Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-11
THE ENQUIRER.
RICH MONT VA.
Saturday Morning, May 8, 1917.
ADMISSION OF AN OPPONENT.

The Petersburg Intelligencer devotes nearly a
column 10 The investigation of The causes why, in
its own graluitous assumption, "Virsinia has re.
pudiated The Administration Of Mr.. Polk We
pass over iis error, in claiming seven Wing
members Of Congress, when only five are elect
ed, though, in 1914, MIR. Clay carried four dis
lricis and Two others were nearly divided, one
having voted TOR Mr.. Polk by two majority, and
another by seventy-siS. We come at once 10 The
g, OF the article, which is, that the course OF the
| Administration upon the Mexican war has been
the great cause OF the apparent gains OF The
Wing party in the lale Virginia election. The
changes are rung upon The "war Of conquest,
and the assumed attempt OF the President 10 "sa-
crlfice General Taylor 10 mere party purposes,
VIXEN no fact is better known, than that I:e Adj
minisiration called General Taylor 10 his elcva-
ted post, and has promoted him TO the hiShest
honors. We shall not now, however, rc-aTsue
these questions.
| Our main purpose is 10 invite attention 10 The
striking circumstance, that in The review oil The
causes leading 10 the supposed Democratic dc
feat in this Stale, not one word is sad by hi
Wing paper OF The Tariff, The Sub-Trrasury, and
the other great measures OF internal policy which
have been established by this Administrations
The Editor could mol, in the face OF the uniyer-
sal prosperity OF all interests, venture to arraign
The Administration upon these measures, and has
lei Judgment go by default. This same game
was played by all the Wing candidates in the
Stale. The unnecessary and alrocious war"
was the only builhen OF their compaint-and
their silence on other questions is The highest
compliment 10 the enlightened wisdom, skill and
energy OF the Administration.
The losses we have sustained in Virginia ps
ascribe mostly 10 The overweaning confidence OF
our friends in their own strength. In some dis
tricis and counties We lost from dissensons
among ourselves and a multiplicity OF candi-
dates; but the serions loss sustained can easily be
traced 10 Inc apathy Of The Democratic party,
through their confidence in continued victory
As soon as we can obtain The data, we shall pub
lish the full vote in each district, compared with
the vote for President in 1914. We have made
rough estimate from The imperfect materials be-
fore Us, and find that, in spite Of all The disadvan.
ages and untoward circumstances under which
we went into The canvass, the Democratic majo-
rily on The Congressional vote is !, 700. We
moreover find, that, in consequence Of the late
season, or other cause, the vote in The State this
Spring is sixteen thousand less than in Novem-
her, 1914 and that this deficit is made up 81 De-
mocials, 10 the amount Of about lwo-lhirds.-
Here in il,efs sufficient ca use for the apparent
los, II Democratic strength in the recent election
So far from Virginia having rrpudia'ed the
great principles and efficient condnct which
have characterized Ibis Administration. we Sc
riously believe that the Democratic paryi is now
stronger in Virginia Than il was in l645, when
we swept the State. Our very strength has been
the source of our losses. In The doubtful dis
tricls our friends have fought manluly and ri
umphei In the districts with overwhelming
majoriIies, they have been careless and aPaIhe-
tic, and have fallen prey 10 their willy oppo.
ncnts. Virginia is still Democratic 10 the back
bone and The Wings really admit it, for they
say nothing OF leading measures Of policy but
confne their misrepresentation 10 the "alrocious
war"