Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12

me TO task for one Inconsistency when he
mas 40 many charged up against him?
| j. lie abandoned his ''last-dollar' posi-
| ton on the State debt and adopted the
state debt proposition OF the Readjusters.
:. lie discarded his gresnback and fiat
| money theory, which he insisted was the
only salvation OF the country, and adopt
| ed the silver-miner's 40 or 5o-cent dollar
| as the panacea for all the Ills of labor
and agriculture
Q. He cast aside the idea Of repeating the
intornal-revenue act and allowing the
protective tarin 10 stand, In behalf or
which he made numerous speeches and
accepted the true Democratic doctrine.
=. He now forsakes the tariff plank or
1882 and clings to the tariff plank OF the
Chicago convention. denounced as un-
sound by Senators Vest and Mills.
9. He endorsed the State platform or
1893 for a good silver dollar by ana
through international agreement or legis-
lative safeguards. and instantly took the
stump In favor of throwing open our
mints to all the silver CT the globe at IL
to i, without agreement or safeguards.
G. He took the position In Readjuster
times for the payment OF every State
bond In full II the poor children OF the
State had thereby TO grow up In igno-
rance. and now insists In paying the
national bonds In deprecated currency.
z. He den@pnced the unit rule in the
State convention of 1892 when leading
Hilrs minority. and demanded It in tho
State convention OF 1896 when leading a
silver majority.
s. He fought Populism In 1898 and 1895.
coalesced with IL In 1896, and at the
Roanoke convention In 1897 quietly sat
by and heard Populist put In nominal
ton and receive 29S votes for the place
of Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket.
Inconsistencies! Why, i might continue
the list until I had wearied the public
with 1t. i am sure in this respect need
not fear d comparison OF records with
our distinguished senior Senator. May 1
not say he Is "a bundle OF marvellous
incongruites and Inconsistencies? 1t is
even reported that he is changing his
mind on the subject OF selecting United
States senators by primary, and the
friends Of the proposition are looking for
ward hopefully for his support.
FREE SILVER is DOOMED.
The Governor agrees with Senator
Daniel that "our State ticket cannot be
defeated" says he Is as anxious to see
1t elected as tho Senator is, but sug-
gests that Major Daniel is perhaps
stirred as to his own safety. and in
spite of hfs iron sway at Roanoke. he
appears to be alarmed and thinks there
may be combinations against him re
gives II as his opinion that II there is
Republican or Populist opposition the
gold Democrats will vote the Roanoke
ticket. but that II there is no opposition
the great mass of them Will remain
away from the polls. The Governor
charges Senator Daniel with displaying
in his letter "a want OF charity and |
a. lon. sL.s Ii.
peal Qor charitable and well-tempered |
judgmenD sound strange. indeed" and |
adds: His speeches In the campaign |
last fall. as reported notably. his Jeffer- |
son Hotel speech In this city. were not |
by that sweetness OF tenn |
per which makes friends and softens |
foes"
In conclusion. Governor O'Ferrall ex-
presses the confident belief that the doc
trines OF the Chicago platform will not /
much longer be masqueraded as Demo-
cratic principles and says: Free silver
Is retreating before the returning tide [
Of prosperity. 1t can only live on ''hard |
times" 1t is beginning to pant for
breath already, under the pressure OF
The advance in wheat and the reopening
of mills. mines. and factories. The free
silver campaign slogan OF last fall. "as
silver falls wheat falls: as silver ad-
yances wheat advances" Is no longer |
heard. and the people are fast learning |
hat IL Is the law OF supply and demand, |
md not the price of silver, that controls |
he prices OF the farmers products and
he laboring-man's wages. Free. un-
limited, and INDEPENDENT coinage OF
liver Is doomed, and no strong poiiti-
al party OF the present OF future will
'ver put itself TO death by declaring for
{ in national convention. The Demo-
ratio party will return to her moor
ngs. In 1872 she was led on into Iibe-
al Republicanism," but soon returned
8 her faith. In 1896 she lost her bear
ngs and drifted against the shoals, and
5 still floundering in strange and dan
.erous waters; but give her time and her
ompass will direct her into safe and |
amiliar seas.