The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-16
rur Kentucky CONVENTIONS.

True Democrats-those who are Deino-
Gratis because Democracy means equali'y
If rights for all man, rich and poor hish
and low. alike--feel greatly encouidseu ."
reading the report from the convention OF
the National Democracy Of kentuckS'
held on Wednesday last. There were over
ono thousand delegates TO the convention
ana ia ont ~ 119 counties sent represen-
tatives. Many Of Kentucky's most emf
nent citizens attended as delegates anu
the convention was entirely harmonious
and agcressively enthusiastic. The ihiiu-
ence of such a body upon thought III Ken
trckv. as well as elsewhere. must heces-
sarilv be important. We look upon the
case as a clear and distinct evidence oil
the subsistence Of Populism and the rlslhs
tide Of genuine Democracy. Governor Nus
sell OF North Carolina, hopes to see the
plebeian and middle-classes get controi OIL
this country in 1900" There are no pie
beian and middle classes" in this country.
There is but one class here, and tha'
class is described by the word citizen OF
tho Tinted States. All men born or ma
turalized I'm the United States are citl-
zens Of the United States. and every ciu-
zen of the United States has every rlght
which the most favored man in the
United states can. by any possibility,
have. Some citizens have been fortunate
in accommodating property, but every OPP
portunity to accumulate property that any
one Of these fortunate citizens had. every
other citizen had. 1t is nothing. there
fore. but incendiary and insurrectionary
talk to mouth about patrician class ana
n "pleblan and middle class in these
United States. There is but one class
here, and that class is the free citizens OF
this glorious republic.
The Kentucky convention was discreet
and wise in its declarations. 1t held with
a grip of Harveyzed steel to the founda-
ton principles of Democracy that demand
Justice for all, and as an indispensable
condition TO Justice for all that We shall
have one standard of value that shall be
and remain fixed and interchangeable. But
IL spoke words of genuine kindness TO
those of our brethren who. in the hope OF
finding some short and easy cut to for
tune. have strayed off into the labyrinths
where the Populists have invited them.
But. in doing this, they had hearty words
of commentator for the sturdy fight that
Grover Cleelvand made for the priceless
foundations of our institutions, and, in
uttering those words. this convention hon
ored itself. 1t is he fashion in certain
circles to yituperate this great man at
this time but no President that this
country has had since George Washing
ton. has done it any such service as
Grover Cleveland did it when he stayed
the tide of Populsm. and held our Gov
eminent moored fast to the anchors of a
dollar of unchanging value. 1t looks TO
US as though he was raised up by Provi-
dence just at this time for the very work
that he performed. Henry Watterson
was perfectly right when ne said in the
convention that free coinage Of silver at
the ratio of l6 to ! was as dead as Afri-
can slavery, and Grover Cleveland did
more to consign i; to its grave than al
other living men put together.
This Kentucky convention is an auspi-
cious event in these days of waiting. 1t
cheers the hopeful and dismays the pessi-
mist. 1t came at a happy time. the pc
riod when Intervening confidence was
timidly standing at our doors. and it will
have a powerful influence in Fastening
the return of it that all Of us so long for.