Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-10
EX-GOVERNOR noIEs, OF IOWA.
Suggests That the Democrats Give u
Pledge to Maintain stable Money.
-. 49, L.l-.uaL

(New York JournaL)
To the Editor:
have been requested TO answer
through the columns Of the Journal. the
following questionsi
In your opinion is It possible for all
who formerly ac,ed with tho Democracy
to be brought together again, and, If so,
what are the best msans 10 accomplish
that end7
what concessions can the dominant
element in the party honorably make.
and what can the disanected ones ac-
cept?
what should DO the first step toward
reconciliation?
What position should be given to the
issues Of 1896 in the campaign?
what new ones, IL any, should be
added. and what ones should be placed
az the frontY In brief, what, In your
opinion. would be the best way TO bring
about party harmony and united action
during the coming campaign
These are most appropriate questions
for every Democrat 20 consider. L WISH
they could be propounded 10 every man
who claims to be such, and that answers
could be compelled under OATH
Expressing my own opinion, L do not
hesitate TO say
The Democratic party ought 10 be
united. and because IT ought TO DO l be-
lieve It can be-
There is but one question OF serious
difficulty that divides 1t. IL requires no
sacrifice of principle on either side to
remove that. The dominant element IN
the party insist that unqualified and I'M
aofrrarra nf tho metals
at the fixed ratio OF 10 10 1 will Of itself
without safeguard or pledge OF any kind
maintain parity of the metals when
coined.
THAT those who make this statement
believe what they say IS undoubtedly
true.
IL is equally true that there are thou
sands upon tens OF thousands OF as
earnest Democrats as ever lived who DO
not believe IT, who cannot be made 10
believe IL. and who have been driven
away from their party because Of fear
they honestly and cOnscienuously enter
tain that such coinage would Instantly
reduce MS 20 silver basis. permanently
exclude gold from our financial system
as a circulating medium, and give Us Tor
practical use in place Of bimetalllsIn'
silver monometal.ism.
II IL IS true. as the dominant element
I'm the party claims. that free coinage or
| itself. at the ratio insisted on, Will main
| tain parity OF the metals whom coined,
no possible harm could come TO any one
! from any pledge that could be given that
such parity shall be maintained, and H.
on the other side. all that the minority
ask Is that our currency shall be Kept
as good as IL is to-day. and that every
dollar OF one metal shall be as good as
every dollar Of the other, all that Is re-
auired 10 insure that end is an unequiyo-
cal pledge in the party platform that
parity OF the metals when coined shall az
an times and under all circumstances be
sacredly maintained
To give the pledge upon one side, TO
accept it upon the other. IS nothing less
than q patriotic duty that every true
Democrat owes his country at this time.
The first step in the accomplishment
OF this most desirable end must be taken
by the Democratic press OF the country.
IL is TO you, gentlemen who help so
much 20 WELD the tremendous power
that shapes the destipies Of nations, that
conservative men muss, look for aid 10
heal our broken ranks Without IL the
efforts OF all beside will prove unavail-
ing
We are engaged in a war. tho uncon-
cealed purpose Of which. on the part OF
the administration, is 10 subject ten mil
lions OF an alien race that never wronged
us To our control, and add by force.