Virginia, after the permanent settlement of the "debt question" and
the subject was finally eliminated from the State politics, sprang
forward upon an era of great prosperity and advancement, which
continued without interruption until the "Free Silver" and "16 to 1"
craze set in politics, and the false idea that sixteen ounces of
silver was always equal in value to one ounce of gold took complete
possession of the field throughout the State. This was one of the
delusions championed by Mr. William Jennings Bryan, one of the most
plausible and eloquent stump speakers in the country. He threw all of
his most forcible energy and talent into the attempt to convince the
people that it was the panacea for all the ills of humanity--it was
his idea that a purely economic issue would be a cure-all for all the
woes of the flesh.
In 1894 William Jennings Bryan was nominated by the Chicago Convention
upon the "Free Silver" platform. General Simon Bolivar Buckner, of
Kentucky, with Palmer, of Illinois, were chosen by the gold standard
wing of the Democratic party as the standard bearers of the Democracy.
William S. McKinley, then Governor of Ohio, was the nominee of the
Republicans, also on a gold standard platform and high protective
tariff. When the election was held that fall, the "Free Silver" motion
was overwhelmingly defeated and killed. In the campaign Virginia voted
largely for the Bryan ideas. So completely had his influence
infatuated many sober-minded, good Democrats that they considered it
almost treason to the party in one who did become misled by this
delusion. When Lamb was nominated for Congress in the Third District
of Virginia he was an advocate for Free Silver. A few nights before
the nominating convention came off, I met Captain George D. Wise and
asked him how he stood on the question, and he answered, "I am a Gold
Standard Democrat." For this frank avowal I have always admired him.
It was a decisive and unequivocal stand on the issue which was then at
its height, and it cost him his seat in Congress, for Captain John
Lamb, the opponent, was selected and afterwards seated as the member
from the Third District of Virginia--the Richmond district.
The Honorable Charles T. O'Ferral, the member from the Seventh
District of Virginia, and who, with the aid of Mr. Randall, of
Pennsylvania, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, by
their skill defeated the infamous Force Bill offered by Senator Lodge,
of Massachusetts, which was antagonized by the whole South as
sectional and unjust to it. Governor O'Ferral was almost ostracised by
his party--that is, by the ring--because he would not subscribe to the
"Free Silver, 16 to 1 craze." The old State finally emerged from this
veritable "Slough of Despond," and its motto seems to be "Excelsior"
and progress. The former political issue of gold or silver seems to be
side-tracked and does not appear in the platforms of any party, but is
relegated to oblivion as a subject of politics, and it is to be
devoutly hoped that it will remain there for all time and never again
cause so much unnecessary bitterness and division in the old party.
The State being relieved to a great extent from the handicap resulting
through the late canvass and excitement; though her Congressmen and
the State officers were elected on the Free Silver platform, yet it
ceased to play a part in the policy of the State or the country at
large.
The commercial and economic status of the old Commonwealth improved
every day. The General Assembly drew up a bill calling upon the
suffragans of Virginia to decide whether a convention should be called
or not. They, the voters, decided that one should be called, whereupon
the Legislature so enacted, and the election was held. In the year
1903 the convention to frame a new Constitution assembled in the hall
of the House of Delegates in the old Capitol in the city of Richmond.
They were confronted with a great many intricate and difficult
problems. First and foremost was the question as to the best manner to
deal with the negro vote. Next in importance was the creation of the
State Corporation Commission, or Railroad Supervision Act. Probably no
member of that body deserves more credit for the establishment of this
important branch of Virginia's judiciary system than Allen Caperton
Braxton. By his logical reasoning and indefatigable energy was largely
instrumental in having that great measure passed. There were many
other salutary laws framed and incorporated in the fundamental body of
the State; which has put the convention on record as having been one
of the very best bodies of men ever assembled in Virginia for the
important duty of forming the organic law of this old Commonwealth.
The grand work accomplished by them will ever be duly appreciated
until time shall be no more and forever ceases.
A question of absorbing interest to all the people is the temperance
issue. A large and influential portion of citizens advocate a
State-wide or general prohibition law. The other portion oppose it
strenuously. In the Assembly, or Legislature, an act called an
Enabling Statute was introduced, which proposed to put before the
voters the question whether they should choose for State-wide
prohibition or not, and upon the verdict thus rendered it was to be
returned to the Legislature at its next session for its final action,
on the principle of the Initial and Referendum.