Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-09-02
The Boilers Convention.

AMo OUltcT OVMfcntAUM.
On last Thursday the 9th inst. a
of Democratic boilers met
n the city of Richmond for some pur-
pose which neither they nor the pub
lie seem to have exactly understood.
After prayer, which was doubtless
they organized in the usual
way, minus a name. This lack OF
name caused q confusion of tongues
which we'll nigh destroyed the tower
they had met to build. Some wanted
to be called the sHonest Money DEM
ocrats, some the National Democrat,
ic party" and some the ssJeffersonian
Democracy" Mr.. Joe Bryan saw the
difficulty and sought to bridge it by ap-
pointing committee in name, but as
yet the committee has never reported.
There never was such harmony in
convention before. No one wanted
office. All they wanted was to save
the country and the Democratic party
They proved to their entire satisfac
ton that they were not boilers, but on
the other hand that the Democratic
party had scampered of, and left them
the bag to hold, and they were trying
to hold 1t. They had not met
for spoils. A railroad ticket !,
hotel bills paid at the Jefferson, and a
fall oyercoat as souvenir of the con
vention were sufficient. There is SAID
to have been 200 of these good demo
Gratis present, hunting up the rem
nants of the ancient organization, in
voking the spirit of Jefferson, and de
yising plans for the election OF Mckln-
ley.
It has been lauded by a sympathetic
press as a ''great convention, but we
doubt if the history of Virginia could
show a tanner affair, or if there ever
was a convention held in Virginia in
which the members were SO much at
sea. Wise men of course, brainy, and
business like, but as a ship without
rudder they tossed about, without con,
yictions consonant with each other,
without set purpose, without a head
or leader. It is hoped they may agree
upon a name at least, and if possible a
leader, then platform, and assume
some shape and not longer remain
without form and void"
In the convention, although there
were only two hundred, mot four hun
dred), they were us much strangers az
if they had lived in foreign lands, and
when any one arose to speak he was
asked to state his name, place OF resi-
dence, and everything about himself
except his previous condition of servi
tude. Their Greatest wisdom was dis
played when they adjourned.
Mr.. McKinley's letter Of acceptance
is the most temperate utterance he ha
yet made. 1t is dignifed, and that j
saving a good deal. 1t is well writer
and presents his views of the situation
as best he could. But like ali utter
ances 5sS an,fii11gfr from the mouths of the
supporters of gold standard, it de
elares with too much positiveness what
is going to happen, in the event we
adopt free silver. We have never had
free silver and this being the case Mr.
Mckinley can no more tell what the re-
suits will be than any body else. OF
course like all other persons who talk
or write on this subject he carries with
him Mexican dollar, and he cites
China and india as two very deplorable
countries on account Of their coin be-
ing silver 1t is noticeable that he
cites China as an example when talk
ing about money, but when talking
tariff he never mentions that it is the
most protected part of the universe.
Mr.. Mckinley is thought not at heart
to be gold mono-metallist, because
at times he has voted for silver, for the
free coinage of silver. But a man who
would like to be president can easily
think the way the people whom he
relies on to elect him think, Mr.. Nc
Kinley's writings are so much more
temperate than his talks. that it is a
real pleasure to note the change. There
is none of the 'srebeln nor 'traitor"
expression there, to harrow up the
South. All in all the presentation of
his case is about as good as he can make
it, but it is by no means convincing.
and the silver wave rolls on just as it
did before the letter was written.
.Who Owns and Controls the News.
The general manager of the Staun
ton Daily NeaUs informs the public and
us, who owns and controls that paper,
and here is the information. THE NeUs
is owned and controlled by Democrats
and residents of the City of Staunton. :"
Now dear reader when anybody asks
you who owns and controls the Neaps
say Democrats and residents Of the
City of Staunton." If you should be
asked how you know, say the General
Manager says so. Then if the person
should ask you who the Democrats are
and who the citizens of Staunton are,
how many Of them are Democrats, and
how many are citizens, and whether
the latter are male or female, and in
what proportion they stand, tell them
you do not know, the G.. M. did not
mention these facts. Then both of
you ask yourselves, whether you know
any more than you did before the Il.
MS statement was made, and see what
your replies will be.
What do the gold advocates PROM
ise the people? What rainbow is in
their sky? Have we not had a gold