Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-25
Cor. campbell Says No.

democracy. 1ue OpiulOu9 Va WIG
guished Democrat are characterized by vigor
and directuess. "YOu may say with all the
clear emphasis that English is capable of
that am not and will not be candidate
for the Presidential nomination at Chicago
nor will my name be placed before the DEM
ocratie convention" he said.
Continuing on the general condition OF
the Democratic party, Governor Campbell
said: Every true Democrat should, how
ever. rally at this crisis about the standard
of the party. This talk of possible split
should cease. These will be trying times
for the Democracy. The party has met three
bitter defeats since the victories of 1892. 1t
is lust as we'll not to ask why, or blow in
the ashes of the past for reasons now. Those
defeats have torn aud strained and weakened
Us. If they are to be followed by a split in
the conventions and assertions at the polls,
then are the days Of Democracy numbered,
and the era is at hand. say it with firm
ness for it is my unqualified belief that
should the party be split at the Chicago
convention the party has met its death. 1t
is for that reason that exhort every true
man Of the faith 10 stand by the Democracy
through the next campaign We may fail,
but let Us fail aud fall together. Do not let
US annihilate the party in advance by the
suicide of a split.
every man who goes as delegate to the
convention should go there pledged to him
self to support the candidate and accept the
platform of that convention. No matter
who NAV be named 20 make the canvass, no
matter what the platform may contain, they
should be accepted, aud the only hope OF
party continuation lies in their acceptance.
A delegate who goes to Chicago with the
intention to stay if the majority agrees with
him aud accept his candidate or make his
platform, whether on finance, tariff, or what
else, and who means to bolt if his notion of
men and measures is voted down, is a traitor
in advance He has no business in the con-
ven,ion. He should stay at home.
81 prescribe no medicine l will not take.
For myself I will say that whatever the
Chicago platform, and whoever the candi-
dates, I will support both with heart and
strength and vote the ticket without mark.
have my views on finance as full and clear
as any man, yet say to you that if next
summers Democratic convention declares
for gold recommendation and against silver
in any form for all time, and then names
an utter goldbug as the candidate for the
Presidency, l will give my full and faithful
support to the ticket, aud do my best TO put
il through
"If Oh the other hand, the platform de-
cIares for independent free silver coinage,
Is to 1. silver monometallism, if you please,
and Tue utter death Of gold as a money
metal. aud selects candidates TO correspond,
vet will give my heartiest support 20 the
ticket aud work with zeal and ardor to Sc
cure victory Yet believe both of these
proposals OF finance would bee wrong do
not agree with either Bat it the party is
Do live. it it is ever Co see national success
again. mea must learn ihat miuoritie- must
yi,..' ra uajorii- les and Jaat 'ac treason of
bot aud spin, must be doav away.
Take the situation at Frankfort a, sam
pie do not agree with Blackburn, we
wil. say. iu his views or finance. But had
been Democrat in The Kentucky L-eis-
la,ure / would have voted for HIM And
those Democrats who refused 20 vote tor
Blackburn after he WAS made the caucus,
and therefore The party, nominee, TO put it
mildly, did wrong, aud mistook their mis-
sion nightly 10 the same tactic. are to
obtain 40 Chicago that were fashionable
with certain so-calied Democrats at Frank
fort. if men are 20 bolt, it split il 10 follow
becau-e the candidate or ;ne platform does
not meet the hopes Of some no, minority,
whether it be- gold o. silver minority, the
destruction OF the party ha. come.
90 was born a Wing and raised Repub-
Hcao. aud became a Democrat with my eyes
open. and with reasons Tor ,ae hope within
me. became u Democrat because be-
lieveJ. aud ,tili believe, that 70 l. The party
of the common people, as against q party of
an aristocracy, aud 10 has within lbs keeping
the ark OF political covenant which guarau-
tees 90 this people OF this country the rights
and Liberties granted by the Constitution -
The Democratic party is the party of the
people as against the Republican, the party
of privileges, aad the PapuIi-ts the party of
Anarchy. And IL Is this which has preserv-
Ell the Democratic party. It's war record
Wal. and is not 90 be defended T. would
hay, zli.eG any other party The Wing,
died for less Yet because 10 va, the party
OF The people, tor the people, 10y the people,
the people forgive 60 The worse thau n,i-
takes of th. first halt oi the sixties And
now thirty years after the war, 10 The mem
ber. of the partywiil only be ;rue TO them
selves whether we win next fail or not,
there Is still future Of success and victory
30 follow But bolt or split now and we are
lndoue for al time The Democracy is de-
,lroyed forever, sown with salt. 1t will li7e
,uly as a memory like the Wings, the Fed /
,ra.i,t- and other combination, OF a past |
hst is FIR or near