The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-02

-. IL
operate with you in this proposed ac-
tiOn?''
That question would suggest that |
am the leader OF the gold Democrats in
the State" replied Governor O'Ferrall,
With smile 81 do not claim that posi-.
ton, although am accused of being the
head and front of the gold sentiment.
Seriously, though, those who believe with
me have talked the matter over. We
would have supported the nom nees OF
:he state convention if II platform adher-
ing to Fundamental Democratic principles
and State Issues had been adopted. In
that eve:.t, it would have made no d Ter.
cnce to me nor to those who share my
views whether the nominees wee silver
men, gold men, or greenbackers.
But you object to being asked to IN
dorse the platform which you could not
support last falll"
"We do object, and will not he coerced
into doing So" was the empha.c re-
Spouse. There was not the least neces-
sity for adopting such II platform rs was
laid before the delegates. The leaders OF
the Roanoke convention, crazed with
temporary power" and here Governor
O'Ferrall spoke with great del'beration,
seemed determined to ride booted and
spurred over the 10000 Democrats in
Virginia who refused to support Bryan,
and while there were many delegates, as
am informed, who were anxious TO leave
out of the platform the national issues
which divided the party in the late Pres
idential campaign, these leaders would
listen 10 nothing hut a reaflirmation of
the Chicago platform as a whole, laying
particular stress on the silver plank
They were deaf to all appeals for har-
mony, some of them in their frenzy de-
claring they did not want the aili liation
of gold men"
What led YOU to repudate Bryan and
the Chicago platform:''
~ have no other reasons to give than
those which seemed to me to he sufficient
III the last campaign. The Chicago plat
form was not Democratic, and infinitely
worse than the Greeley platform of 1879
and Mr.. Bryan was not II Democrat. The
Chicago Platform will be searched in vain
FOR Democratic leaven. 1t abandoned the
time honored principle--of tariff for rev.
enue only, enunciated by every Demo-
cratic convention which mentioned the
tariff at ali, from 1910 to 1892, AMI this
fneXcusable and deliberate departure was
simply for the purpose of catching the
votes of the silver Republicans, who were
for free coinage, but who we've also for
protection. AS for the free coinage of
silver" added the governor. with scorn-
ful voice, you cannot point to a single
plank, sentence. line, or word of any I'm.
tlonal Democratic platform from 1910 to
lSD2. inclusive, in which there il prop
osition, express or implied. direct o.
limited at, for free coinage of silver at any
ratio, much less thu ar bitrary ratio Of
III tn |. The idea was born in Populisitc
councils, and the Chicago convention
ulists credit for originating it. The uni
versal demand of Democracy has.been for
honest money and II sound dollar"
"But the Virginia Democrats have al.
ways been for free COINAGE"
Not ut all The oconvention which
nominated me in 1898 repudiated the
doctrine of free, unlimited, and independ.
ent coinage of silver, and declared for
blinetallism by and throu, Oh international
agreement, as you will remember. for YOU
were present. by vote so overwhelming
that the voices of the free silverites could
only have been heard with an ear trurn-
pet That was good Democracy then.
Was it not in 1896?
And then" the governor went on, Il
could not endorse the condemnation of
President Cleveland for protecting the
mails and property of the UNITED States
"hSh ny MOD violence. Nor
could forget that it was Senator Daniel,
of my own State, who offered resolu-
ton i'll the Senate ..of the United States,
commenting Mr.. Cleveland for his course
in connection with the suppression of
the mob at Chicago. This resolution was
adopted without a dissenting voice Yet,
If remember Alright, Senator Daniel was
IL prominent member of the committee on
resolutions at the Chicago convention
when that committee denounced Mr..
Cleveland Tor doing the very thing for
which Senator Daniel had praised him in
the Senate. If Senator Daniel raised his
voice in the committee or in the convcn
tion against this plank Of the platform,
have not heard it. The attack on the
supreme court, of course, merited my
severest condemnation"
"But you say that Bryan was rot Il
Democrat
Governor O'Ferrall, who had beer,
speaking earnestly, swung around i'm his
chair. - charged during the last cam
paiGn" lie said, ''and reiterate the
charge now, that Mr.. Bryan was not a
Democrat. y mans politics must be
judged by his expressions and acts.
Bryan refused to support n regularly
nominated Democratic candidate for su
preme court Judge in his own State; he