Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-05-11

q mOsG remarkable letter TO OON |
STONE of Mississippi. He takes
decided stand in favor of an abso-
Lutte gold standard, which he Is
pleased to term sound currency, and |
he argues to the question with an
which betokens that he
will fight it out TO a finish along
that line.
He vouches for the trutbiulness. of
the assertion that the entire iIflu-
ence of the administration will he
used along these lines, and that of
fce-holders, who have views antag-
onistic TO those expressed by him
had better change them or remain
ominously silent.
President CLEVELAND makes a sur
prIsing statement OF his position,
and In a few words replies tn the
criticism of his past actions. and his
apparent desire to establish in this
country what may be well termed a
CLEvELAND Party. Here are bis
words under date of April &c, 1895:
MyD ar Sir,-Your letter Of the 2Ist
| instant is at hand. l do not feel in
clined to find fault with your criticism,
but I think the matters you refer to
should be Judged in the light OF the cir
cumstances existing at the time the
things were done. l never had an idea
of building up or fostering a personal
q. III, i
properly influence me in making appoint
ments | have tried to be Democratic
and not proscriptive. / am glad you
are frank enough to admit your partici
lpation in bringing about condition in
oiiiee-holding which may not be eli
that could now be desired.
Whether those appointed to places
Ishall, in speech aud action, behave de-
Icently toward the administration under
which they hold office must remain. to a
large extent, a matter of taste and good
breeding. There are. however, some of
ticials who devote themselves so indus
triously to utilization and abuse of
those under whom they hold Office as to
trusted for the performance of their
duties in a manner creditable to the ad-
ministratlon. and who apparently as
sumo they may spend the time they owe
the public service in doing political mis-
lchief. In the interest of good govern
ment such office holders must not be sur
prised if they are summary dealt with.
The same notice which he served
upon Republicans is now being an
nounced to disagreeing Democrats.
Few men outside of Wall St., New
York have dared to take so radical
a stand upon the monetary question
as that announced by Mr. CLEvE-
LAND. Even where they held to the
same Views expressed by him, they
were careful to speak IN favor oil
bImetalism. Mr.. CLEVELAND has
taken Issue with two-thirds of hif
own party, which is hopelessly com
mitted to the free coinage of silver.
Two years is too short a time tt
convert it to his way OF thinking
and a split so pronounced that i
will send all hope of Democratic sue
q cess glimmering In the distance i
the logical outcome of his DECLARE
ton. But the President virtual,
prophesies the success of the Reput
lIcan party in tie next national eleC
ton when he says:
If there are Democrats who suppos
that our party can stand on platfOrI
# embody ing such doctrine tree silver
either through it's affirmative strengt
. or through the perplexity of our oppC
r nents on the same proposition, or
"a there are democrats who are willing I
turn their backs upon their party assC
citation in the hope that free and u lin
y tied and independent coinage of silV,
! can win a victory without the aid
- either party organization, they shout
:; deceive themselves no longer. nor long
10 refuse to look in the face the results tn,
will follow the defeat, If not the dist
~ tegration, OF the Democratic party upC
IT, the issue which tempts them from the
IN allegiance. If we should be forced ava
from our traditional doctrine OF sour
and safe money our old antagonist "
As take the field on the platform which 7
abandon, and neither the votes of rec
less Democrats nor reckless Republica
ct will avail to stay their easy march
en- power. This is as plain as any thil
A. can possibly be.
to The Issue Is clearly defined. 7
d. South Is not In accord with n
er CLEVELAND. The West is hopeless
in against him. The East favors I
ed views but fears to trust the folio
re ers who endorse any wildcat theo
ut which has the appearance of bel
ON an aid to the continuation of {
at Democratic Party IN power. \
is CLEVELAND has prophesIed tru
ars DIsIntegration has already set
at and the downfall OF the party of h
N esies and crude ideas is certaini
mt It is not at all surprising that (
captain OF the ship should endeav
IN to steer clear OF impending disasl
ok and plead with the mutinous CT