Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-07-08
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

The Democratic convention at st.
Louis is wrestling with the problem OF
the right candidate to nominate. As
the question comes nearer and nearer
to solution We have no hesitency, ~
much AS we regret the fact, in saying
that We are now forced to the concln.
sion that the man TO WIN is Grover
Cleveland. Wesupp0se no living Dem.
Ocrat would more regret than we to
see his name at the head of the Nation.
al Democratic ticket, nor would any
one be compelled thereby to eat SO
rank dish of crow. Two weeks ago
We would haye voted for almost any
body else in preference-but the Re.
publicans have made it impossible fnr
us to do else than support with enthu-
slasm any man the Democrats nOmi
nate, Cleveland not excepted. They
have placed in their platform what
may euphoni0usly and in the Ian
guage of the day be called IN gger
Plank" they have declared for a re
duction of the representation of the
South in Congress, and have in terms
declared for force bill. These things
are SO appalling, so dangerous, so dis
gushing to Southern people, so uncall.
ed for. so menacing to liberty, SO vim
dictive, so full of insult, 30 deeply
designing, and bent on humiliation
that nothing which we could do tt
destroy party determined upon sucl
criminal purpose we would not do. TC
say that we would not humiliate our
selves to the extent of voting for al
obnoxious candidate under such cir
cumstances is ridiculous. Not onl!
would we do that, but we would e
further, we would take up arm!
against such a violation of constitu
tlonal rights, and such an overthrow
ing of Onr liberties.
We did think that Mr.. Mckinley
conduct toward the South had render
ed such menace impossible and thai
the bloody shirt had been folded an(
laid away forever. But with the mai
who 30 suddenly announced that hi
would follow in Mr.. McKinley's foot
steps, such course was impossible
and such an utterance a byword. H.
has never done and he never intended
doing it. 1t is be who has caused thu
insertion of the "nigger plank, and i
is part and parcel of his plan to ruiz
this country as an emperor. His ruling
of his own party is but sample o
how he would rule the nation if tn,
opportunity were offered. With sucl
a bold and reckless adventurer striv
ing for his own elevation, and witt
such a platform to give sanction to al
he may undertake in the direction O
negro supremacy in the South, W,
share the general alarm that today
prevails in the South. and the Demo
cratic party may nominate Cleveland
OF any other candidate and he will re
ceive our hearty and cordial support
because of the fact that self preserva
ton is the first law of nature.
Let the convention at st. LOuii
choose anything it may in the shape
of a candidate, we are for him. We
have never deserted the people Of the
South, and never will, notwithstand
ing Clev Gland and his followers did
desert them ANONYMOUSLY. Cleveland
can win because the business men OF
the North irrespective of party, regard
him as the safest man in public life,
and the times are such as to require d
safe man-fOr we are confronted with
serious financial conditions. He can
win because the Republicans have
acted the fool in reviving the race
issue and have solidified the South
against their mountaineering them
into the support of man, should be he
nominated, whom they do not want,
but whom they will support gladly
because of the dangers lurking in the
SUCCESS of Mr.. Roosevelt.