The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-13
STRANGE THINGS IN MARyRAND.

A mcst interesting meeting Of Maryland
Democrats was held In the city Of WASH
ington on Saturday last About one hun
drcd Of the party leaders who believe in
the doctrines Of the Chicago platform
met in that city and discussed tae situa-
ton in Maryland, protesting against the
effort that IS making in certain quarters
10 ignore the silver question. 1--WE have
come to the parting OF the ways" said
Thomas c. Weeks. one Of the leading
spirits. 1--WE will have no more compro-
mise, no more harmony with the party
which IS Democratic only in name. As
for myself. / shall support no nominee
I would rot support the Apostle Paul II
he stood on a platform not consonant
with those great principles OF Demo-
cratic government enunciated at the chi
cago convention Of 1896"
That, so far as we can gather from
the report s. a. fair exposition Of the
sentiment Of the conferees, and there is
resentment against Senator German,
who, 1t IS claimed, is trying to elect gold
men to Congress from the State OF Mary
land There was a spirited discussion,
and the result Of the conference was the
adoption Of vigorous resolutions in pro-
test. After the usual "whereases' about
trusts and bank mongers," and after
reciting the fact that the president of the
national bank and gold bug had been
nominated for Congress from the First
District, the resolutions conclude as fol-
lows:
And We respectfully suggest TO the
Democrats OF Maryland TO assert their
manhood and throw off the aut0cratic
system of bossisr1 which rode the party
10 IT'S defeat i'm 1895. and which still be-
strides 10, and not allow themselves, out
Of devotion 20 the name, 10 be driven
into voting for men who arc enemies 10
the principles of Democracy.
And we hereby call upon all voters VINO
believe in the principles of the Chicago
platform. without regard to past party
utilization. TO meet IN their respective dis
tricts and I'm each congressional district
select fifteen delegates 10 a convention
20 be held in Baltimore city on September
2ist. at u o'clock a. NJ. with power TO
nominate or endorse candidates for Con-
gross pledged 10 the principles of the
Chicago platform. and TO transact such
other business as may come before said
convention. PROVIDED that the nominee
for each district shall be selected by the
delegates from that district
Here is n bolt with a big p. and no
Doubt about g.. The free silver men who
i'm 1896 were such sucklers for party or.
ganization ana party regularity have como
out boldly against the organization and
declare that they win not support the
man who was regularly nominated in
convention because they 90 not agree
with his views on the currency question.
i'm other words. they propose TO follow
their own political convictions and not
to be led away from them by party die
um.
We have TO word OF censure for them.
II man honestly believes in free silver
and honestly believes that the gold stan
dard Is wrong in principle, opposed to the
Constitution and detrimental TO the best
interests OF this country then it IS his
duty to fight all candidates who oppose
free silver and who believe In the gold
standard, and he should do so in defiance
of the party whip We save the point
however. that it IS a bad rule that does
not work both ways, and that our free sill
yer friends should oocord to the gold men
the same honesty OF purpose and the
same privilege Of action that they claim
for themselves. We have often said in
these columns, quoting the words Of an
other that 1T is better TO be right than
10 be regular" The free silver leaders
OF Maryland seem to have adopted that
motto for themselves