The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-30
The chronrcIe.s ,iistnke.

the unbroken rule Of the democratic party
OF Georgia 10 hold two state conventions
in presidential years. and 10 have only
one convention this year. the Augusta
Chronicle is much more frank than the
Atlanta Constitution. The latter paper
as FAR as we have seen. has not stated the
real reason. as we understand il. why
one convention IS desired by the sliverites
instead OF two. The reasons the Consti-
tuition gives are reasons that would have
applied in any presidential year of the
last quarter of a century. but that paper
never before presented them. If they are
its real reasons for wanting only one
convention this year why did it not offer
them IA 1892. in 1sss and in 1851?
The Augusta Chronicle. however. does
not waste time in presenting reasons for
one convention which most people recog-
nize as not being the true ones. il comes
out squareIy and says in effect, that one
convention is wanted by the silverites be
cause they think thoy would stand bet
ter chance OF controlling the convention.
The Chronicle states the situation as fol-
lows:
cit would seem the part OF wisdom
to have Il representative state convention
and allow il 10 declare the sentiments of
Georgia on the financial question as they
exist untrammclled 10y administration
whips or Office holders who are eager to
carry the state in accordance with the adj
miuistratiuu idea. There Is no reason to
doubt that "a convention representing the
popular sentiment in Georgia would de
clare for return TO the coinage of silver
as We had it before lSl3.'
According to the foregoing the Chron-
iole thinks that if the unbroken custom
of the party should be followed and two
conventions held. the first convention.
the one to choose delegates to the national
convention. might be a sound money con-
vention through the efforts of the federal
Office holders. Therefore the Chronicle
wants only one convention held; con-
vention which would not only
choose delegates to the national
convention. but would also formu-
late a platform and nominate a state
ticket We assume that It hopes that by
mixing state and national politics the
people might be so confused that the sill
verites would be able to get control of the
convention. The one convention move
ment, therefore. is in the interest of the
silverites. The Chronicle is to be COM
mended for stating clearly and boldly
what the real purpose of the one conven-
ton movement is.
1t is always better to deal frankly with
the people. They are certain to find out
the truth sooner or later. and they don t
feel kindly towards those who attempt to
mislead them.
But we do not agree with the Chronicle
that we would get fairer expression of
tho views of democrats on the silver ques-
ton if we should hold only one convention.
IL we have two conventions the only bus
mess of the first convention would be the
| election OF delegates to the national con-
Vention. In the choosing of the delegates
the only issue would be that relating to
silver. In a convention made up of dele
gates chosen upon that one issue would
there not be a better prospect of getting
a fair expression of public sentiment in
respect to that issue than there would in
a convention composed of delegates chosen
upon that and a number of other issues
understand how the Chronicle can help
thinking so too.
The Chronicle, however makes a mis-
| take in thinking that in the event of
there being two conventions the first one
the one that chooses delegates,-would
make platform. 1t says having made
such declaration Gree silver prior to
the holding Of the national convention
would it do any good to hold another con-
vention a few weeks later, either to re-
| iterate the same platform or to reverse
it," If two conventions should be held
! the first one would do nothing but choose
delegates to the national convention. II
would not make a platform. The second
convention would do that. The first con.
vention would have no reason for making
a platform. A platform would be needed
only for the state ticket. and theAsecont
convention would make that ticket. Tn,
platform would be made when it could b,
done intelligently-tha is, when it coul(
be made in harmony with the nationa
platform. We are surprised that tn,
Chronicle should be willing TO second ;
movement that might put the democrac,
of the state in opposition to the nationa
| democracy.
At Lewisburg, Tenn, recently a mol
detained a railway train, which was car
rying two negro prisoners to the peni
tertiary. until party of lynchers arrived
and took the prisoners out and lyncheC
| them So far as the information coe,