Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-08
sr,cK TO THE OLD RULE.

srrcIx TO THE OLD RULE.
The Iynchburg News, commenting upon
the Dispatch's warning to our part "o'
20 run the risk of destroying the harmony
Of the stanton convention, by aDrosa-
ting the virginia rule and adopting 'he
unit one. asks: do we understand 'he
Disnatcb 10 mean that its soldite irlehuS
win holt the convention If they cannot
control it?" And further. the News IN
e,,,res Of MS: Does the Dispatch think 1t
a. RIGHT for the oddities 20 adopt the unit
rule in Michigan and other kepuoncan
states. and then whine because the Sill
verites propose to pay them back in their
own coin here in Virginia and other Dem
ocratic states? Can the sense OF the
Democratic voters Of the United States be
,airl,, ascertained by the suppression Of
the minority in Michigan and other gold
states while the minority in the silver
states are given voice and representa-
tom"
We nrefer 10 follow the Virginia prac-
tlce rather than the Michigan practice.
The sensible and cOnciliatOry course adopt
Cd at our State convention four years
ago was generally approved and is well
remembered by the people Of this State.
He'd the unit rule been adopted then and
there. a party split would have been prob
able The same danger may confront US
at stanton on June 4th. and we think
that II should be met In the same con-
ciliatory way.
We know nothing OF the purpose Of any
oddities TO "bolt" our convention next
month: nor will there be the slightest ex-
use for any dissatisfaction there If we
adhere TO the sensible Virginia rule, leave
he unit rule alone and act as prudently
as we did in 1902
The Virginia Democrats must look out
Tor themselves. What Don Dickinson and
The Michiganders have done isn't of the
slightcst consequence to us. If the SUI
eremacy Of our party in this State is
natter Of less consequence than the send
ng of a solid silver delegation to Chicago
4 would be well to follow the example
act by Don Dickinson otherwise not
After what occurred at the State Demo-
cratic Convention held here in 1892 it
viii be impossible 10 convince thousands
If Virginia Democrats that a different
.ule or different course of conduct should
,btain at the State Convention on June
lth. Indeed, the policy Of Cancellation
pursued I'm 1892 was 50 successful. and
benefited our party so greatly, there is
very reason why we should adhere to it.
adhere 10 il to this extent, that the dis
r.cts shall be allowed to choose their own
delegates. while the convention Itself
elects the four delegates for the State-at-
arge. And in the matter of passing reso-
utions we would have the convention say
What IT will, provided that il does not at
.c,npt 10 rule any one out Of our party on
le currency question or undertake to
Instruct those delegates to Chicago that
ave been chosen by the congressional
ilr,rict delegations.
The News also refers to Incorporate
rtcrances that have been made by gold
tcs as to what they would do in this that,
~ Inc other case. Irt a'nl, IT well not to
i've much weirf such utterances.
Hvorites and go,, IN have too free
induced in II we were to
olact and publish .e columns of the
)iDatch an the ,avise and irritating
A.NaA~Nlhiln lAlNA nav A''f itslsAN N'N VI
y virginia Democrats during the past
wo months, our party would be hope
fssly riven in this State for years 10
enc. We must pardon something to the
aior OF the oddities and silverites both;
,o.h have been guilty Of lmprudences.
IN short we would better ask ourselves
{ there is anything so promising. or
leasing. in the national outlook as TO
Justify us in endangcring the success Of
ar party by doing away with rule
hat has worked wei, to adopt a rule
hat would have wrecked our party in
'rginia In 1892. and is clearly unadvisa-
10 in 1886 Already the Democrats Of the
ounties Of Halifax and Gloucester, and
the city OF williamsburg. while speak
az out and out I'm favor OF the free coin
sc OF silver, have declared against the
doption OF the unit rule. Their action
ught 10 suggest to our free silver
Tcthren throughout the State that II
'ould not be wise for them to imperl
DC harmony OF our party in Virginia
sr any prospect that the national contest
olds out to Us.