Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-04
TWELVE PAGES.
FRIDAY. MAY 4. 1900.
THERE WAS NO REPUDIA TON.

There will be no objection on the part
of those who loyalty supported the
Democratic nominees of 1896 on the
Chicago platform, If those who did not
do so fancy they see in the simple re-
affirmation Of that platform by the
Democratic Convention of this State,
any population of the principles there
of. 1t Is II matter of construction on
which differences of opinion are, in all
good humor, quite permissible. There
Is no thanks to be had by spelling
happiness. even when it springs from
what may seem groundless assump-
lions.
1t is just as well to keep in mind
however. that the issue of silence or
reaflirmatlon came squarely before the
convention by the presentation of Mr..
Munford's minority report. The con-
vention heard Mr.. Munford with the
greatest Difference and the closest at
tention. That was the due of the
speaker. and of those Democrats who
shared his views. The convention laid
the minority report on the table, and
reaffirmed the Chicago platform. 1t
was done in way that left no room
Tor rancor. but 1t was done by very
decisive majority.
The reanirmation was quite sufficient.
There was no need to Incorporate the
Chicago platform verbatim. Every
body knows pretty thoroughly what It
Is. Easily 90 per cent. of the Demo-
Gratis OF Virginia believe that 1t is good
Democratic doctrine. The fact that the
conventions Of other States are re-
Affirming It shows that the oplnion is
common to the Democrats everywhere.
Should the Kansas City Convention
merely reaffirm the Chicago platform
and adopt such additional blanks as
the issues that have since arisen re-
quire. there would be no reputation of
the Issues of 1896, and no room for n
misunderstanding of the tenets of the
Democracy.
1t is plain to all thinking men that.
Whatever may be in the platforms of
the Parties. that the issues In the cam
paign are already broadly and tolerably
clearly outlined. The fate of war and
the laundering and shifting of the Re-
publican party, the open fostering of
dangerous monopolics. and the con-
sequent danger to legitimate commerce
these have created issues of such
urgency and moment-that they are
absorbing attention. If the Democracy
should renew It's declaration of princi-
pies as made at Chicago. including BIZ
metallism, and then turn Itself to tho
work of rescuing the republic from the
hands Of those who are rapidly trans
forming dt into a Plutocracy and an
Empire; of saving Commerce from the
clutches OF those who are making of
st system of extortion,-it would he
open to no charge OF trimming. Ger
tainly there would be no occasion for
those who attempted to destroy Demo.
cracy In 1896. to take to themselves tho
f1attering junction of superior wisdom
That the Democratic party is TODAY
an organization of such splendid viril-
tty is due solely to the fact that. in 1896
1t met the issues that We're presented
by the country with n superb courare
and an outspoken declaration OF min
ciples. 1t will do the same this wear.
and If victory perch on It's banners II
will be victory made possible only bv
the superb battle 1t waged for the right
four years ago.