Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-27
run CONVENTION TO-DAY.

To-day we are 20 have with US IN i'ich-
-nond a convention composed OF gehtie-
men who will, doubtless, set up Inc
claim, that they are "the Democratic
,,ortv Of virginia" And yet Richmond
CITY. which has an actual DelnocraVc
voting population Of between ten ana
eleven thousand. will be represented oy
dftv-one delegates who were eiecteu "'
a meeting which numbered only about
one hundred PERSONS
D1or can It be said that that meeting
was not well advertised, for the local le-
,,orters gave repeated announcements OF
,,vl,ere and when it would take place. anu
:, was literally advertised in display type
IN the regular advertising columns OF the
c,tv papers. under the heading or meet
ings"
SOFT cannot be questioned that the Rlch-
,nond public was fully Informed with re-
snect 10 the meeting. Yet out OF our
more than ten thousand, only fvescore
r1ero,.rats presented themselves to take
mart I'm the proceeding, while from one
of the wards where there is a big popu-
,ation OF workingmen there was only
one voter present.
II. as we believe, the Richmond meet
ing was q type Of the meetings heiu
throughout the state TO send delegates
20 this convention with what grace can
the Mozart Hail convention claim to
represent the Democratic people Of Nir-
einia? Such a claim would be absurd
So far as the counties are concerned eN-
cept IN rare instances. they VIII have no
delegates here at all. II will be con-
yention Representative, If OF anybody OF
4he disaffected Democrats OF the cues
and towns OF Virginia. That many OF
the delegates win be gentlemen OF intel
l,eence. high standing, and personal
worth we are ready to concede, but what
we cannot concede is that they have
credentials which entitle them TO speak
for 1.-THE national Democratic party OF
Virginia" For / per cent of the Demo
Gratis Of Richmond 10 attempt TO march
off with our party flag, and call them
selves the Democracy is ridiculous. Let
them choose any other name they please,
INT let them not try 10 pass themselves
of as the national Democratic party Of
Virginia. They have no sort Of claim
20 the title. and. II the question should
be referred 70 an impartial tribunal for
settlement, they would not have foot
20 stand upon in court.
Indeed. II they are going to make war
upon our nominees and act as helpers Of
che Republicans in the election OF Mckin-
ley. they should not call themselves Dem
ocrats al all so FAR their organs have
said little against Mckinley. They are
not fighting him. They are not exposing
weaknesses in his record. Not at all; but
they are abusing Bryan. They are cut
ting and stabbing him night and day
They are searching for weak places In
his armor, and whenever they find one,
in goes their knife TO the hilt.
is this the way for Democrats 20 do?
is this the way 70 down" RepublicanismY
Oh no, this isn't the manly and open
way. and especially is It not the right
course for those Democrats who partiei-
pated ia our primaries and agreed to
4 take pot luck" with our party.
The Democrats OF Virginia will watch
with interest the proceedings Of to-day's
convention. They will be on the lookout
20 see II any movement Is made against
the Republicans; II any voice is raised
against McKinley-if any mention Is
made OF the fact that Mckinley has al
ways been an enemy OF the South. and
has ever been, and Ia stiil. ready TO eXtort