Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-09
The Hon. John Goodc on the Nir-
EiniH Situation


upon the maintenance Of Democratic
principles, cordially approve your manly
and vigorous opposition to the proposed
adoption Of the unit rule" by the Demo-
cratic convention at Stanton.
In my opinion, the adoption Of that
rule would not only be n departure from
well established precedents, but a DANCE
rous innovation upon long cherished
principles Not having the record be-
fore me, / cannot speak with entire ac-
curacy. but am unable TO recall a single
occasion UPON (which the unit rule"
has been enforced in Virginia. Hereto
fore when we have met. in convention
10 deliberate. the practice has been 10
give full and free expression to the will
OF all the Democratic voters in the State
If there has been a difference Of opinion
among the delegates from a single county.
each precinct Of that county has been
permitted TO cast its fun Democratic
vote. If there has been a difference Of
opinion in a district delegation. each
county Of the district has cast its full
Democratic vote without reference TO the
number Of delegates present.
Under the call recently issued by the
National Committee, the Democrats OF
Virginia are entitled TO appoint twenty
four delegates to the national convention
at Chicago, four from the State-at-large
| and two from each congressional district.
According TO immemoriaI usage. the four
deiesates-at-laTge will be elected by the
convention itself. and two delegates will
De elected by the representatives, from
| each congressional district i'm separate
meetings The convention may very
properly instruct the four delegates Of
It's choice but deny its jurisdiction over
those elected by the district delegates
| IN the district meetings The district
delegates are elected 10 reflect the will
OF their immediate constituents Thet
| owe a representative duty to them. and
| TO them alone. As they are not elected
| by the convention. the convention has no
/ right TO instruct them. and cannot do so
without an utter disregard Of the principle
Of minority representation.
! Four years ago l had the honor to be
chairman Of the Virginia delegation at
|. Chicago. and when the name Of our state
was called. l announced that Virginia
| cast twelve votes for Grover Cleveland:
eleven votes for David Il. Hin. and one
! vote for Arthur =. German. And thus the
! voice of the Virginia Democracy was as
! clearly pronounced az II could have been
! If they had assembled en- masse at chi
| cago. This Is representative Democracy,
as | understand it.
Mr.. jefferson. the founder Of the Demo
| cratic party, declared that absolute ac-
| quiescence I'm the decisions Of the majority
| is one Of the essential principles Of gov
1 4 o..
| fullest extent, and without any reserva-
| ton whatever But how IS that majority
to be ascertalned I'm the approaching
| National Democratic Convention? Shall
II be determined by suppressing entirely
| the voice Of the minority In Virginia?
If there are six delegates from Virginia
who agree with the delegates from New
York on the money question. should not
they be counted in ascertaining the will
of the majority Of the Democratic party
in the country at large?
The only plausible argument I'm favor
of the adoption of the unit rule" in Viz
ginia that / have heard advanced Is
based upon the action OF the recent Demo-
cratic conventions in Pennsylvania and
| Michigan, but the fact that our brethren
| IN other States have fallen into error
| furnishes no Justification to US TO initiate
| their example. The Democrats of Nir-
| ginia have been accustomed 10 lead and
not to follow in the enunciaton Of the
| fundamental and essential principles Of
representative government
If my voice could be heard I'm the coun-
ellis Of the party at Chicago, ! would
favor the adoption OF the following plank
on the money questions.
| ut Is hereby declared 10 be the policy
of the Democratic party 10 continue the
use OF both gold and silver as standard
money, and TO coin both gold and silver
into money Of equal intrinsic and eX-
changcable value, such equality To be Sc
cured through international agreement.
or by such safeguards Of legislation as
will insure the maintenance OF the parity
i'm 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 such a safe system OF bimetallism as
! will 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 a Democratic Congress, and APP
proved by a Democratic President on
November /. 1893. II is substantially the
language OF the Chicago platform Of 1872
| which was reaffirmed by the Democratic
| convention that assembled at the city OF
Richmond I'm August. 1923. Upon that de-
claration we achieved a great victory IN
the presidential election Of 1892, and In
the gubernatorlal election OF 1895.
No matter may be written in the plat
form OF the approaching convention OF
the Democratic party upon the currency
question. | expect TO extend TO its nOmi-
nees a cordial and jealous support. There
are many questions OF public policy which
win enter into the next presidential cleo
| zion. and upon which we differ radically
from the Republicans. 1t would be I'M
wise 10 ignore the fact that the Reppoll-
can party I'm Virginia is well organized
and will make a determined hsht in the
approaching campaign for supremacy 10
our State II on account of our unfOrtu-
. nate dissensions we shall lose the state
In November. IL may be difficult 10 regain
II I'm the future. i submit. therefore, that
every consideration OF duty of interest
and of safety should constrain us tC
avoid elimination and recrimination. tC
close ND our ranks. and move forward IN
solid column to meet the contest that
awaits us. Let US have unity in things
that are necessary: liberty in things that
are unnecessary: charity in all things
AS YOU have well said. II Is better tc
! have a divided delegation at cnicagt
than a divided party in virginia
1 Ven. ,asnacffttllv John GOOIlE.