Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-18

| was earnestly engaged in the campaign
| work, speaking In Bedford. Danville,
| Richmond and Fredericksburg, and other
wise aiding the cause to the extent OF
my ability. You can, therefore. appreci-
ate how cruel and unjust are the criticisms
which have been made upon me In some
newspapers upon the alleged ground that
/ have not been duly active in this cam
paign. Permit me to say that there has
never been a campaign in which l have
felt a more earnest interest. Gould have
| honorably commanded my own time, my
physical ability would have been the only
limit to my eXertions in behalf of our
splendid ticket, and from now until the
campaign closes there is nothing that l
can do that will not be done 10 promote
its success
A GROUNDLESS CRITICISM.
The suggestion which has been made
that am sensitive about the Democratic
platform, and that l regard it as repug-
nant TO the resolutions which offered in
the Senate supporting the President In
sending troops to defend our postal ana
interstate commerce rights at Chicago. is
criticism which Is utterly groundless.
The Democratic platform has been gross
ly misrepresented. 1t does not in the
least encroach upon the principles of that
offices and post-roads and the regulation
OF Interstate commerce are matters
placed by the Federal Constitution under
Federal jurisdiction. and the same Con-
stitution makes ii the duty OF the Presi-
dent 10 see that the laws respecting them
are faithfully executed. When the Presi-
dent sent troops to repel violence di-
rected against the Federal postal estab-
lishment and against the vehicles of inter-
state commerce, / thought he did right,
and still think so. and If the Chicago
platform should be fairly construed 10
mean differently would to that extent
dissent from 1t. But in my opinion it
does not.
WHAT THE PLATFORM DENOUNCES.
1t denounces the arbitrary interference
by Federal authorities I'm local affairs.
and especially objects to government by
injunction as a new and highly dangerous
form Of oppression by which Federal
judges In contempt Of the laws OF the
States and rights OF citizens become at
once legislators judges. and executioners.
In naming these as the special subject OF
its criticism IL clearly discloses the kind
Of arbitrary interference by Federal au-
thorities In local affairs, which IL con-
denns. 1t is only in the imagination OF
those who seek a pretext TO stigmatize
lists any repuGnance between the Demo-
cratic platform and the resolution of the
Senate OF which / was the author. The
platform approves the bill passed by the
Senate, and of which Hon. David Il. Hill,
of New York, was the autho-. which pro-
vides for trial by jury in certain cases OF
contempt OF court, and which would in
large degree remove the abuse OF the
power OF injunction by Federal judges.
The approval given that bill IN the SEN
ate by the members Of all parties is proof
that the supporters OF Bryan are not
moving on any eccentric line in their de-
yotion 10 popular right and to trial by
jury.
A GREAT BULWARK OF LIBERTY.
believe the trial by jury to be the
greatest OF all the constitutional bui-
warks Of popular liberty. l believe also.
as did Thomas Jefferson, that tho en-
CINE OF consolidation to be feared is the
Federal judiciary" Such powers OF in
junction as Federal judges have recently
asserted were never before exercised by
the judiciary OF any State OF the Federal
Union. or by the judiciary OF the United
States. and are unknown in the judicial
history OF Great Britain. from which we
have copied for the most part our judicial
system. l supported the President in
sending troops 10 defend the distinctive
Federal rights which were assaulted at
Chicago. l supported also, and was one
Of the committee which favorably re-
ported, the bill OF Hon. David b. Hill.
providing for the extension OF trial by
jury and no repugnance between the two |
positions was ever discovered until hyper |
critical opponents OF the Chicago plat
form sought a pretext for the use OF
hard names I'm stigmatizlns Democrats. |
There are some phases Of the Democratic |
pla,form In which I do not concur. but !