Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-31
WHAT WILL VIRGINIA DO.

As the time approaches for the meeting
OF the staunton State Democratic Con-
yention. we begin TO feel more and more
sensibly the Importance of not there
committing the Democratic party to any
uuw-ise policy-that Il, we might say, any
policy which would embarrass the Demo
Gratis OF the Union in the prosecution OF
the presidential campaign Virginia may
declare for free silver, or the unlimited
coinage. of silver at the ratio Of IL to J.
but all the New England and Middle
States will decline to mount the platform.
That we are not likely TO be mistaken IN
this forecast Is abundantly proved by
two pronounced utterances which were
made in Washington city a few days ago
the Hon. w. +. Harrity, of Pennsylva-
vania. chairman Of the Democratic Ma
tionaI party-the head of the Democratic
psrty of the Union. These two utterances
are as follows:
everything points to the adoption of a
sound-money platform and a candidate
who IS absolutely committed to that
cause"
Again:
Tine great business interests of the
Il
AZ either the platform or the nominee as
not strictly in accord with the dominant
sentiment of the solid business class.
Not only the party declaration must be
unequlvocal. but the candidate must
stand before the country as believer in
and advocate of honest money. The two
must go together"
1t may be said that Mr.. Harrity goes
700 far in predicting that the Democratic
party, in national convention assembled
will declare for sound money and nomi-
nate a candidate for President who is
in favor Of sound-money currency. We
say nothing as to that prediction. What
we wish particularly to impress upon the
minds of our readers is that the Staunton
convention cannot make party test OF
the currency question OF the silver ques-
ton without doing what may tend 10 di-
vide the Democrats, not only Of Virginia
but OF the entire Union. into two hostile
camps. We do not think that Mr.. Har-
rity ought to have said what he did; but
/. is too late TO rectify that blunder MIR.
Harrity probably said what he ought not
10 have said; but II he did, he said only
what a majority of the Democrats Of the
Northern States, at least, will endorse.
Mr.. Harrity probably had in mind the
two-thirds rule, under the Operation Of
which every Democratic national conven-
ton makes its nominees. He knows that
il is simply impossible for the silver men
in the next Democratic Nationa Conven-
lion to succeed in securing twot thirds In
that body. And so he spoke toe hastily
as 10 what that convention may be ex-
pected 10 do.
Having declared that the nominee Of
the next Democratic convention would be
a sound-money man, II Was not unnatural
for Mr.. Harrity TO add the prediction
that the platform would be sound-ppn-
ey platform.
What good can the Democrats of Va
glnia hope TO accomplish by oommittuy
their party In advance either TO sound
money or 10 free silver? Mr.. Whitney {
advice is much better than Mr.. Harrity S.
MIR. Whitney Is a firm believer in silver,
but thinks the people will not be prepared
for IFS general use until an international
agreement on that subject shall have
been adopted by the commercial nations
of the world.
Let all good Democrats ponder this
subject, and see clearly whittier duty
points. We would be sorry If anything
we may have said heretofore or may say
hereafter should offend anybody.