Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-26

iH's mas Ht HD tOUpdSSlOUg 10 lDllh
OF human kindness? May ! not plead
cxtenUating circumstances, something 10
avert his wrath? May | not ppeal 10
his generosity and point TO his own dere-
hction at Chicago In voting for a plat
form he had not studied, and did not un-
derstand? May 1 not say 10 him with
some glimmer Of hope that he was one
OF the accredited delegates from Virginia.
the bright, particular star in the States
representation 10 that august convention
in Chicago. and that he allowed a plat
form 10 be reported and then adopted Wi n
his vote with planks I'm II which. az the
nation construed them, he now admits
were vicious and subversive Of our insu-
tutions? AS he hopes for forgiveness
for the long list Of Inconsistencies and
incongruities recorded on the scroll Of
his life. may not his marble heart be
moved to pardon me for my vote in Con-
gress for free silver when assured by
members OF the Committee on Coinage,
Weights. and Measures that the metals
could be preserved at a parity. and a
silver dollar be kept as good as a gold
dollar? VIII he not condone my own
error when his admitted errors and in
consistencies. 'on wings Of wind come
flying all abroad% He and his home
organ think 1 am forever done for; then
"'Tis cruelty
To load a falling manT
"Will he not permit me to retire TO the
shades where he and his organ looking
through jaundiced Glass, have consigned
me. without continuing to distress me in
mind and perturb me in soul?
But whether my appeals are heard or
not. / shall be content a just people
will sooner or later measure US both,
and If / am condemned for my one in
consistency. how terrific, indeed, will be
the condemnation of the Senator for his
many.
Il committed mistake. and It has had
its retribution / voted for free silver
that is, for the ratios-and l have suf-
fered the pangs Of regret for It,
NOT on PLATFORM COMMITTEE.
1T is always a pleasure to me- besides
a duty, 10 correct a mistake, and do
justice to my fellow-man, whether
friend or foe When / was interviewed
by the correspondent Of the Washington
Post. in common with a multitude, |
thought that Senator Daniel had been
a member Of the Committee on Resolu-
tions Of the Chicago convention. Many
Of the papers. at least, had so reported
him; the correspondent of the Richmond
Times, in his message from the con-
vention, Of date July 10th, had stated
that at the request of Mr. Glass,
the Virginia member. the Senator had
taken his place on the committee; the
Senator's most ardent admirers had be-
lieyed that he had played a prominent
part i'm framing the platform, which was
to lead the people from bondage into
freedom and it was so proclaimed
Justify on the stump. Indeed. the Sena-
tor was heralded as the Virginia Moses,
and the proclamation contributed largely
to his prestige in the State Not
sound was heard, not even whisper was
waited upon a passing breeze from the
Senator correcting the erroneous i'm
preston. Children were taught TO lisp
his name and the birds to sing his
praises as Virginia's redeemer from
money-power greed and monopolistic
enthralment But oh. how cruel is fate!
The enhancing story is no longer told
the mystic spell is broken; the idol Is
shattered. and its pedestal has crumbled.
Stubborn facts stand out in martial ar
ray. The Senator was only nOminally
temporary chairman, presiding for only
a very brief season. then surrendering
the gavel TO Senator White. He attended
no meeting of the Platform Com
mittee: he took no part in the framing
with il, and did not know what the
platform contained until It was reported
to the convention What a damper upon
the ardor of the admirers Of the Sena-
tor! sic transit gloria mundi! How soul
breaking, how heart-rendering is the
thought! oh. what q fall was there
my countrymen! Can 1t be that he,
whose sovereign will sways like a sweep
ing whirlwnd a Virginia State Conven-
ton is so impotent in a national con-
vention? Can it be that he whose
sceptre Is omnipotent in a convention
in this old Commonwealth is simply
hgure-head or wallhower in a national
convention? Shades of Virginia's past
glory Forbid
SENATOR'S SILENCE LAST FALL.
'In my letter of the 18th instant | re-
ferred 10 the Senator's silence last fall
on the clause In the Chicago platform,
denouncing Mr.. Cleveland for sending
troops to Chicago TO quell mob that
was threatening the destruction of the
mails and property of the United States.
Like the people and the press generally,
/ had forgotten that the Senator had
ever emitted a sound in response TO the
universal charge that he had voted in
the Senate to commend Mr.. Cleveland,
and had voted in the convention TO con-
demn him. 1t is now developed that he
returned from his European trip to his
'netive heath between the 1st and Sth
Of September, about sixty days before
the election, and that in the last days
OF the campaign, after forty days and
forty nights, the duration of Noah's
flood. of silence, criticised on all SIDES,
he gave forth his first utterance where
tho people could read 1t, in a letter to
oh 1iCgpnfinR
the construction which the nation had
nlaced upon the Federal interference
clause. For at least forty days he per-
mitted his platform 10 be attacked by
the opposition speakers, and the clause
mentioned construed by the speakers on
his own side as a denuncia1on OF Mr..
course, and in that light en-
dorsed by them; for forty days. at least,
he submitted to criticism, II l may be
,errnitted TO say. 'serenely and meek
iv, disregarding the admonition that
.all DELAYS are dangerous in war. What
does the. Senator give for his
tardiness? He says he was absorbed
in a law case from September the sd 10
October 18th. How complete must nave
heen that absorption, and how unfortu-
nate. But what absorbed him from the
tst Of September when he returned from
Europe. TO September the 2d, when the
iaxv case commenced its process Of alb
sorntjon? But / most cheerfully
occord 10 the Senator all the benefit he
,,,ov derive from his letter of october
~ 18Th IT certainly attracted little
attontion and made no impression on
,ho nublic. for even recently the Dis
Itch when interrogated on the sub
iect simply was under the impression
49, during the campaign the Senator