The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1904-08-12
WITHOUT COURAGE OF CON-
vIcTIoNS.

N1CTIONS.
The spirit was willing but the flesh
was weak, is a common remark about
the recent Demoratitc state convention
regarding the oily white" plank they
proposed to put in the platform. It is
fact that the overwhelming majority
of the delegates to that convention and
that it was SO seriously discussed and
warmly urged that the committee fail
ed to reach an agreement and adjourned
to take n second day ut it. 1t is not
denied that Henry G. Davis said he was
with them on the proposition, but that
it must not be done rs it would weaken
the national ticket in other states.
Then, when it came before the conven-
tion there were cries for that plank, but
it was not there, for Davis mad succeed
ed in making towards out of the COM
mittee just MS he himself had shown
himself to be. 1t was not matter of
principle they were there to uphold and
promulgate, but only an arrangement to
get votes and fool the people. With
that in view they were content to 90
before the people in false light. 1t
pleased them to appear as men who had
not the courage of their convictions, and
this is the set of men who nominated a
ticket under such shady circumstances
and VINO expect the people to support
them. 1t is not reasonable to suppose
now that those nominees win go out be-
fore the people and proclaim their in.
tention, if elected, to see that the negro
is DISTINGUISHED and the Jim Crow law
established, but that is exactly what
they have indicated they intend to do, it
they are elected. But they have not the
/. bravery, the manhood to say so now.
Their cowardly platform will not let
them do it. Again, they show the fact
that deception is the most prominent
feature of the Democratic campaign.
Their grand old Gladstone, as they have
chosen to call Henry G. Davis, has given
an exhibition of insincerity and weak
ness that no honest American will APP
prove. He says he favors the disfran-
chisement of tine negro. He said It
some months ago at Charleston and now
he says it again. and yet we see him at
the state convention declaring that no
such thing must be put in the platform
Hc holds himself up as, one who will not
do what he believes, who viii not prac
tice what lie breaches, who is afraid to
follow his desires and beliefs, who en-
couragcs deception, who repudiates him
self. who upholds a platform that is not
sincere and which does not truly express
the party's sentiments. And, since the
candidates themselves hold similar
views on the subject and must subscribe
to the platform, the logical conclusion
is that they are as vacillating as he and
just rs deserving of public condemnation.
Under such questionable circumstances
the platform can mot inspire public con-
idence, nor can the nominees, who n oe
pledged to it. by virtue of their nomina 4
tions On that platform the party goes
before the people under strong suspicion
that they intend TO 20 far beyond what
the platform says. and as the result no
one knows how far they would 90 or
what radical measures they would
adopt With such a disposition there is
plenty OF latitude for them, they think,
70 inliet the state with dangerous and
destructive doctrines and practices. and
no one con conceive what they will do
and how far they will 90.
Certainly a party that shows such
culpable weakness in convention assem-
bled IS not worthy OF the peoples sup
port and right thinking persons have
so concluded.
And after all this the braggart comes
along and says the Democracy OF West
Virginia can win on such a platform and
With such candidates, but then that he
. thinks IS expected of aim and he
blazes away with might and main TO
disseminate such foolishness.
There Is no foundation, whatever. for
the statement that this state will not
remain in the Republican columns, and
i would be highly improper and unap.
propriate that 1t should. West Virginia
under Republican rule, has become ono
81 the great industrial states of the nm.
ion, and with IT'S activities, it recognize
the fnct that the party Of aegrcssivcness
and with policies that foster and build
i the party for It. the party that vii
bring about development and advance.
mcnt and see that tie industrial marc
confines.
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