The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-29

heituQ uarters are Ill THIS city, assisted by
the Democrats of the District oil Column
bizarre making preparations for an elabo
rate celebration of Independence Day on
July s, to which they propose to give un-
usual political significance. While the
Tammany organization in New York
has planned to make its celebration a
sort of Democratic love feast, and has in.
vited the participation of Democrats rep
resenting every shade of Democratic SEN
timent, including eX- President Cleveland,
as we'll AS the most pronounced support
ers of the Chicago platform, the officers
of the National Association of Democratic
Clubs have determined that none bur
those in full sympathy with the silver
movement and the declarations of the last
Democratic platform shall be permitted
to take part in the celebration here.
The fact that the meeting is he'd under
the auspices Of this national organization
gives it to some extent national charac-
ter, and it is alleged many Democrats in
both houses of Congress, who have been
consulted about the matter, heartily ac-
quiesce in the policy oil exclusion which
the managers have announced This de-
termination to place the stamp of their
disapproval upon independence of
thought and action by those Democrats
who could not be induced to aband On
principle for the sake of party expe hiency
in the last campaign, it is expected by
the officers OF the association, will EN-.
phasiZe the contrast between the Wash.
ington celebration and the celebration
held by Democrats elsewhere, and an
nounce as plainly as possible that n coali-
tion of the two factions of the party,
either for present or future political pur.
poses, is not desired.
The gentleman Selected IN pracido an
the meeting is eX-Representative Joseph
G. Sibley, of Pennsylvania, nominated
for the Presidency by the independent sill.
vef men last year before the regularly
organized political parties had fixed the
dates for their conventions. Mr.. Sibley
was also candidate for the nomination
of either the silver Democratic or the
Populist parties The principal orator
Of the day will he Senator Daniel, of Yir.
ginia, and the other speakers who will
represent the thirteen original States will
be Represf natives l.. Irving Handy, of
Delaware; William Sulzer, Of New York;
l.. +. Livingston. of Georgia, and Claude
"A. Swanson, of Virginia; ex-Representa
tives Barnes Com pton, of Maryland, and
james Kerr, OF Pennsylvania: Senator
McLaurin. of South Carolina; j. il.
Oberly, William ID. DAILY, Alexander
Troup and others. Mr.. Lawrence Gard
ner, as secretary of the National Associa
ton of Democratic Clubs, will call the
meeting to order and will introduce Mr.
Sibley to the admiring gathering of sill
yer Democrats
From this it can be seen that while the
celebration OF Independence Day is the
nominal occasion OF the gathering, the
real purpose of the meeting.as announced
by some of its promoters, is to dsclaim,
on the part of those participating, any
intention of seeking a reconciliation with
the sound. money members OF the party,
and to aid in the general movement In
favor of reaffirmation of the Chicago
platform in 1900 and the denomination of
William j. Bryan. If the Democratic
managers here have any definite policy
with regard to the future of the party. it
is to bring about the two results which
the Washington celebration intended to
serve. There seems little. probability that
the agitation of the silver question will
be allowed to subside, no matter What
changes in existing conditions may occur
during the next three years, and the re-
nomination of Mr.. Bryan seems to be one
OF the principal objects in view.
1t has already been stated that the OPP
position to the tariff bill in the Senate has
been of q character to make more thor
ough combination of all the silver forces.
probably less difficult than year ago, and.
to bring about better state of feeling
between all the factions concerned than
existed at the opening of the last cam
paign. While they have argued from
different standpoints, the attacks OF the
Democrats, the Populists and the indie
pendent silver Republicans have all tend
co to one end, to show tina: the hill dis.
eliminates against the sections of the
country that are expected. to cast their
votes for free coinage, and that it cannot
possibly bring relief SO urgently de
manded. Those Western Senators who
have adhered to the regular Republican
organization, but who are thought to be
inclined to ally themselves with the sill.
yer Republican party after the tariff bill
has passed, have used this argument, it
is asserted, as an excuse for any step
they may take hereafter in opposition to
the soundmoney forces of the country.
In all that is being done the silver lead.
ers believe they are strengthening their
organization for the next Presidential
campaign, and they propose it shall be
waSed upon the same lines rs the last,
whether the tariff bill proves satisfactory
or aggravates present discomfort. But,
Notwithstanding this, the leaders ,,of the
silver Democracy here are not urginG
that the Chicago platform sho, Id be
made An issue in the State campaigns
soon TO open. On the contrary, for the
| single purpose of securing local control
for the State Democratic organizations
they are willing the Chicago platform
and the silver Issue together should be
] ignored by State conventions except