The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-26
canvass Tor Nonina tions.

a - H,E rgEsf
Canvass for Nominations.
Two evils are come upon us owing tothe
circumstances of the recent social reyoi,i.
tion-viz., the .canyass for nominations
and independent candidates. The former tue
West Point Star, very probably with truth,
regards as having defeated the CONSERVATIVE
candidates for Congress in the Richmon t
and the Fredericksburg Districts. The "can-
yass for nominations " was perhaps more &C.
tive than the canyass for the election. In the
former all the sspirants were active and zeal
Gus; in the latter, Of course, the disappoint-
cd who struggled for the nomination could
not be expected 60 do and say rs much for
the general cause asthey were compelled to
say for the general and the personal com.
bined. ~-s--.-z-.--,---
But the chief evil Of che Canvass for mo-
limitations" is In the disruntlement OF the
defeated aspirants and their friends The
canvass warns them mp, aud they are even
led TO believe that the successful man re-
sorted to trick and discrimination to win.
So they are ever prone to believe that their
defeated favorites would be far more popu-
lar and far more likely to carry the district.
These things beget animositics, heartburn
inys, and apathy. Men make their prophe-
cies of the appropriately of the persons nomi-
mated true by staying at home and not voting
at all. In this way the "canvass for nomIna-
tons" wcakens the party and helps to bring
upon it disaster. II men could abstain from
thi, sort of canvass, and leave the selection OF
the best of those named for position to the
people, it would be better. But that In
country of popular elections is impossible.
Congress is good place to go-an easy stu
alton is a seat at $4,000 in that bodf-and
men will do everything that's proper and
often much that is improper to get it.
In this way this evil is probably lncurable,
and we must take the chances sssE d
The other evil of independent candidates
is one arising cut Of the new element that is
forced into the constituent body. Men
suppose that they can always command a
certain number of white votes, and they cal
csilate that if they can add to these the ne
groes and those whites who have dissociated
themselves from their while feliow-citizens,
either in the hope OF. elevation to office from
negro votes OF of obtaining Office from the
Government at Washington, they may be
easily elected to Office and enjoy the pay,
prog, and perquisites thereof to their hearts
content. It is true that man who
gets into Office and its emoluments in
this manner is not commended to the re-
spect and esteem of his tellow-citizens
thereby but in this day of pressure,
poverty, and general depravity, that's no.
thing. The day was when man would
sacrifice Office and any other desirable thing
rather than lose the kind regard Of his neigh
bors; but that day has gone. The success
full adyenturer in politics, especially in this
southern country, only chuckles over the
contempt his conduct may excite in the
breasts of 9, people who are impoverished
and who are in dSfayor at Washington, the
fountain to which he looks for the goods of
this world, upon which his hopes of salvation
are exclusively fixed. He has no compunc-
ton mt separating from his neighbors of his
own race and Of utterly disregardng their
opinions and wishes, and taking bis chances
with the illiterate, Gnscruplous, and de-
PRAYED.
The picture Is sad but true, and comes of
that peculiar situation in which the northern
people, who had the Government in their
possession, placed us. The evil is great
one. All parties should SO regard it what
ever be their opinions now. Some may think
that the independents are associating them
selves just now with the proper side; but
let them remember that the destruction of
that sense of responsibility to enlightened
public opinion, that sense of community
with the intelligent, and responsible, and
virtuous part of society which takes place
in, the minds and hearts of the indie
pendents, generates treachery to the
State and social infdelity in men who plainly
make their personal aspirations superior to
the public welfare and the good Of their
fellow.citiZens. -ss s ar.sr. $500 I. ,S
These evils are great, but we see not how
we are to get rid of them. The hoped-for
confusion amongst parties-that sort of con-
fusion we (rather vaguely we fear) hope will
break down the line of division upon color
or race-will do great deal to give us relief
from them. Let us hope that it will and
hope, like prayer,-if we act as though we
hoped-will do much to secure to us what we
hope for, even in the absence Of that auxi-
liary providential aid the assurance of which
is the bright light towards which the steps
of all the pious and true are ever directed.
- 1900 - -------Ts = aF e
Massachusetts Greeting the President.
We copy this morning from, the atlantic
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