Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-12
CArsTIc CRITICISM.

CAUSTIC CRITICISM
Mr.. Letcher spoke in the most eulogis-
tic terms Of Mr.. Bryan, comparing him
to Thomas Jefferson, and predicting his
election four years hence. His criti-
cism Of the Republican tard law was
severe and caustlc. or the Republican
party and its greed, he declared that
this was never more unblushingly IL
lustrated than in its masterpiece OF IA
vcritism, jobbery, and corruption, the
Dingley BILL the scheme OF which was
plunder for the protected, poverty Tor
the people. faVoritism for favorites. and
misery for the masses" Political history,
he added. will record the deep damna-
ton Of 1t with the taking of OF the
party that perpetrated IT,.
Touching the plank against arbitrary
Interference by Federal authorities in
local affairs, Mr.. Letcher said: "As to
the question Of whether fl hits Cleveland
I'm his sending troops to Chicago without
the request Of the Illinois Legislature or
Governor Altgeld. II he arbitrarily inter-
fered, If the movement Of malls was
simply an excuse, then let him wear the
cap with all of its ignOmies OF the Con-
stitution breaking and his oath violated.
II, however he simply used the troops
TO see that the governmental functions
were performed, the plank touches him
I'm no way, but it is my opinion that
Cleveland was the tool Of the PlutOcracy
I'm this as in other things; that the
movement of mails, which was always
consented to by the strikers, was ar
excuse simply, and that he violated the
Constitution by sending troops into Illi-
nos without the Governors request In
a way no President would have dared to
arffa Haya n tho IL
Continuing, Mr.. Letcher claimed that
capital was in no danger OF oppression.
He said the Democrats favor enactments
recurring arbitration between laborer and
ernnlover. He denOminated the Repubu-
can marty as one which had never
brcathed a suggestion Of remedy for the
rresent business oppression in the coun-
trv. with the Republicans In control"
he declared ''the country is a boat with
naIsied men 10 row and a blind man at
the rudder. The plutocrats are drifting
without rudder or anchor, secretly i'm
their hearts feeling that the present is
good enough for them"
RESPECTS TO WATTERsON.
Henry Watterson he referred to as the
"oock-eyed goddess OF old sour mash in
the last State conglomeration OF Ken
ruckE $ 1IolElltiit 4SNtAtg~AeAN'5 IANF'N''
over by j. q. Carlisle, the silver and gold
acrobat. who turned somersaults IN the
Cleveland Morgan circus" Democracy
he said. "is sought to be stihed in the
embrace OF men who loved its name ana
forget its principles; who show their De
mocracy by aiding in the success OF Re
publicans." Touching the policy adFo-
Gated by the gold men. that the virginia
Democrats should forego making any IS
sue on national questions in this cam
paign. the chairman was particularly Sc
we're "They threaten u.s." he said, "that
n we reaffirm our platforms they VIII not
vote the Democratic ticket; IN smooth
words. saying tnat the State Government,
has nothing TO do with nationa! ISSUES
and to affirm them has no pith-is empty
Illumination.
''The best of Democrats who last year
strayed away from the party he de-
clared, would return in this contest"
In closing. Mr.. Letcher used these
words: 1--WE lead no revolution against
government; we are true defenders OF
the Constitution In its primary purity.
hut under the Constitution OF the land
we lead a revolution against existing
damning and damnable conditions, which
must be righted In the destiny OF Gods
last effort in behalf OF man. This is the
mission and inspiration of the Demo-
cratic party, around whose altar we are
sathared to-day TO do homage and re-