Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-30

The New York Journal Of Commerce,
much against its WILL sees signs that the
Democrats are getting together. 1t Is
very evident. says the Journal. that many
Democrats-many Democrats who broke
with their brethren on the silver issue
ara not finding II difficult to return to
their old party. The course Of these, as
serts the Journal, may not be absolutely
logical from the standpoint OF the main
tenance OF the public credit" but adds
our contemporary. there Is no use blink
ing the fact" that there is decided ten
dency to resume their party allegiance
"among the mass OF voters who have
been Democrats"
The Journals comments on the logic
Of the situation, as bearing upon the
maintenance OF the public credit. g., the
gold standards neither here nor
there. That is a matter OF the point OF
view. We might say that with the Jour
nal. Il Is a matter largely Of environ
ment. The practical questions We have
TO deal with are: Does the Journal state
facts as to the return of disaffectcd
Democrats 10 their party? and, What
is the purpose and what the significance
of its admissions?
Our observation justifies the conclusion
that IL does state facts as TO the drift
back to the regular organization OF many
Democrats who wandered off in 1886.
From all over the country we have owl
dence, as our commercial contemporary
puts It, of the survival Of party loyalty
and the strength OF party love. AS for
the Journals purpose, that is made very
clear. The Journal is no less currency
reform" than gold paper. 1t would
warn the Republican party. The RepuDI-
cans. II says. have serious lesson to
learn, IL they expect TO command :he
confidence of the country as the only
friends OF sound and scientific currency
system" Our contemporary then con-
cedes that at the last session of Congress
the Republicans practiced pettifogging,
evasion with respect to currency reform,
acknowledges that their party has re-
peatedly given definite pledges on the sub
iect and declares that it is on probation
for the last time in the matter
But while the Journal is engaged In
desperate effort to whoop the Republicans
UP to, or scare them into, currency e
form, it lays bare the fact that they have
Systematically deceived and betrayed
the people on this question While
warning the Republican party, 1t
also warns the masses that they would
be foolish to trust that party. To all
intents and purposes. 1t urges the only
friends"-saye the mark-"of Sound and
scientific currency system" whose treach-
cry it has paraded, to attempt again
to ride into power under false pretences;
for the Journal ought to know. if it does
not, that the influences that have pre-
vented the Republican party from doing
anything with the currency question are
stronger to-day than they have ever
been.
Taken. therefore, in any or all Of their
bearings, the admissions of the Journal
are chiefly significant as showing that
the only hope of the masses for reform
in our financial system, in any manner,
shape, or form, lies In the restoration Of
the Democracy TO power. And just here
1t may be said that in its jealous efforts
TO alarm the Republicans our New York
contemporary makes 1t apparent that the
time for beginning that restoration is
propitious