The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-25

NTH the result In Hfbhi" We"
mense loss to the Bryan TICKET III .no
cornties In which the "hi'o P0P1'"''0''
largely predominates:
.,,,ant bv Cleveland by majority or
a'n while Bryan secured Of them only.
and lost the Valley by 7&, though hs
had the support Of $50 Populists who
voted for Weaver, not Cleveland, In lssz.
All Of the 10 Southwest counties except
two Hloyd and TazewelD went for Cleve-
Iand and his net majority was 9,31.
while Bryan carried counties only. am
lost the Southwest by 3.40s. though 3,1i
Popt.lists rallied around his standard
Of free silver.
In the Piedmont section Cleveland had
a majority OF 1l,lA while Bryans was
reduced to 6.7SS including l,23i Popuist
votes, which In 1892 were cast for Weaver,
not for Cleveland.
In the large white counties OF Accomac.
Bedford. Franklin and Patrick. all OUT
side OF the sections named. Cleveand's
majority was 1921. while Bryan's was
only 2,6i7 after receiving So Populst
votes.
Now II will be observed from this state
ment that in the counties and sections
upon which the Democratic party has in
the past relied for fits sure supremacy
in the state. the revolt against the Chf-
cago platform was most powerful am
emphatic. Many counties which never
before had given their support to Republi-
can Presidential candidates were carried
by Mckinley, while the gains made by
Bryan were in counties where the .olored
vote is large, and which resulted we as
sumo from the imperfect manner in
which the colored voters prepared their
ballots for no one will assist that the
negro voters, with rare exceptions. are
not Republicans, or that they will in
tentionally vote the Democratic ticket.
Democratic supremacy in Virginia can
not be maintained if the white sections
and counties TO which we have just re-
ferred. are lost by the refusal of Demo-
Gratis 10 supportthe policy and principles
adopted by the party and II is we'll for
the party to ponder well this incontro-
vertibe fact. The muttering heard last
fall is only the prelude Of the storm that
viii come II there is a continued depar-
ture from what tens Of thousands or
lifelong Democrats regard as Democratic
teachings.
HISTORYS WARNING.
In 1872 the electoral vote Of virginia
was given 10 the Republican candidate
for President. Why? Because Of a spnt
in the party caused by the nomination
Of a Republican and the adoption OF the
Liberal Republican platform as II was
called. by the Democratic National Con-
vention, which met in Baltimore.
This aroused the Virginia leaders; they
recognized the mistake that had been
made; they learned wisdom from ex'
perience. so when the Gubernatorial Con-
vention OF 1873 met, all National issues
were ignored, and strict party platform
upon State issues alone was adopted
Kemper was nominated, the broken ranks
were reunited, and a decisive victory
achieved.
Now we come to appeal for similar
action by the coming Gubernatorial Con-
vention.
The Democrats who declined TO support
the Chicago platform and nominees acted
deliberately with mo axes to grind
and no political favors 10 ask. They
have no regrets TO express, and no apol-
igies TO make. They knew they were
I'm a minority. but they were willing
then. and they are willing now ito wei
come an eternal minority adhering 10
their principles, rather than an everlast-
ing majority purchased by their aban-
donment." They love the party founded
by Jefferson, maintained by Madison.
Monroe and Jackson. and sustained by
Tiden and Cleveland, and they Will
never consent 10 endorse any platform
OF populistic doctrines, simply because
those in control OF the party machinery
have written the words Democratic plat
form" above II. They cherish the name
OF Democracy, but they will never follow
II blindly: they will ever prefer the sub
stance 10 the shadow. They withstood
without finching the bitter vituperation
and even personal villihcation o. reck-
less partizans during the late campaign,
ard in the future no more than In the
past. will the false cry Of traitor
"deserter" or "boltocrat" drive them
into the support OF measures or policies
which they regard as undemocratic ana
fraught with dangers to the institutions.
welfare and material interests or their
country. They are as firm now as they
were in November last in their deter
mination not to give their support direct
ly or indirectly 10 any candidates stand
ing upon a platform re-aiiirming the
doctrines OF the Chicago Convention.
HOW TO HEAL THE BREACH.
But they are eager and anxious 70 see
the breach healed, so that the party can
again present a solid front. Can X be
done? Yes. How? By the State Conven.
ton ignoring National issues, and adopt
ing a platform upon State issues alone
and nominating gentlemen whose Democ-
racy Is beyond question. whether they
were sound money or free silver advo-
Gates in the late election. This course
will be honorable 10 both factions, and
not compromising to either
Sound money. antl-Chicago Platform
Democrats do not ask that
their views on the money md
other planks of the Chicago plat
form shall be endorsed, they simply ask
that they may not be required TO stultlfy
themselves by voting for declaration
Of principles which they repudiated a
few months since, or TO withhold their
votes from the ticket. or support another
ticket representing their views.
Is there anything unreasonable in the,r
appeal? Would the ruling faction prefer
to retain the 1900 Populists who voted
with them last fall than reunite the
HOO Democrats who broke from the
organization. and hold the 10000 VINO
voted for Bryan under protest because
OF primary pledges or partisan
influence? VIII the former be more like
ly to strengthen the party than the
latter2
Is temporary power so sweet, or pas
sion so intense, as to lead TO the con-
tinuance Of the breach or the widening
OF the chasm, by insisting upon issues
that can have no bearing upon the admin
istration OF State affairs? Is IL the part
OF wisdom 10 faunt in the face OF tie
oppoang faction the black flag, and
declare that II Is war 10 the knife and
the knife TO the hilt' for the principles
~ The Cbfcaoo uiarforrn when they can