The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
NORFOLK LOCAL NEWS.
TRUE DEMOCRACY.
Its AdhaFents shouId Organize in Ds
fense orSound PrincipIes,


fenso ofSound Principles.
1t is now but a short time before the
Democratic National Convention as
sembles at Chicago to declare q plat
form OF party principles and nominate
candidates for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency Of the Union.
In my opinion the latter act Is to be
considered secondary In Importance
to the former, for the continued exist
the political principles of the platform
there proclaimed, and especially upon
the purport of Its financial plank.
The party has we'll defined positions
upon other political Issues, but upon
this. the money question, 1t Is In dan
gT OF becoming hopsleisly wrecked,
ana unless something Is done to stem
the tide of the monetary heresy now
SCATTERING Its ranks, the Democratic
party will go down ANONYMOUSLY be-
tore the righteous Indignation of the
people, irrespective of party affiliations
we are Democrats because we believe
the largest liberty consistent with law
ana order Is every mans heritage; be-
cause our party stands for the individ-
ual against the encroachment of the
municipality and the State; for the
rights of the States against encroach-
ment OF the Federal Government; for
home rule against foreign interference
and aggression.
The cornerstone of our party is the
principles Of the capability OF every man
to govern himself, and Of each united
In society to govern that society. with
the lsast possible interference with
mans individual concerns. We proclaim
personal liberty and personal respon-
sibility as against governmental inter-
ia ence with acts whose consequences
are ones own concern.
From the time of Hamilton and JEFF
ferson our party has stood squarely up
on their fundamental principles and
bravely struggled to teach and main
tain them, and to-day we are engaged
in the same contest, for the Republican
party is but a survival of the Federal
party of that day, which favored and to-
day favors paternal government.
strong, centralized, seeking to rule from
above rather by and through the peo-
pie, while the Democracy, bounded by
JEFFERSON, taught and still teaches
equal rights, the spreading of munificent
influence around, the Judgment of pow
er more with the people. He is q Demo-
crat In whose heart three principles meet
with proud response, but the opposite
If they do not, and when any new is
sue arrives one can momentarily tell
how the person treats 1t whether he be
Democrat or n Republican. Is this
new issue, then, the free cionage Of sill
and party life. consistent with or alien
10 the fundamental principles of the
Democratic party? If consonant there
with, then 1t hs the patriotic duty of
all good party men to rally round its
standard; IL not but fatal thereto. then
every effort should be made to thwart
the designs of its advocates that no
such whitening blight may strike our
party and subject 1t to decay.
l am one Of the thousands throughout
our State to whom the idea of compul-
sorry coinage of silver Is obnoxious, and
who wish to see It's agitation wltirn
our party wnolly silenced, because we
In principle. but false to the material
Interests. prosperity and welfare of our
country. and especially so to the South
Space forbids ME entering the large
field OF discussion this question opens
up In an endeavor to show its fallacy and
the consequent ruin ~ the peoples pros
per!ty were the views of its advocates
adopted. But something should be done
to checkmate the influences now being
Welded to secure TO the free silverItes the
control In the cJming national conven-
non, who in the next Presidential cleo
ton would bring to the party certain
ignominlous defeat.
There is but one way to checkmate this
pateful innuence, and that 1t to give the
people the facts about this question in
such way that they may be understood.
All over this State conventions are
being held to select delegates to the Chi
cago Convention, and thus far the great
majority OF them are controlled by the
advocates OF free silver, and almost
without any opposing efforts on the part
OF the sound money men # the party.
Are these men holding themselves out
8 leaders. and imbued as we believe with
the spirit Of true Democracy. going to
permit the grand old State of Virginia
thus to go by default committed TO a
heretical policy that will. If adopted, as
surely doom the Democratic party to de-
feat as the night viii follow the day?
1t would seem SO, for nothing, appa-
rently, Is being done
The road to financial defeat and finan-
cial ruin VIII not be followed II the sign
boards OF facts are well posted, and these
should be hoisted by CUR journals. the
press. Are they doing so? Apparently
not. Sound money clubs should be or
ganized and conducted by able states
men In every city, town, village and
hamlet throughout the State to dissent
nate financial truths among the people
and to proclaim war against those, who
would commit our State to a policy as
fatal as death, and t.. lead the way in
placing the Democratic party upon such
sound money platform at the national
convention as VIII enlist the confidence
OF the people, and at least secure IL honor
ana respect, IL not the majority vote at
the coming election.
III our party, then, goes down Il will he
In honor. and with flying colors to rise
in the future stronger and better eoutn