Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-05

SENATOR JOHN w. DANIEL.
cheers. Senator Daniel. at the request
OF Colonel Petit. read the Platform. and
IL no convention in NrGin.I's history has
the reading OF such q paper ocea attended
by such intense interest The only inter
ruption of the perfect quiet WAS the fire.
quent and spontaneous cheering Of cacn
direct reference TO free-conage. The
platform IL in these words
The Democratic party Of Virginia, in
convention assembled, declare as follows:
l. We adhere 10 ,he principles Of De-
nocracy as announced by Jefferson Madi-
son. Monroe. and Mason, and the patriots
OF their day that this IS a government Of
and for the people, and we deprecate the
growing influence Of trusts and great
combinations Of capital rs dangerous to
the welfare Of our people and fraught
with disaster 10 our institutions.
2 We are opposed to McKinleyism.
which proposed TO tax the poor man for
the benefit Of trusts and capitalists. and
we favor n tariff tax for revenue limited
TO the necessities Of an economically ad-
fninistered government and adjusted so
as to throw its burden most lightly upon
the great producing classes Of our coun-
try.
g. We oppose the Republican party be-
cause. while protesting TO protect our
: laboring men and mechanics. they are in
practice filling their mines and factories
with pauper labor from Europe, foreign
10 our laws and language and
inmical 10 our institutions. We
was the author of all the acts of fnan-
cial legislation which stimulated the
panic and brought on hard times to the
country. and that ii has utterly failed 10
suggest any scheme of relief.
A. 1t is the unwrtten law of this re-
public established by the custom and
usage Of 100 years, and sanctioned by the
example of the greatest and wisest Of
those who founded and have maintained
our government. that no man should be
eligible for a third term of the presiden-
tal Office.
8. We denounce as false and slanderous
the charges made by the Republicans
against the Democrats of Virginia as
to the reasons which actuated the Gene
raj Assembly of the State in submitting
TO the people the question of holding
constitutional convention. We point 10
the publcschool system. to the settle
ment OF the public debt. and TO the good
will that exists amongst all the different
races and sections of the Commonwealt
as evidence OF the wisdom of Democratic
rule.
8. We are for sound money-the sound
est that the world has ever had or can
have-the money Of our Constitution, the
money Of the people, the money of civili-
zation through the ages past and destined
to be such, az We believe for ages TO
come. This sound money should consist
OF silver and gold and Of paper redeem
able in silver or gold. at the option OF
the payer. the units Of the whole mass
TO be kept at parity by coinage rights
and equal legal-tendor function, the only
method by which the parity of the two
metals has been continuously and sue
ces3fully maintained
g. We hold to the use of both gold and
silver as the standard money OF the
country and TO the coinage Of both gold
and silver without discriminating against
either metal or charge for mintase. The
immediate and complete restoration OF
the bimetallism of money which existed
In the United States from 1898 to 1Sb IS,
IN our opinion, demanded by the in
lerests Of commerce. manufactures and
agriculture, which are alike suffering
from the continuous fall of prices
and the consequent embarrassment or
bankruptcy of those engaged therein.
And in order so 10 restore ii, we demand
the full and unlimited coinage Of both
silver and gold. at the ratio OF 16 to l.
without waiting for the assent or con
eurrence OF any other nation. 1t cannot
be that this great nation, the foremost
OF the earth in riches and in power, IS
unable TO form financial system of its
own; and. while we would welcome an
international agreement that would settle
the vexcd question, we are unwilling TO
defer action. or make the interest of our
own people dependent upon the course
OF others.
We warn our countrymen that until
silver be upheld as money Of redemption
and sustained at parity with gold, by
equal privileges at the mint and by
equal legal-tender functions. a further
contraction of the currency and the fur
ther accumulation Of public indebtedness
Will be inevitable. We have four dollars
less per capita in circulation now than
we had in November, 1893, when the
Sherman law was repealed. and in the
present strained condition of our re-
sources the deficits of revenue and the
fall of prices, such further contraction
OF money and accumulation of debt
would paraiyze business. lower wages.
and bring upon the country widespread
panic and ruin. We hereby instruct all
OF the delegates from Virginia TO the Ma
tional Democratic Convention at Chicago
20 vote for the platform declaring for
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
and gold at the ratio of l6 90 l. and for
candidates for President and Vice-Presi-
dent who openly advocate that princi-
pie.
PROTEST
Hon. Il. b. Munford presented. In be-
half Of Hon. Il. c. Kent. Senator Manly
Ii. Barnes. Judge Leigh II. Watts. Mr.
Heath Senator Eohols. and himself. the
. sound-money platform prepared by his
committee last night and printed In full
In to-days Dispatch.
Mr.. Munford had scarcely taken his
seat before Judge Leigh X. Watts, OF
Portsmouth, who led and won the fight
for sound money In the Second District
Convention, was on his feet TO protest
IN the name Of the majority in his CON
vention. and the Democracy OF his dis
trict against that plank In the majority
platform which proposed 20 apply the
unit rule 10 the two delegates from his
section. Judge Watts spoke briefly and
against some difficulties. but With great
force and vfgor. He had he said. no
favor 10 ask. OF the convention. or of
any faction OF Il. but. planted himself
on his rights as Democratic repr0sen-
tative OF Democratic people Voices
IN all parts OF the hall exclaimeQ.
Grimes OF Michigan and Pennsylvania. ="
If shouted Judge Watts, you gem
uemen who denounco what was done An
Michigan and PENNSYLVANIA as infamous.
rare 10 cover yourselves with the same
infamy, II Is n matter that concerns only
yourselves. III you do this. then yir-
sinia Democracy has indeed detcriorat-
ed"
Continuing, the speaker with much
warmth exclaimed III In the convent !on
OF four years ago In the Cleveland. III.
contest the dominant side had thr..s.ed
The minority their action would have y,an