Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-04-07
HARMONY is THE
First Requisite to Demo-
cratic Success.
Belmont Says He Will Support
Silver-Falling All Over
Himself to Get Into the Band
Wagon.

Himself TO Get Into the BanC
Wagon.
New York, March 27.-The Herald
yesterday published the following
sigued Statement:
AT your solicitation L will endeav
or to say what think should be the
line of conduct that should influence
the Democratic party in its move
ments between now and the next
national campaign. The first call
should be for harmony. 1t is per
tecty apparent that no progress
toward success ca be made if the
party pauses en- route to engage in
free fight with itself. 1t would be
hardly necessary, if civil war were to
etcrnally rage within the limits of
Democracy for the Republicans to
make any effort at all. The Democ-
racy would defeat itself,
The line of present trouble seems
to run between the gold and silver
factions of the party. 1 cannot my
self see the propriety or need of this
strife. In that connection it is only
fair to say that one side seems as
eager for trouble as the other.
My idea is that every man in the
Democratic party, whether he be a
gold man, a silver man or a bimet;
allist, or whether he for a ratio of
l6 to l or some other ratio, should
stand every ready to yield to the
wishes of the majority of his party
as expressed in the platform of its
national convention.
If he be gold man aud the con-
vention adopt free coinage plat
form, that gold man should yield.
If he be silver man, and the con
vention declares for n single gold
standard thatsiIver man should yield.
No man has right calling himself
a Democrat, to be greater or wiser
or ttronger than his party.
Speaking for myself, L am a gold
man, yet / will unhesitatingly sup
port free silver l6 to / should it be
made the platform sentiment of the
party in 1900. l will give my sup.
port to any candidate whom the
convention selects.
1t is my opinion, Though; that
finance is not the first question Of
politics today. The trusts form the
giant evil, imminent and threaten.
ing in our affairs. These monster
combinations of money called trusts
whose methods contemplate the
bribery OF Congresses and Legisla-
lures, and even the control Of the
courts, must be destroyed.
To do THE we should have an in.
come tax and an Inheritance tax. We
should have public ownership of all
those franchises which are now in
the hands of great railroad, bridge
and electrical companies and other
combinations of kindred sort. Above
all we should have the initiative and
referendum, and so put within the
actual power of the people at the
polls to propose or pass law, or. i
needs, press to repeal a law in spit,
of any action by vsnal or corrup
Congresses or Legislatures.
We should attack government b,
Injunction and the national banl
system. We should be for the cleo
ton of Senators aud United State
Judges by the people. We shoult
be to increase the navy and agains
an increase in the army. We shoul'
be against expansion and the sie2
ing of the Philippines beyond sucl
harbors or is stands as are necessar,
for naval stations.
If we were to go in for all thes
matters and add to them an attack o.
the opposition for its rbtten wa
record, for its roguery Of embalm g
beef, for it's steals Of contract, ther
should be no doubt of Democrat
success.
Oliver III. j. Belmont.
New York, March 25.