Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-16
an ADDRESS FROM CAPTAIN LAMB.
Dennes His Position and Urges De-
uocrafs TO Go In the Primary.

Denucs His Position and urges De-
mocrats to Go In the Primary.
The following wos issued last night:
To the Democratic Voters Of the Third
Congressional District OF Virginia:
Conference.-The decision Of the City
Democratic Committee Of the city OF
Richmond 60 hold the primary election
on August %. 1896. forces me. in justice
to myself and 10 our cause. 20 address
you in this open letter. II the primary
and the district convention had been
postponed 10 a later day. / should nave
had the opportunity. which l so mucn
desire. OF meeting you face TO face, ana
Of discussing before you In public meet
ings the great issues Of this campaign.
But the party authorities have decided
otherwise. and l yield TO that decision.
The shOrtness OF the time. however
obliges me 10 address you briefly through
the public press. not less. | trust, In be-
half Of the cause which we have so much
at heart. than in my own behalf.
In this matter, ] am FIRST OF all and
above all. a Democrat believe with all
the sincerity and earnestness OF which
/ am capable that great crisis confronts
our people. and in the supreme peril OF
the hour the personal interests o. any
III at this moment my patriotism ala
not rise above ,lny desire for Office, 1
should not expect for 1 would not de-
serve. your support.
l must, thcrefors, first urge you to vote
Ia the primary on Thursday next. no
matter for whom You may vote. ! be-
Ncve that many OF you desired that the
primary should be postponed, because you
have not yet fully determined on your
own course OF action. DO not Ter ms
deter you; make up your minds now. l
know that many of you desired a legalized
primary DO not let any feeling OF dis
appointment or resentment influence you.
/ am told that many Of you distrust an
unlegalzei primary. I urge you 10 put
aside such feelings. For my own part, l
have the utmost confidence (as ! am sure
that you have). I'm the integrity OF the
gentlemen who compose the City Com
mittee. and in their earnest desire TO Sc
cure an absolutely fair contest DO not
let any feeling Of Indignation Of any
such exists at any injustice, real or
fancled. keep you away from the polls.
You do not need 10 be told of the I'M
portance Of a fun vote at the primary.
1t can never be more important than now.
The essential thing IS for you TO vote.
How YOU vote-Whether for me or for
one Of my worthy oppOnents-is relatively
Of small consequence / plead with you
as Democrats and as patriots 10 go 10
the polls
/ have heretofore expressed TO you my
firm conviction that on the right settle
ment Of the great question now before
us depends the future peace and happi-
ness Of the American people. In my
judgment there can be no right settle
ment Of 70 but that proposed IN the Chi
hot Ilf fff N
into effect. we must have a President a
Senate, and a House of Representatives.,
not willing simply, but eager and Jealous,
70 put its great principles into operation.
To elect Bryan and 20 have House OF
Representatives not up 20 the Bryan
standard Of single-hearted devotion to
the cause Of free silver would be simply
disastrous.
I stand upon the Chicago platform. not
through necessity. but through choice;
not because ! am willing TO accept its
doctrines. but because / heartily endorse
each one Of them.
am for the free coinage OF silver, not
because IL has been prescribed 10 me as
a tenet Of party faith. but because ] have
believed I'm 1t and preached II for many
years. and In my humble way, have
helped 10 lead my party to II.
1 shall labor for free coinage at the
pleasing dictation OF my heart my mind,
and my conscience, and not in obedience
TO the party lash.
Ny support @ free coinage has never
known any variance or shadow Of turn
ing, because could never for moment,
favor the single gold standard, which, as
1 believe. prostrates American labor In
all its forms at the feet of British capt.
tai: which. more than all other causes
combined, brings about the cruel and
ruinous fail IN the prices Of all commo-
dities, until profitable business becomes
impossible, as witness the fall, one by
one. Of the business-houses Of your city;
which closes the foundry. the factory,
the shop. and denies 10 labor the chance
for employment; which maintains the
great army Of the unemployed as a con-
slant danger TO the few who still retain
employment: which makes increased
wages impossible because Of the competi-
ton OF the three without a fob with the
one who has II; which is injurious land
must finally be ruinous) to every class or
society. except those who hold large fixed
investments.
II was upon these topics that I de-
sired. had time been given me. 20 talk
10 YOU face TO face or in public debate,
and 10 urge you to stand true 10 our
party I'm this heroic struggle for the re-
assertion Of the principles which have
made IL immortal
IN conclusion. my fellow citizens. it
Is for YOU to say who can pest serve you
In the halls Of Congress in this emer-
gency. and TO your decision / shall
cheorfully bow. Respectfully.
JOHN LAMB.