Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-20
THURsDAY MAY 20, 1897.
FORMER PLATFORMS.
Frnnklin "a. May IS. lS97

To the Editor of the Dispatch;
Please answer through your Query col
umn the following inquiries;
What were the utterances OF the
Democratic State platforms Of Virginia
ON the question of the free coinage OF
silver in the gubernatorial campaigns Oh
1859 and 1895?
How many Democratic State plat
forms since the war have failed in the
subernatorial campaigns 10 endorse the
platform of the national Democratic
party in the presidential election the
year preceding? Yours very truly,
J, c. p.
We have thought it sufficient 10 eX-
anime the reports of the proceedings OF
our gubernatorial conventions beginning
gith that of 1881 In that year the Con
SENTATIVE" or "Conservative-Democ
icv convention, as it was then called,
met here, on August 4th.- and
nominated a State ticket, composed OF
Daniel Barbour and Mckinney. The
Readiusters were in control of the Legs
lature at that time. and the upperplost
subject of the hour was the relation
of our party to the State debt We,
therefore. find that the platform adopted
then deals chiefly with the question OF
reimbursement, though the convention took
particular pains TO speak of our mem
bership in the national Democratic party.
Hence we find our platform beginning as
follows: 1.-THE Conservative Democratic
marty of Virginia-Democratic in its
Federal relations and Conservative in
its state policy-in view OF the political
conditions Of the Union and of this
Commonwealth, adopt the following arti-
cles of political faith, &c"
Then followed a general statement OF
Democratic principles, and an announce
ment of the views Of the party as to
its position upon the State debt question
On July %. 1895. our State Convention
met here and nominated Fitz Lee, Mas
sey. and Ayers. and adopted a platform,
saying:
1--WE reaffirm the declarations Of the
national Democratic party in IT'S last con-
yention on the subject OF the tarih, ana
especially do we maintain that the neces-
sary reduction in taxation can and must
be effected without depriving American
labor OF the ability TO compete success
therefore proudly proclaim our allegiance
10 the Constitution and the Union Of
the States. and TO the national Demo-
cratic party, as their Interpreter and
defender SC, &c
In 1889 our State convention met here
and nominated ticket, composed of Nc
kinney. Tyler, and Scott, and adopted
the following:
Sixth the party renews its
adherence TO the principles and policies
on the tariff and internal revenue so Of
ten enunclated in the platforms of the
state and National conventions of the
Democratic party. and sustained by the
voice OF the people at the polls, and es-
o.cjally does II insist upon the immedi-
ale abolition OF the tax upon tobacco
ard fruit brandies.
seventh. the Democratic party of Viz
'eiItia favors the complete demonstration
ard The free coinage Of silver"
In 1898 our State convention met here
on August 18th and nominated a ticket
composed OF O'Ferrall Kent. and Scott,
aryr among other things in its platform,
adopted the following
IJpon the great question of the cur
rency we reiterate the principles an
nounced I'm the national convention at
Chicago. and endorsed witch such I'M
paralleled unanimity by the people Of this
country at the polls in last November.
we urge upon our Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress the speedy enact
ment of such laws as will carry out the
provisions of that platform and relieve
the country from the disastrous
financial condition 20 which the
unwise and reckless legislation OF
The Republican party has brought
g. We insist upon the passage of such
legislation as will provide for an ex-
pansion OF the currency sufficient 10 meet
The business needs Of the country without
delay In like manner we endorse the
principles announced by the Chicago con-
,ventlon upon the subject OF tariff taxa
lion. and urge upon Congress the impera-
tive duty of carrying into eject by ap-
propriate legislation the declarations OF
that platform so soon as the pressing
needs OF the currency problem have re-
ceiyed attention. We recommend that
the prohibitory 10 per cent. tax on State
bank issues be repealed.
That portion o; the Chicago platform
10 which reference was made by oui
convention IN 1888. Is as follows:
& SILvER.--''We denounce the Republ'
can legislation known as the Sherman
act OF 1880 as cowardiy makeshlft
fraught with possibilities OF danger n
the futlie. which should make all OF rs
supporters. as well as its author. anxious