The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-10
He Writes Letter Of Much Interest On
The Widely Discussed Unit Rule.
THE GEaTLEMAA'S IDEA OF DEMOCRACY.
Virginia and the Position She
should Take at the State and
National Conventions-The Kind
Of Money Plnnk Tint Would Suit
LET Us Have Unity Says He.

upon the maintenance of Democratic
principles, l cordially approve your
manly and vigorous opposition to the
proposed adoption of the unit rule
by the Democratic convention at Staun-
ton.
In my opinion the adoption of that
rule would not only be departure
from well established precedents, but
a dangerous innovation upon long
cherished principles. Not having the
record before me, l cannot speak with
entire accuracy, but l am unable to
recall u single occasion upon which the
unit rule" has been enforced in Vir-
ginia. Heretofore when we have met
In convention to deliberate. the prac-
tice has been to give full and free eX-
preston to the will of all the Demo-
cratic voters in the State. If there
has been difference Of opinion among
the delegates from a single county.
each precinct of that county has been
permitted to cast its full Democratic
vote. If there has been a difference of
opinion In a district delegation each
county OF the district has cast It's fun
Democratic vote without reference to
the number of delegates present
Under thel call recently issued by the
National Committee. the Democrats of
Virginia are entitled to appoint twenty
1our delegates To the National Conven-
I
large. and two each from each Congress
sional District. According to immemo-
rial usage, the four delegates-at -lal ye
will be elected by the convention itself.
ana TWO delegates Will be elected by the
representatives from each Congressional
District in separate meetings The con-
vehtion may very properly instruct the
TOUR delegates of its choice, but | deny
its Jurisdiction over delegates in the dis
trict meetings. The district delegates
are elected TO reflect the will of their
Immediate constituents. They owe a rep-
fesentatiVe duty 10 them alone. AS they
are not elected by the convention the
convention has no right TO instruct them.
and cannot de so without an utter dis
regard of the p:incip lie of minority rep
resentation.
Four years ago I had the honor to be
chairman of the Virginia delegation at
chicago, and when the name of our
State was called, 1 announced that Viz
ginia cast twelve votes for Grover
Cleveland; eleven votes for David p. Hill.
and one for Arthur p. German And
thus the voice of the Virginia Democi acy
was as clearly pronounced as it could
have been IL they had assembled EN-
masse at Chicago. This is representa-
tive Democracy, as | understand II.
MI Jefferson, the founder OF the De-
mocratic party. declared that absolute
acquiescence in the decisions of the ma
jority Is one of the essential principles of
government. | accept that doctrine to
the fullest extent. and without any re-
SerHation whatever. But how Is that
majority to be ascertalned in the ap-
preaching National Democratic Conven-
tion? Shall ID be determined by sup
pressing entirely the voice of the mi
nority in Virginia? II there are six dele
gates from Virginia who agree with the
delegates from New York on the money
oh hAt he
ascertaining the will of the majority of
the Democratic party in the country at
large?
The only plausible argument in favor
Of the adoption of the unit rule in Virgil
mia that | have heard advanced is based
upon the action of the recent Democratic
conventions in Pennsylvania and Michi-
gan. butsthe fact that our brethren in
othehr SNsies have fallen into error fur
nishes no justification to US to initiate
their example. The Democrats of Vir
SiDia have been accustomed to lead and
not TO fellow in the enuncia ton of the
fundamental and essential principles
OF representative government
If my voice could be heard in the conn
ellis of the party at Chicago. | would
favor the adoption Cf the following plank
on the money question:
1T Is hereby declared to be the p,licv
OF the Democratic party to continue the
use OF Doth SoId ana silver as standard
money, and to coin both gold and silver
into money of equal intrinsic and ex-
changeable value. such equality 10 be So
cured through international agreement.
or by such safeguards of legisia tion as
VIII insure the maintenance of the parity
in value OF the coins of the two metals
and the equal power of every dollar
at all times in the markets and in the
payments of debts.
And II is hereby further declared
that the efforts of the government should
be steadily directed to the establishment
of suoh safe system of bimetallism as
VIII maintain at all times the equal power
of every dollar coined and issued by the
United States in the markets and in the
payment OF debts"
This Is the language of a statute en-
acted by Democratic Congress and ap-
proved by a Dempcratic President on
November l, 1893. 1t is substantially
the language of the Chicago platform
OF 1892. which was reaiirmed by the
democratic convention that assembled d
AT the city of Richmond in August.
1893. Upon that declaration we achieved
great victory in the Presidential cleo
.ion OF 1882, aDd In the gubernatorial
election OF 1893 u"
NO matter yhat may be written I'm the
OF the a -