Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-14
CoMPRoMIsr suGGEsTED.
A Distinguished virHinian's Appeal
to Senator Daniel.


gsstiys. Mr.. Senator Daniel will have at
the Chicago convention the opportunity
OF his lie n he only heeds It's teaching.
He is In position to parody the leader
ship Of Paul In saying TO the assembled
representatives of the Democracy OF the
whole country: "Srs. ye should have
hearkened unto me four years ago and
not have loosed your Democratic ship
under the guidance OF Grover Cleveland.
and to have gained this harm and loss.
and now | exhor; you to be or good
cheer; but except the friends Of Grover
Cleveland and the administration which
you unwisely placed in power abide In the
ship, We cannot be saved"
The Democratic ship Is in imminent
danger OF a wreck. and we believe that
the impending disaster is in large
measure the logical consequence OF Mr.
Clevslands policy. But 1t IL simple JUS
tics to him to concede that his policy
has been In exact conformity 10 bis afore-
time opinions, known and read OF all
mon when his nomination was forced
upon q reluctant minority or his party
IN the face Of their earnest protest and
warning OF what is now accomplished
history With the single exception of
tho jingoism OF his Venezuelan message,
no man can point to an act Of hts ad-
Iniuistration which was not clearly fore
Swallowed IN his previous career.
But his policy has been one which In
vltsd Inevitable defeat, The people asked
for bread and he gave them stone.
The only positive action which he has
suggested has been but to enhance the
evil or which they complain by con-
traction OF tho currency with every green
back paid into the Treasury. In Nil
other respects bis policy has been one
IA
negation always fights a losing battle.
Tho history az our ancestral race Is the
record Of one unbroken triumph OF the
party ana policy Of aggression, and Brit
ish civilization has made orderly progress,
because wise craftsmanship. TO the
height OF which Mr.. Cleveland5 mind
never has risen, has averted revolution
and radical change by timely concessions.
Nr. Cleveland has looked upon practical
politics az synonymous with political cor
ruptior or personal Instability. But
craftsmanship is nothing more than
practical politics, or, In other words. the
abandonment OF extreme and impracu'
cable opinions so far as may be neces-
sary TO secure valuable. II not mplete
success. in attaining useful reforms or
in resisting dangerous experiments.
THE PUBLIC DEMAND.
came into power the Sherman bill was
in full force, and tho depression Of the
business interests Of the country was
attributed by the gold men 10 the ope-
ration Of that law. This was Mr.. Glove
lands theory, and Congress was convened
In extra session for the purpose Of re-
pealing It.. II the silver men had been
wise enough TO yield to the demand OF
the money centres so far as to consent
10 s-fa - h. Ia.
for two or three years. the session Of
Congress would have been Of short du-
ration The gold men would have then
had as full opportunity as the repeal gave
Of testing the value of their prediction
that the distreeses of the people woold
be relieved. but in the event Of the now
proven failure of their remedy, the silver
men would have retained the key Of the
situation and the gold men would have
been compelled TO proffer some other sub
.tantial relief or submit to the revival
Of the Sherman law on the expiration Of
the term Of suspension. But the silver
men were as unyielding then as Mr..
Cleveland has been since. and by forcing
the absolute repeal OF the law left them
selves powerless 70 eXtort any conces-
sion. Thus the fight was forced between
the extreme views Of both parties and
there has been no middle ground upon
which public opinion could be rallied. In
such fight all the teachings OF experience
and the presidents of history fore
Swallowed the results which have been
SO fully realized in the recent appoint
ments Of delegates TO the national con-
vention.
Those appointments undoubtedly import
a condemnation OF Mr.. Cleveland's
policy. and between the do-nothing
policy OF the gold men and the
aggressive demands OF the silver
men for free coinage an election OF
the silver policy. But do they necessarily
import a condemnation of any middle
ground or Imply fixed purpose TO TO
enact the folly OF the Charleston con-
vention OF 1860 and rend in twain the
great Democratic party, hazarding in the
restoration OF the Republican party 10
power the rs-enactment OF the Mckinley
tariff the force BILL etc.? Outside OF the
silver-producing States * cannot be
doubted that the demand for the free
coinage Of silver has been Simply as a
means 10 secure 4 more abundant cur
rency and to dethrope the monopoly OF
the national banks, and cooperating
With that an apprehension that the con-
cealed purpose of the gold advocates was
10 force the nomination Of Mr.. Cleveland
for a third term.
THREE ACTS PROPOSED.
The recent demonstrations OF public
opinion have prepared, We must hope the
EXTREMIST gold men to make concessions,
and may II not yet be practicable TO unite
the party upon some middle ground OF
practical and substantial relief 10 the peo-
pie? Ii Is not necessary for the Chicago
convention TO adopt any straddling plat
form or cover up the great question OF
divided opinion upon free coinage In any
n III. 4. L.. .Nal.
ceptible OF a double construction. But IL
can proclaim the simple truth In declaring
that the Democratic party is so
hopelessly divided that the extreme policy
OF neither wing can be made a canon
or party faith. Let the platform declare,
IL you choose, that the preponderapt senti-
ment OF the party is under existing cir
cumstances for the free coinage Of silver,
and that while the whole party cannot be
required to commit itself to that policy,
1t will pledge itself to use all the infiu-
ence OF the government TO induce an in
ternational agreement for the restoration
OF silver TO It's aforetime position, and in
the mean time they can and will agree TO
offer TO the people some practical legsla-
ton to meet the demand for a greater
volume of currency. This may be done by
three concurrent acts of Congress.
l. By a repeal OF the tax on the issues
Of State banks.
2. BY enlarging the capacity OF the ma
tional banks to furnish currency, so that
they may issue dollar for dollar OF the
whole amount OF their deposits In the
Treasury, and by requiring every such
bank TO keep In circulation notes to the
extent OF three fourths or one half Of
their capital stock. And
9. By authorizing and requiring the free
coinage of silver in fractional currency
TO an indefinite amount.
With the assurance which this leglsla-
ton would give against any contraction
OF the currency. the suggestion CT the ad-