The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-04-13


AND PROSPECTS,.
The Same Battle as Fought in 1896
10 be Repeated in 1898 and 1900
and 10 Win This Time.
At the meeting of the Democrat
ic State Central Committee of lille
nois, resolutions were adopted IN
dorsing and reafhrming without
reservation the platform adopted
by the Chicago Convention m '96.
As Il this were not enough, this
representative body of Illinois
democrats went further and eHl7
phasized as the paramount issue
before the people IN the campaign
of 1898 that plank Of said platform
which demands the free and I'm
limited coinage of both silver and
gold at the present existing ratioof.
Is to ] without waiting for the aid
OF consent of any other nation. A
resolution was also passed favoring
the denomination of Bryan in. 1900.
IT IS the same wherever demo
Gratis come together to consult over
party matters The issue and the
leader will be the same in 1900 that
they were in 1896. Declarations
similar to that made in Illinois are
heard from democrats everywhere
from conventions, committees
and individuals leaders. Both issue
and leader are more popular now
than in 1896, when the intelligent
white people OF this country voted
forthem by amillion majority. This
fact was recently stated by Con
gresham Otey, of Virginia, and it
is worth remembering. Take the
Ignorant negro vote out.of there
publican column, and its total vote
dwindIes down to 100000. The
democratic vote remains the same,
6 500, 900.
Those, therefore, who talk about
''oompromises'' and pivotal states
are simply wasting their breath.
The issue is the same, the candi-
date will be the same. When the
democrats of Georgia meet in con
yention, says the Atlanta Constitu-
ton, the Chicago platform will be
unreseryedly Endorsed, and the
paramount issue-the free, unlimi-
ted and independent coinage OF
silver at 16 to will be dnly EN-
phasized. The party everywhere
is slowly gathering together for the
great struggle. The preliminary
congressional campaign in which
the democrats feel sure of winning,
will serve to strengthen the organ
ization, and place its machinery in
working order.
We do not agree with those who
think that the possible interven-
ton in Cuba by Republican adj
ministration is calculated to give
that party any remarkable adyan-
tage. On the Cuban question,
the Democracy is not an opposi-
tion party. The matter of Ameri-
can intervention is not a party
question. 1t belongs tothe higher
domain of American humanity
More than that, the Democratic
party has, from the first, insisted
that intervention5 on the score of
humanity and ins.the interest of
republican governments should be
the American policy. The Demo
cratic. leaders .sand Democratic
newspapers 'havesurged this policy
constantly. They urged it on
Cleveland, and they have been
urging itsons Mckinley ever since
his.inaue uration:
Ia feet, tits exclusively to Dem
ocratic newspapers that the coun-
try owes the bulk ef. Its informa-
ton in. regard to the condition of
affairs in Cuba The Republican
party has nothing to gain by inter
vention at this late day, for in
every. step Mr. Mckinley has
taken. or is supposed to have taken
in that direction, he has had the
enthusiastic aid and encourage
ment of the Democratic party.
On the other hand, what of the
Domestic policy of the Repnbli-
cans? 1t has failed at every point,
and in every particular. The tar
iff has failed in the three essen
tials that gave it reason for being:
1. 1t has failed to cure the deficit