks upon the ad-
ministration? Look, too. at Maryland
The Democratic State Convention has just
denounced free silver coinage as per
nicious financial heresy," and inserted
plank in the State platform laudinS the
President in extravagant terms for the
war which he has made upon financial
heretics We expect all the New Eng
land and Middle States to vote in the
next Democratic National Convention
with the Maryland Democrats and the
enemies Of free silver With whom are
the Democrats of Virginia to open bat
tie iust now? We quote the News again:
Does the Dispatch want the free speech
of Virginia and the South stifed by
what Mr.. Cleveland and his Cabinet ennis
saries may think or say upon the currency
question:"
We want the Democrats Of Virginia TO
refuse 10 go into a hopeless contest. What
is the use Of their dividing themselves into
two hostile factions-One for free coinage
and the other against free coinage-when
they know beyond question that the re-
suit would be the success Of the Repubh-
can party next year? We say such
policy would be bad policy. and We counsel
the Democrats not to rush headlong like
the unthinl,ing horse" into the midst of
battle which cannot but have the effect
OF breaking down the Democratic party.
Why not be practical?
We quote the News again:
1.-THE News has repeatedly stated that
the silver question is not an issue in this
years State campaign. Nobody pro-
poses to make st So But Is the voice Of
our people to be entirely hushed and
our opinion upon the silver question COM
pletely side-tracked just in Difference to
the administrations
No. but in Difference TO the welfare
of the Democratic party. Why should
Virginia Democrats desire TO place their
State in the same condition as Kentucky,
where free-coinage man is now run
ming for United States senator and a
gold-bug for Governor? And where the
Democratic party is hopelessly divided
at least for the present?
We expect the News to "fall into line"
with us before long. It's declaration
that the silver question is not an issue
In this years State campaign. and that
nobody proposes 10 make 1t so, causes US
10 hope that that paper will not advocate
long ths policy Of making war upon the
Presidents policy.