Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-12
HoKE SMITH STRIKES.
In the Triumph of Democracy Lies
the Home of the American People.

ESPECIAL TO the New York World)
ATLANTA, GA. August l0.-It is now
admitted by members Of Hoke Smiths
newspaper staff that the Secretary sent
in his resignation TO l1r. Cleveland fully
three weeks ago. 1t is equally certain
that Mr. Cleveland is using all Of his ar
gumentative ability TO induce Mr.. Smith
to withdraw from his hostile position. Dir.
Smith consistently refuses to give out
any information, but in the mean time he
has taken up a cudgel that is likely TO be
felt even In Buzzard's Bay. In his paper
this afternoon Mr. Smith has the following
editorial:
I'm political emergencies. as In other
affairs of life men are sometimes con-
strained TO make a choice between TWO
evils or uncongenial situations. Beng
unable after their best efforts to ordet
things just as they would nave them,
both sound reason and policy Suggest
that they should take this course. Such
an emergency now confronts many Demo
Gratis in all parts Of the country. They
have done their best TO influence their
party u accept and endorse their financial
policy. and. having failed in the effort they
have now presented 10 them the alterna-
tive Of continued adherence TO the poliu-
cal party with which they have long as
ISOLATED and whose maintenance they be
lieve 10 be needful TO protect the country
from bad government and pernicious leSls-
iation or TO assist In the restoration 10
unchecked power of the party whose
whole record is marked by acts ana poll
cies of this character.
IAN of us took part I'm the choice OF
delegates to the Chicago convention, with
the implied agreement-an agreement
sanctioned by precedent and honor-that
we would abide by the decision of the ma
jority Of the convention. That decision
was disappointing and disagreea able to a
large portion of the Democratic party in
its relation to one important question. Had
this portion succeeded, instead of meet
ing defeat. they would have considered
bolt or antagnonism by the other party
as an act OF bad faith. Is not the implied
agreement just as binding on themselves!
Let southern Democrats who con-
template the support of McKinley-of a
boiling Democratic ticket. which could
only help Mckinley without a chance OF
its success In single State, seriously
consider the probable effect Of their ac-
ton. They would help to restore to full
power and perhaps to perpetuate In
power party agreeing with them on only
one question and that one attributable
to a condition caused by Republican legis-
lation. and to disrupt and consign to last
ing defeat a party agreeing with them on
every other issue.
Ought the venerable Democratic party
to be destroyed because of its dissention
or its error in regard TO a single question
Of transient importance? Shall we aban-
don the vital principles and essential poll
cies for which IT has long contended sim
ply because OF disagreement on this ques-
ton? Among those principles and poll
cies are-the preservation Of the remain
ing rights Of the States and the people
rights often Usurped or disregarded by
the Republican party. a just and impair
tial system Of Federal taxation opposed
to the Republican policy OF taxation for
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of favored interests
and classes; opposition to the growth and
exactions Of trusts and monopolies, which
have been the especial objects Of Repubh-
can fostering and protection; the protec-
ton Of every State and section OF the
country from invidious Federal legislation
or unwarranted interference with their
local government.
This last object IL one OF special I'M
portance TO the Southern States, whose
elections have hithertofore been domi-
mated by Federal supervision and who
are threatened with a renewal Of such IN
reference"