Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-30
oeverner na..eIi,. seana rcsnIun.

Governor riusselt's sound Position.
In Mondays issue Of the New York
World is printed 40 interview hy staff
correspondent Of that paper with ex-
Governor William L. Russell of Masga-
chusctts, whose name is now rroni.
nehtly mentioned throughout the coun-
try as one Of the very best that could
be placed at the head Of tho Democra.
tic ticket in The coming national cam.
paign.
The expressions Of Governor Russell
were characteristic. Ho positively
protested against any State ihstructing
its delegates for him, believing that
the question OF primary Importance
was the declaration by tho convention
Of platform proclaiming truo Demo.
cratic principles. After that had been
done, he beloved, it would be time
enough to consider the question OF can-
didates lie said:
am greatly surprised TO hear that
the action OF the Massachusetts con-
vention has attracted any special alton
tion outside the State. While | greatly
appreciated the compliment of an in
dorsoment by my State, | am not sock
ing the nomination, nor am | desirons
OF being tho candidate, nor do | wish
any movement made in any State in my
interest.
On the contrary, have already earn
estly requested that no such movement
be made in any other State by friends
OF mine. My belief is that it is all
important that when tho Chicago con.
vention meets its delegates should be
absolutely free TO deliberate and act
clear OF all Instructions or pledges Of
even expressed preferences least so
far as | am concerned. l don't know
that any movement personal to me is
contemplated. II it is request and
insist that it should not be made.
IL seems to me that our party should
send it's strongest men to Chicago and
leave II to their good Judgment, in
view OF the situation as il then appears,
TO determine what is best to he done.
u will be time enough TO consider can
didates then.
The important thing now il to make
every effort to have the Democratic
party take an absolutely sound position
on the money question, without evasion
or compromise, / believe this is of
vital consequence TO the party for its
present and its future.
| am firmly Of the opinion, az / have
recently said, that our national Plat
form ought explicitly and emphatically
to oppose the free coinage of silver or
its compulsory purchase, or any com.
nromise legislation in that direction /;
and that il ought to indorse and com
mend the administration OF President
Cleveland for its resolute work in main
tanning our present gold standard and
in preserving the credit Of the nation
think it would be neither right nor
wise to attempt to avoid or straddle this
question by any ambiguous or mean
ingless declaration. The time has
passed for that.
The issue must be made and fought
out, trust, to Il sound conclusion.
Governor Russell is right. The plat.
form of party principles to be framed
at Chicago is Of the greatest import
ance, not only to the Democratic party
but to the entire country, in view Of
the grave probability that the issue of
sound money will bp met by tho Re.
publican convention with a meaning.
less straddle. And whcn the Chicago
convention shall have made positive
and unequlvocal declaration upon the
issue, and arrayed the Democratic
party under the banner of honest
money, it could not do bettor than 10
take for its standard bearer the man
who has thus pointed out so unerrinrly
TO tine national Democracy its manifest
duty in this grave crisis Of the coun
try's history,