Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-17
EX-GOVERNOR wM. e. CAMERON.
VIII Heartily support Democratic
State Ticket.


PETERSBURG, VA, September l6-
Especial 1T has been known here FOR
some time that Ex-Governor William r.
Cameron had expressed his intention or
supporting the State Democratic ticket
nominated at Roanoke. This evening a
letter from that gentleman was received
i'm this city, giving at some length the
reasons which induced him to this course,
notwithstanding his continued conviction
that the Chicago platform is full OF here
sizes which would be fatal TO the country
if applied to the conduct of the Federal
Government" Among other things, the
Governor says "'Ihe ticket Is unexcep-
tionabe: each of the nominees Is honest
and capable and feel no doubt of the
able and faithful administration of state
affairs In such hands. Who can say the
same of any ticket likely to be offered IN
opposition TO this? And that Is the mat
ter really at issue after all-that and
that alone. That the leaders at Roanoke,
TO save their own pride OF opinion, or 10
retain their supremacy IN the OrSahiId-
ton should have served up as baked
meats of the financial issues which have
had signal defeat i'm the national neld,
and which can neither be furthered nor
hindered by any official act of the state
officials of Virginia is, IN my judgment
ment-which bears the same practical
relation to the free coinage OF silver AS
the display Of a Confederate nag IN Il
memorial procession would bear TO the
Southern Confederacy or to the insutu-
tion of slavery.
'If national issues have no proper place
i'm a State canvass for State officers. |
do not see how futile attempt TO intro
duce them should influence me against
the nominees. for TO oppose them. n
hu affaaf WuIfl1 he gfrpnQtl0n
some ticket not comparable with this as
10 the personal merit OF its members, on
a platform which. IL of the Populists,
will be more Objectionable than that pro-
pounded at Roanoke, which, II born OF
a fusion between Populists and Republi-
cans, will have the sole governing prnct-
pies of all coalitions-greed for Office,
pure and simple. II is true that such an
opposition may raise the standard Of
election reform, reform OF which | am
a hearty advocate. But what can be eX-
pected of the sincerity of such reform
from those who were willing to barter
their claim to fair elections for a nomina
tiOn to the leutenant-goyernOr for
one Of their leaders al the hands Of the
very party which they will now denounce
as corruptOrs of the ballot. 70 the ave.
rage statesman of the persuasion now
under discussion. an election is fair when
his interests are Identical with those of
the party in power. but is unfair when he
Is opposing that party. | believe an
honest electoral system Is needed and de-
manded by the Virginia public, and that
IL will come; but | also believe that il
must come at the hands Of the Demo
cratic party, as a necessary concession to
the conscience Of the masses of its MEM
bership.
I'm the election OF members Of the
Legislature. a seat I'm the United States
Senate and a vote for or against free
silver is involved. But / look upon the
succession of himself by Major Daniel
as a foregOne conclusion: and this con-
cluson eliminates the only point Of view
from which the Chicago platform could
be a real stumbling block to "A sound
money Democrat inclining TO support the
Tyler ticket.
FOR myself, no doubt as TO that in
clination, nor as TO my duty TO the State,
exists | feel that | shall be contri-
buting largely TO the good government of
Nlrginia's internal affairs for four years
10 come | feel also that should the CON
fiict Of 1896 come again (Which | do not
believe 10 be possible i'm the light of the
victorious logic Of events. / shall be no
less free than then to oppose as "A Demo
crat what | hold to be un-Democratic.
false i'm doctrine, and ruinous il put into
practice. | shall cheerfully give my voice
and vote to Tyler, EchOls and Montague.
and am not without hope that most OF
those who were my colleagues I'm political
revolt last year will pursue the same
course