The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-14

The Danville Register in commenting
on the question as 20 whether or not the
next Democratic Convention should re-
affirm the Chicago platform. says:
"In the Virginia State campaign plat
form is nothing more than a sounding
brass or a tinkHng cymbal. This is es-
pecialiy true as TO such national issues as
the platform may treat of. Suppose the
platform shall declare for free silver, the
candidates who may be elected upon the
platform could not turn q fin ger towards
bringing about free silver nor could they
do a thing 10 prevent the issue Of bonds
or 10 prevent any other national measure
that Congress or the administration
might see proper 10 adopt and carry out
A delivcrance by the State convention on
tariff or finance would amount to moth
ing. and be such deiiycrance what II may
II should no.. IN our judgment. affect the
votes Of any Democrat no matter what
may be his views on national questions.
1.-THE people Will be called upon next
fall to elect Governor. Lieutenant-Go
ernor, Acknowledgement and a Legisla-
ture who. in the very nature Of the case,
can have nothing whatever 10 do with
the financial policy Of the United States
Government. 10 is very essential that
the officers should be Democrats and il
IS our opinion that II the state and coun-
" conventions shall nominate good and
true men all kinds Of Democrats win vote
FOR them.
I'VE could hope that the State conven-
ton may not lug the national financial
question into its platform. but II it does
II VIII amount 20 nothing and need not
prevent any good Democrat from voting
the straight ticket, 81 the ticket Is an
right"
We cannot subscribe 10 this view. \
party platform should not be meaning
less. II should embody the principles
OF the party which adopt it. and the FIGHT
or the party should be made upon its
platform Of principles. il is very true
that the financial plank in the Virginia
platform would be meaningless. so far
as the power OF the State goes 10 accom-
pllsh anything in the way Of national
financial legislation. For that reason we
believe that national questions should be
left out OF the state platform and that
the fight next IAN should be made on 10
cal State issues. But while tho state Of
Virginia has no power 10 control the sil-
Yer question and while that question has
no part On tho State campaign. the Dem
ocratic party OF Virginia surely has a
right 10 put itself on record as being in
faver Of free coinage or not Not only
50, but II the convention shall nominate
q ticket upon a platform Which re-aGlrms
the Chicago platform. then every Dem
CORA, who votes for that ticket Is expect
ed to commit himself 10 free silver
There is no escape from 1t. and from an
that we can gather st seems 10 De the
determination Of the party leaders On Viz
ginia 10 exclude from participation in the
Affairs Of the party all who refuse TO sub
scribe to The doctrine Of free silver The
idea seems 10 be that those Democrats
who refused TO support the Chicago ticket
and platform must rojoin the Democratic
organization IN Virginia repcniing and re-
canting. or not Join It at all The one
siagle purpose OF re-affming the Chicago
platform. as We see II. Is 70 draw the line