The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-26

adopted. editorially and with Striking
headlines. exposed the plank to the glare
OF truth. and call attention to it as pub
nshed in my other letter. Why did not
Senator Daniel see Il?
1 quote from the Charlotte. North Car
DINA, Observer: The Richmond Times
truly says he (senator DanieD is the only
public man who has said that he did not
understand the Federal interference and
government by injunction plank OF the
Chicago platform to refer 10 Mr.. Cleve-
land. and that HIS DECLARATION ON
THIS POINT HAS AMAZED THE
PRESS OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY"
l might multiply almost indefinitely ex-
pressions Of amazement and astonish-
ment by the press far and near. at what
is generally termed the ignorance OF
the Senator.
But why continue the discussion on this
line we Will leave ehe Senator more
lonely and desolate in his position than
Napoleon on the rock OF St Helena, for
a Few devoted friends followed the En-
peror 10 dreary exile. while the Senator
Is left TO pine alone in the immensely OF
space on his rock OF grammatical con-
struction."
THE SUPREME COURT.
The Senator says. in reply to my state
ment, that in his first letter he left UNI
noticed the charge that in tae Chicago
platform there was a couched expression
Of determination to so organize the
Supreme Court as TO secure a reversal
Of its decision upon the cOnstitutionallty
OF the income tar. and assigns as the rea-
son that "as he ID did not make II IN
this form before. l (he) could not so
notice it," How hypercritical; how ne
W..
form II the substance IS there? He seems
to require the particularly Of criminal
Indictment. and unless It will stand the
test OF a demurrer. he will not answer
The Senator knew what I meant In my
interview; it was not a new charge; ne
had heard il until 1t had become as IA
miliar TO him as household words. Here
is what l said in my interview: VIII
never vote to degrade the Supreme Court
OF the United States TO the level OF
partisan board appointed 70 register the
will Of political party. ! favor proper
income tax, bur / would rather see
thousand decisions against It's consutu-
tionality than TO see the highest legal
tribunal of this land required to record
the will OF party rather than the free
and untrammeled judgment of the court,
or make this august body the football
OF partisan strife" What did the Senator
suppose | meant? Did he not find In
this the grievance complained Of in the
income tax plank Of the Chicago plat
form? A freshman in politics would have
understood IL. why did not a full grad
uate a skilled politician, an United
States Senator?
lie says certainly feel no occasion 10
sit at the feet Of this Gamaliel." referring
10 me- He will excuse me for saying that
10 i'm
my feet. but at the feet Of some doctor
OF the law. some member Of the Sanhe-
drm Of grammatical construction
But In the Senator's first letter he
went all around the charge. and left II
unnoticed. Now, after It has been flashed
in his face. he sets up his understanding
OF the plank against the understanding OF
all the people, and again stands alone
wrapped in the solitude Of his own origi-
nality."
WHY did the Senator. trained" as he
says he was, from his youth 10 respect
courts" the son and grandson Of honor
ed judges" allow the charge shouted by
Senator Hill from the stage of the con-
vention that the plank MEANS. AND
1T WAS OPENLY AVOWED 1T
MEANS. THE ADDING OF ADD
TIONAL MEMBERS TO THE COURT.
OR THE TURNING OUT OF OFFICE
AND RECONSTRUCTING THE WHOLE
COURT" Why did the Senator allow
this grave and defiant charge 10 20 unre-
futed? II the Senator believed then as he
declares now, why did not this distin-
guished scion OF honored stock. trained
from his youth TO respect courts" rise
in the majesty Of his strength and defend
the platform. and hurl the charge back
like thunderbOt2 What explanation is
there2 First, that his mind has under
gone change since; second, that while
he was al the convention. he was virtually
not In II: or. third that he had stage
fright. and his tongue was dumb.
We must take one OF these explanations
30 excuse the Senator or conclude that
he is like a man riding on the cars back
wards; he sees nothing until it has passed
him: or, like man whose ear-drum Is
benumbed. he hears nothing less than the
roar OF the cataract or the thunder Of the
heavens.
The Montgomery (Ala) Advertiser. in
commenting upon the Senator's present
position on the income tax decision plank,
says: Another interview
may cause the brilliant Senator 10 pune
tur." the free silver Is to ! plank Of the
platform. .. who knows when
one interview has accomplished 50 much2'
Last fan the Senator wrote no letter
giving his construction OF this plank
though it was being criticised from stump
and rostrum, and through the columns Of
the papers everywhere.
] leave this matter now for the thought
ful consideration OF them who take pleas
ure in studying the idiosyncracles Of men.
THE UNIT RULE.
The Senator admits that he opposed the
unit rule i'm 1892 and demanded il in 1896.
He. however, seeks TO excuse his incon-
slstency by charging that l favored 1t In
1892 and opposed il in 1895. In this state
ment the Senator is i'm error. II he will
reflect he will recall the fact that In a
conference in my room at the Exchange
Hotel the night before the convention OF
1892 | distinctly stated that I favored
giving the Hill minority led by the Sena-
tor. representation on the delegation at
large 20 the national convention. but not
as large representation as the Cleveland
majority. but the Senator insisted upon
half: that next morning in the room OF
General Fitzhugh Lee another conference
was held. and IN THE INTEREST OF
HARMONY, General Lee, Hon. Basil B.
Gordon and myself. supporters Of Cleye-
land agreed TO submit a proposition 10
the Cleveland caucus for an equal d.
vision OF the delegates at large; that this
proposition was submitted and supported
by the speeches OF Lee, Gordon. Hon.
Holmes Conrad Hon. Thomas Smith. my
self and others and after some oppo-
stion. the proposition was adopted, and
then carried out i'm the convention and no
instructions given. A spirit OF concilia-
ton and harmony pervaded the supporters