The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-19


as sye abs abselses'
|o s ss,se|
|lUEs not represent S.
Ere1 cf tll, E;,lutr 50 s
|iasgn body o lalss
nnasff pY the Admins md Il they
Ina seen i'll 40 cast their votes Grantss popu-
lar orstv goult be TerT small q, lliaeea,
| It would exist at all.
The prominent fen the election
|1nay be briefly stnfed Ninetg lire per ceslf.
OF the Democratic voted for Greeley. " the
remaining five per cent? o comparatively
small number voted for Gtant The greater
mart of them.did not ,yotH at al, OF the LID.
eral Republicans who joined this party OF
reform large majority stood fast, while
Others, despairingof success, went back 10
their old associations or stayed at home.
Now, leaving ont OF view The fenal men
who from corrupt motives deserted their.
cause and voted for Grant, and who cannot
be relied on by any party that uses none
but honorable means to further Lis success,
it may be safely affirmed that the; great body
of the electors who stayed away from the
polls are now, as they have been in times
past, opposed to the dominant Radical party.
1t is true that they did not by their vote
manifest their opposition In the late election,
and this fact is greatly to be regretted. 6ut
let us not rashly cast harsh censures upon
them il they could not overcome their OLD
feelings and prejudices SO far as to vote Tor q
lifelong opponent.
We may deplore the fact, but we should
not be so unjust as to place them In the ranks
of our enemies. We have an abiding laitn
that With time and reflection they will De
found, as heretofore, actively on our SIDE.
The Radical camp is no camp for them, nor
is Il part Of wisdom to draw party toma-
hawk upon the Democrats OF Liberal Hepun-
licaus who, from conscientious but mistaken
motives. saw Git to vote for Grant. The cir
cumstances were novel and peculiar, such as
had never before been seen, and men OF the
best intentions were liable to err.
Condemn as strongly as you will bass men
who sold their votes, but be charitable to
your old friends who, under circumstances OF
difficulty and embarrassment, differed from
YOU in opinion. Instead Of repelling, strive
to win them back. Free, independent
thought is of the very essence Of Democracy
and true Republicanism. 1t created the De-
mocratic party In the beginning. 1t has
maintained it ever since. 1t gave rise to the
Liberal Republican element Of to-day, and
TO il Wo must look for accesslons In the fu-
ture.
What is needed. then, is not elimination
and recrimination,, but the opposite. Three
and quarter millions Of electors have pro-
tested by their votes against Radical msrule,
under which the country has suffered, and
which threatens to overthrow the very
foundation of free government The rea-
sons for their protest are as potent to-day MS
they were when they cast their votes. By
every consideration Of consistency and just
principle these men are bound to continue TO
act together.
This necessity for reform Is likely to III
crease instead of diminish. The advocates
of Capitalization are likely to become more
audacious than ever in their attacks upon
local sclfgoyernmcnt. Exactions Of COM
bined wealth and the corrupt use Of money
in elections are likely to become established
usages if not speedily rebuked. 1t IS no
time, therefore, for any lover Of free institu-
tions, of purity in elections and government,
and equal laws, to relax his efforts /; nor Is 1t
intelligent, or wise, or manly to despair OF
success.
No reform party ever gained the first bat
tie. Consolidated abuses cain only be over
thrown by repeated assaults. Monopoly and
corruption ever die hard, but IN the end
they do die when Tree ana flrLuou' people
will their destruction. We say, then, to
every friend Of reform, BE of good cheer
Ohio is, we believe, the only State in which
the Radical majority Of 1868 has been re-
duced. A few more struggles, and 1t will
cease to exist. JOHN y. THOMPSON,
Chairman Dem. State Central Committee
II. BRlHKERH0Ff,
Chm Lib. Rep. State Central Committee.
The duty Of calling the State Conventions
for 1878 of the Democrats and Liberal Repub-
licans was left to the State Executive Com
mittees of those organizations. Speeches were
made during the afternoon by Senator Thur
man, the Hon. Hugh J. Jewett, the Hon.
Fred. Hassaurek, General Brinkerhof, the
Hon. Frank McKenney, Judge Follctt, and
others.
The New Congressman frOR tie First