The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-10

The Washington Post of last Saturday
contained the following very startling
statement
Neither Senator German nor Senator
Brice viii 60 TO the Democratic National
Convention at Chicago. This decision of
two of the foremost leaders I'M the party
has given rise 10 considerable discussion
as TO the effect which their absence Will
have upon the Democratic platform.
1t has been the case i'm the past that no
matter how the majority might Doe dis
posed to act upon questions of national
interest, the shrcwd and able managers
like German Brice and Whitney, have
been able 10 bring the rank and iiie Of
the party 10 their way of thinking. Their
calm and conservative counsels have pre-
Yaiied-eXccpt I'm the one instance when
carefully prepared tariff plank was
smashed and in its stead was put an OUT
and-out free trade declaration. But this
was done, IL Will be remembered. In the
hope that 10 would discomfort and cmhar-
rass Mr.. Cleveland as the presidential
nominee Of the party. II was inserted i'm
The platform by his enemies. and not by
his friends.
At Chicago the great fight will De over
the financial plank of the platform The
silver Democrats will go 90 the convention
determined 10 secure free-cOinage dccla-
ration. believing that in such a course
lies the only plan Of political salvation
for the party. If the sound-m0ney Demo-
Gratis. like German and Brice. remain
away. the task Will Doe much easier than
the silver men had anticipated. There
viii Doe no holding the delegates ln check.
The New England States. together with
New York and Pennsylvania. viii be
against silver but these couple of hum
dred votes may have difficulty in stem
ming the silver tide. 10 is safe TO say
that every southern State. with the cx-
ception of Maryland viii send silver
delegations 20 Chicago. The administra-
ton is making mighty efforts TO bring
Georgia into the anti-silvor line. and may
succeed. while there are also hopes shat
some OF the Virginia delegates may be
against FREQ coinage. But, even should
these endeavors Doe successful the fact
still remains that IN the South. and also
in the States west Of the Mississippi and
the Missouri rivers, there viii Doe AN over
whe.ming preponderancc In favor Of sill
YER II is even predicted that the delega-
ton from Ohio viii not be dominated hv
the financial ideas Of AR. Brice, but will
be for silver.
10 is just possible that the sound money
Democrats see the outcome. and they are
MOI willing 10 De caught i'm the whirIpo0i.
If there was amy sympathy between the
President and the majority of the Demo-
cratic leaders. the latter might 20 out 10
Chicago and make the fight As the case
now stands, however III any obstacles are
inteposed against silver at the conyen-
ton they must come from Tho direct and
personal friends of Mr.. Cleveland. All the
other Democrats have already served no.
tice that they find themselves unavoid-
ably detained al home
We would have been very glad on gen
orai principles 20 hear that German and
Brice were going TO stay away from the
convention. as defeat without such men
IS usually better than victory through
their practices. but they have been for
sound money. and it is a bad sign for the
Democratic platform when they are
frightened from their perches by free
silver clamor. 1t is entirely safe TO ass
sumo that this is fair statement Of the
idea that prevails amongst the politicians
at Washington. is 10 possible that fl corr
rccuy represents the actual state of the
case? Can it De possible that the Demo-
cratic party is going TO send majority
OF delegates 10 the National Convention
IN favor Of declaring for the free coinage
OF silver by this country alone al the
ratio of 16 to ]? If it De true. then all
we have TO say is. Goodbye TO the Demo-
cratic party. It's candidate VIII be
beaten. and the party will be annihilated
Tor considerable time 10 come. We
cannot believe that the party has gone
mad.