The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-16
From the Petersburg Index, 18th.


held in Richmond decided adversely rs to
the Enquircr''S clamor for State conven-
ton, passed by in silence the demand that
the name and platform Of Democracy
should be boldly avowcd, and wisely con-
tented itself with recommending to the
people processes by which the working
machinery of their organization might he
renewed, repaired, and placed in state of
efficiency. Only this and nothing more.
But the Enquirer puts forward the most
extraordinary claim Whether 4 beWildercd
snatch ut the last straw in sight, or bold
stroke, cunningly devised, is not yet clear.
in which the term Organization" is to be
received:
a. Did the Legislative Conference by its
use intend to urge the Conservative party
to return TO 4 line of policy long since aban-
doned?
(2.) Or did it mean simply to advise 4 con-
tinuancc OF the former system of concen-
tration-that which embraced superintend-
cnts, captains of hundreds, tens, ETC.?
An affirmative answer to the first of these
queries would be equivalent to reduction
to absurdity Of the whole matter in hand.
How can the party recur to the position it
occupied in 1868? At that time it was u
white mans party, opposed negro suffrage,
aYowed hostility to the fourteenth amend
ment, and the objective point of its political
plans was the defeat of the State Constitu-
ton.
Go back to the position of 1868? Why,
does not the Enquirer recollcct that one hun
drcd and eleven out Of the hundred and
twenty thousand voters composing the
Conservative element in Virginia have dis
tinctly repudiated that position by accept
ing the Constitution Of 1S67-'GS and instruct
ing their delegates to the Legislature to
ratify the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments?
AS to the second interrogatory, the re-
Spouse to that is clearly determined by So
luton of the first. ..... ~.. ....
Now then, we say, there can be no two
interpretations of the intent of the late
Conference. As to what construction the
desperate Enquirer may place upon IAN
guage prepared by itself we have nothing
to say. But the known views of Il majority
of the gentlemen composing the Confer
ence, the unanimty with which that body
frowned down the pet schemes Of the En-
qurer, and the notorious opinions Of Il ma
jority of the persons appointed to constitute
Il Central Committee, all tend to show that
if the verbiage Of the Conference rcsolu-
tons leans to the E,guirer's position the
will and intention of the Conference was
directly to the contrary.
And no smart mannuvre or partisan
flank movement can overthrow the will OF
the people. -E =
The editor of the Enquirer prepared bu-
siness for Il Legislature which he has abused
as unworthy the confidence of Virginians
Very strange! The rat is counting detec-
ton it appears, SO thin is the curtain con-
cealing it.
There is but one thing more to say. 1t is
this: ..t| "t..a
Smart as partisan tricksters may be, there
is no political contest impending which can
create that excitement which silences in
quiry and supprcsses truth. There is time
enough, and we have the resolve, If this
game of misconstruction and usurpation is
pursued, to procure testimony from the
members Of that Conference to shoao achat
they meant. Certainly their action would
not have been unanimous if the claim of
the Enquirer as to that action had been un-
derstood. ..-. ..s.
Why did not the Enquirer notice and COM
anent on the Conference proceedings on Mon
day? Was it waiting for the Legislature to
adjourn and its members to dispense, so that
official contradiction of its assumption
would be impossibleY For the sake of its
candor we hope not. In regard to its en-
terprise we should SO decide. 60.
cord abundantly shows, the opinion of Il
prepondelating element Of the Virginia
people, we do not mean to be set back by
an oily turn of Jack from the bottom.
We shall 90 with the Conservatives wher-
ever they go; but there must be the honest
and understood decision of the majority to
alter the settled policy of the party.
The Enquirer, exponent OF failures and
champion of mnorities, is not our guide;
and we follow not, unless ordered by the
people, in the wake of lantern whose
darkness has become proyerbial.