The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-25


noNnsy JULY %, 1917
" We do not know what good purpose Cal
d IN accomp,lshed by an attempt to undo tfls
s ,vort ar sbe late caucus of tho Conservative
: , ! Of the General Assembly. wy
S can set,. ON the contrary, that 'arapls
damage may be done to 1.-The CONSERVATIVE
narty by dividing It into two factions. w
have. therefore, refrained from common
upon the recent editorials Of the Enquirer
which seem to us to have been intended U
create dissatisfaction In our ranks, hoping
as we did, that that journal would sooi
cease It's warfare upon the name "Conse 81
vatiye." The Enquirer is entitled TO IL
opinions, and ours would be the last pape
to censure It for the honest expression
them. Yet we do not think that we "r'
bound to remain silent whilst it is DONG al
that it can to array Virginia Democrats "
other days against the Conser'a'i'0 f :
as at present organized. u,o-r to
We, too, believe that 1t Is neces.t w., ao
have parties in every free country' or m o;thar
mt believe that It is necessary 10 c"i' ei.nsi
ar anv ono of them the Dcmocratic party
thonob M one estimates that old party more
h,shs, Thor, Iye do. AZ to the prominence
a.s;n,od IN former Democrats in the present
.-nrseryatiyo organization, it may be said
that they constitute at least half of the state
Central Committee. The seven members
resident in Richmond are Messrs. DANIEL
MARSHALL, BRANCH, NELSON, STRAUs,
MOORE. and OKDwAY, of whom four IL NOT
five were formerly Democrats, we think.
But. however this may be, the Conserva-
tive party remains the Conservative party
nv name. The recent address of the Con-
seryatiye and Democratic members OF Con-
yress to the people of the United States re-
coynized the Conservative party and the
Democratic party as two distinct organiza-
tions. That address was signed by Senator
JoHNsroN-of course as Conservative, not
as a Democrat. In 1868 the Conservative
marty of Virginia sent delegates to the
Democratic National Convention, and no
one questioned their right to seats in that
body. The address just spoken of shows
that the Conservative party will be allowed,
if it shall choose to do SO, to send delegates
to the next Democratic National ConVen-
ton.
1t thus appears that there is no earthly
reason why the Conservative party should
change its name unless the word ''Demo-
crat" is so much more popular that the
party would be strengthened by making
such change. Is this true! Is there one
Democrat in Virginia who will refuse to
act with us if we continue to call ourselves
Conservatives" We believe not. There
are not half dozen papers in the State
which favor the change, and of these not
one will refuse to act with the great Con- |
servative party for so insufficient reason.
We know of no remedy for the wrongs
that exist in the organization of our party, |
even If we admit that there are such
wrongs. What does the Enquirer propose!
Is it not satisfied with the action Of the
legislative caucus? Would it have State
convention to divide the party in twain
upon this very question? And, if State
convention were called, would it admit as
delegates only those who call themselves
Democrats? If it admitted others,
would it not be courteous enough to call
the organization by some name which
should not exclude part Of Its members ?
And is not {" Conservative" as good name
as any otherf In face, is not the Enquirer
Conservative paper?
We desire the success Of the opponents
of Radicalism in Virginia. We would fain
See all these opponents united as band of
brothers. We care nothing for names. We
know the men with whom we are acting.
We can trust them. We do trust them.
They may choose the name of "Demo-
crat" if they please, or Republican," or
"Silver Grays," or any other. We shall
not quarrel with them on that account. At
present they have for the second or third
time decided to call themselves Conserva.
tives." We make no objection. We shall
act with them. Is there man in Virginia
who deserves the name of "Democrat
who will refuse to act with us because, not
withstanding that many of us are Demo-
Gratis, we elect to call ourselves 50 Conscrva.
tiyes"? We cannot believe that there is
one.