Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-11

Not a few good Democrats have fouhd IL
difficult to understand the situation IN
Kentucky. where. as Mr.. Watterson says.
is presented the incongruous spectacle OF
a free-silyer candidate for Governor on a
sound-money platform. Mt. Watterso'
undertakes to explain what THIS ihcoh-
gruous spectacle means and how u nap
pens to be presented.
Well, In the first place. It was simply
n case in which, as Kentucky saw H.
there was no conflict between men ana
measures so far az concerned the uo'e'-
nor's duties and the financial plank. we
are glad to learn that the Democrats vi
Kentucky. like those of Virginia. are not
disposed to divide this year on the Issues
which are expected TO divide them in the
next presidential campaign.
The campaign within the ranks OF 'he
Kentucky Democrats was a double one
or. as the Courier-Journal phrases II, there
was first contest on the part Oh u"e
silver men to procure the insertion In the
state platform of a declaration In favor
of the free coinage of silver at a ratlo Oh
I6 to L. and on the part OF the sounu-
money men to prevent such a declaration.
And there was second a contest for place
on the State ticket. That the KENTUCKY
Democrats regarded these two contests
az entirely distinct was shown in many
ways. saws the Journal. which states that
early In the campaign the sound-hohey
men, Of whom that papers editor was
one, took the position that the currency
question had nothing TO do with the race
for Governor. and that 1t was not the
business of the convention TO be making
a new platform on that subject. Here the
sound-money men are not presented DO
the telegraph presented them whist the
Kentucky convention was in session. III
appears that they did not even so much as
ask for new platform. but were content
to stand upon the Chicago plank OF NV
which was as strong for silver as Tor
gold, and as strong for gold as for silver
So that Kentucky Democrats may be set
down as Democrats first and bimetallists
or monometallists afterwards.
But the free-silver men forced the issue
Courier Journal as follows
"Sound-money men took up the gage
thus thrown down, and in order 10 pre-
vent the insertion of free-sliVer pianh
in the platform began their vigorous anu
successful campaign Of education. rms
they did aside from and independent Oh
tho race for Governor. They did IT with
out departing from their position, that the
CURRENCY nuestion had nothing to do with
the race for Governor. Mr.. Clay. sound
money man. ran his race out for Cover
nor. steadily refusing to discuss the
money question. Not less than 200 sound
money delegates to the convention were
personally for Hardin Gree silverite) Tor
Governor When the free-silver leaders
insisted on q declaration in the PLATFORM
on the money question these delegates
voted for a declaration in FAVOR of sound
money. That done and disposed OF. Gnd
still true TO their position that the money
question had nothing to do with the race
for Governor, they next picked their man
for Governor. regardless of what ne
thought about silver In nominating MT.
Hardin they retracted nothing OF their
nrevious declaration In favor of sound
money. They did not desire 10 carry the
issue into the race for Governor. and did
not do So
The Democrats Of Virginia have all the
time steadfastly set their faces against
making the silver question an issue In the
elections Of this fall. Their sagacity has
been shown in thus demeaning themselves.
The withdrawal OF Mr.. Blackburn from
the stump is a most significant fact. as
we have stated elsewhere.