The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-26
THE GOLD DEMOCRATS
The Sound Money Element Of the City
Democracy Holds a Convention.
% DELEGATES ELECTED TO RICHMOND
Aany Speeches Hade by Prominent
Citisens I'm which the Proposition
for the FREQ Coinage OF silver Was
Denounced = qr. Charles sharp
Discusses the Corncrsnx or,1oney.

About 100 gentlemen met at the Real
Estate Exchange building last evening
at o'clock pursuant to a call published
in the papers. calling for q meeting of
sound money" Democrats of the city.
Mr. Walter Sharp called the meeting
to order.
Mr.. Richard B. Tunstau was elected
chairman. while Mr.. e. II. Williams
was requested to act as secretary.
In taking the chair Mr.. Tunstall made
Few impressive remarks. which were
INTERRUPTED by frequent outbursts OF
| APPLAUSE.
"Republics." he said. ARE Govern
ments by party. Parties are composed
OF individuals who ally themselves
with organizations for the purpose OF
seeing the principles they believe TO be
right enacted into law. When a party
reserves Its time-honored policy, 1t no
| longer holds their allegiance"
| MIR. Walter Sharp offered resolu-
ton providing for the appointment of a
committee or ten on resolutions.
Mr. Charles Sharp moved as q substi-
thte that the appointment of delegates
| be proceeded with. leaving the resolu-
lions to the Richmond gathering.
Mr.. Walter Sharp withdrew his mo-
ton.
White. who responded. "If free silver
were the only ISSUE" he said, "many
or US could stomach It. but the planks
attacking the power of the President
to suppress disorder and the as
s sa1a. upon Go,,r the d integrity of the
ocrats who love their country
better than their party to revolt,
anu avail themselves of every honorable
means to prevent the election of So
called Democratic candidates.
That platform appeals to the law
less element in this country; that ele-
ment which would take from you and
from me that which our industry has
oorught to us. 1t threatens every man
who has any vested interests whatever
with destruction.
Although 1 signed the call for this
meeting, i reserve the right to vote as |
please at the election. 1 seriously doubt
the adVisability OF third ticket as a
means OF defeating Bryan"
MT. w. III. c. Ellis was then called for
HE said that he thought the candidates
nominated at Chicago were capable OF
out-platforming the platform. He was
a Democrat. but did not recognize In the
popocratic party now before the people
the old organization that once claimed
his allegience
Mr.. Charles Sharp responded to loud
calls for speech. He said that IL there
was to be only one vote in Virginia for
the sound money Democratic ticket he
would be that man.
| hC patty WHICH, convened IN chicago
ceased to be the true Democracy of old
which was not gold monometallic par
~ or party which demanded a silver
standard. The old and the true Democ-
raey was bi-metallic party.
| What Is the cause of these hard
times? II Is the cornering Of the cir
IculatinR medium. And on a silver basis
such system will operate to the better
advantage OF the sharks who practice
| Gold has heap drjyan ort 30 o,ro,,1.
ton bv the nomination OF Bryan" he
hAh we are not the partNans OF
Ereekers OF the Fiske type. who, acting
6s their affiliated brokers. take ad.
vantage of every desperate situation OF
the people and every blunder of their
politicians.
'Mr. Bryan has no apparent logic He
can make good speech out Of the frag-
mems OF other mems argument but !
do think his statements will mislead
many people who have not grasped the
subject fully as yet
Before the election we shall pass
through desperate times. There Is dan
ger to every merchant in this city that
his line OF discount may be stopped
To-day we. the wealthiest nation OF
earth. find ourselves the poorest, owing
to the withdrawal of 5000 900 600 OF gold y
This condition of affairs Mr.. Sharp as
cribed to the mistaken policy of paying
in gold the national debt before 1t be-
came due.
For years." he continued, 1T have
looked on the fearful state Of affairs
under which the cost Of production ex-
ceeds the price of the product All this
is done by the cornering of the money OF
the country.
II favor the declaration that we, the
sound money Democracy, shall favor the
passage OF a law Furnishing the man who
corners the currency, under the laws
comforting the seigniorage upon the gov
eminent confiscate his possessions, pro-
ceeding upon the principle that he is a
wrecker of the happiness and prosperity
OF his fellow citizens. Let us point out
TO the people the real cure for their woes.
"If we take up our greenbacks with
bonds and increase our banking facili-
ties. we stop the endless chain which de-
pletes the national treasury twenty
times q year. and give the people an ex-
pensive currency.
This city owes her growth and i'm
Dortance to her banks. They have up
. held and carried US through. And now
we have a government which says to It's
national banks If you lend money on
land YOU shall forfeit your charter"
II have ever opposed a single gold
standard, I now oppose a single silver
, standard. I do both for the sake of the
happiness and prosperity of all classes
of the citizens of this Great Republic"
. Mr.. Sharp closed amid tremendous ap-