Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-18
THE STATES HOBBY ACT.

"LSnow tbvself'' is an injunction
,,ou,snaner ne well as an individual,
should keep in mind and we would com
mend it to the Richmond State, ana we
think that that paper was reaiiy Ill
earnest in comparing its silver record
with that of the Dispatch 10 the at
tempted detrment of the latter. But
i'm view Of the fact that the state mas
during the past year treated its readers
10 one of the funniest and most erratic'
not TO say sensational, financial circus
performances ever presented TO the pub
lie we are constrained to suspect that
it is engaged at present in working up
another little diversion to catch and
amuse the crowd.
The Chicago convention met on the
81 of July last On the 9TH the platform
was adopted. and on the Sth the Dis
patch planted itself squarely on that
platform. as it said in advance 1t would
do. There we have stood firmly ever
since. and our course in accepting the
platform and remaining loyal TO it and
10 the party has been entirely consistent
with our record as a Democratic paper.
But how was it with the State? Up
TO the time of the assembling Of the
Chicago convention, and for some time
afterwards, that paper was riding yell
low hobby with recklessness that chal-
lenged our admiration. Here is
specimen Of the pace at which it was
going or July 18th:
but now the party has promulgated
a platform with 80 many Objectionable
features: with so many propositions that
these papers have vigorously fought that,
even those who are willing TO give the
party support must do so with an
apology for past declarations. A cor
dial and sincere support on the part
of these papers is simply impossible.
They are embarrassed. not 10 say
mortified. and the Republicans, If they
choose. may find excellent campaign lite
nature in the columns Of these same
papers in opposition to anything they
may say in behalf of the ticket. And
what is true of newspapers is true OF
thousands upon thousands OF the best
and brainiest men in the party, who are
on the defensive and have been cut off
from any dtAiNt participation VI 'i'N'-
i've work in the campaign. Truly,
remarkable victory this-a victory Of the
silver element over honest Democrats
i'm opposition"
Again on July 18th, the State pressed
it's hobby around the ring thus:
1.-THE Populists in convention insisted
time and again upon pursuing such a
course as would enable them to main
tain their organization. Boosting that in
the end they would become the dominant
party in this country. Was that a
vain boast? 1t seems to US that it is a
very live question as to whether Democ-
racy will absorb Populism or Populism
Democracy. with the chances In favor
of the Populsts."
after the meeting of the Chicago con-
vention. the State was spinning its gold
en- hobby at this gait:
III Mr.. Bryan accepts the Popullst
nomination, will he vote for Bryan and
Watson ?-Staunton News.
Perhaps he will do as some Democrats
say they will do, and vote for Bryan
and Sewal1 as a "choice of evils" and
perhaps he will do as other Democrats
say they will do. and not vote at all"
But suddenly the State announced a
startling change of bill" and when the
doors were thrown open it was found
to be doing the double hobby act, and
riding a cross match of yellow and
white. Neck and neck the hobbies ran,
and here is the way the gold hobby was
pacing its companion on August 24th
"They dhe gold Democrats) could have
stood free silver with certain qualifca-
tons which we have previously men,
toned, but when they consider Altgeld
plank condemning the President; when
they consider Tillman's plank declaring
against State banks Of issue: when they
consider the declaration in favor OF the
income-;ax, and the threat against the
Supreme Court; when they consider the
sops thrown TO the Populists. and subse.
quent alliance with the Populists. many
of them are saying. No convention can
| rob me of my convictions. / deny the
| right of convention to depart from the
principles taught by the party in the
| past and then attempt to bind me with
| those who shall participate
More than that they are asking them
| selves how they can support Il platform
| In which they do not believe. What is
| the support worth when ii is insincere?
| Round and round the hobbies went al
| a razzle dazzle rate. that at times mixed
| them up so badly that the public could
| hardly tell "tother from which" Then
| presto, change. once more. The yellow
hobby vanished. and the State was left
astride the white hobby only. This /,
has been riding steadily for some months
now, and in its zeal TO get applause. il
seems to have trained its hobby to kick
| every gold Democrat that would return
| 10 che house of his fathers.
But there are other reasons for sup
| posing that the State does not take
itself seriously in respect OF its financial
record, or expect others to take 1t Sc
riously. In It's article Of July 18th IL de-
| clared that cordial and sincere sup-
port OF the Chicago platform on the part
Of Democratic papers that had been in
clired to the gold standard was impossi-
Bile. In It's article Of August cath 1t asks
what Is support worth when II Is insincere.
According to the States logic. its sup
port OF silver Is insincere. and therefore
worthless. ~