The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-10
What. Ia to be the Issue !?

Asa matter Of public interest, we repuo'
,jsh below what the Wing says ms 70 us pio'
hahle course in the campaign which 's TO
nre,.ede the next elections for Governor
lieutenant Governor, members OF the Gene.
ral Assembly, &c..
"We never raised this Pennsylvania raii,
road issue; but whenever II IS lnsroo9ceu
into the canvass we shall fearlessly dcnounce
Il as scheme more fatal to the best interests
of the State than any the most vindictive
Radicals could devise. Moreover, we shall
follow no dag, we care not what may be In
scribcd upon its folds, that is not upheld by
candidates whose devotion to Virginia and
Conservatism cannot be questioned. Nor yet
will we support any candidate, we care not
what NAV be their professions of loyalty to
the State and Conservatism, who are known
allies of the Bucktails in their nefarious eff
forts to secure possession Of the State; for,
"a we have said, we know OF no calamity
that could befal it that could possibly result
as disastrously to her interests, social, poiti-
cal, and material. This free railroad law Is
but MIR. Tom SCOTS vital breath in our
midst; hence the desperation of his partl-
sans to secure it. What cares the great Rldi-
cal Bucktail chieftain about Virginia Con-
seryatism? But give him the freedom OF the
State, and the proud Old dominion becomes
the yassil of as INSCRIPTIONS and corrupt
an organization of Radicals as ever cursed
the EARTH"
Be it understood that we do not question
the right of the Wing to follow the dictates
of its own best judgment in the matter. But
it is plainly to be seen that the two quaIitlca-
tons which the Wing proposes to require IN
its candidates for the several offices do not
necessarily exist in couples, or, rather, may
not always be found combined in one and
the same person. Devotion "to Conserya-
tism" is very good thing. devotion to
Virginia" is better. The words are good
enough. They'are like SAMBo's "notwith-
standing "-mighty nice words to interject
here and there into an article. But what do
they signify here? AS we understand the
latter of these phrases, the Wing uses it to
say that it will support for office no man who
is in favor OF free railroad law. That Is
what it means by "dcvotion to Virginia"
By the other phrase, we understand that
journal to mean that whilst its candi-
dates must be free from the faint above
alluded ito. they must also be Conservatives.
We say we suppose this is what the Wing
means; and whilst we do not propose to
deny its right to determine its course, nor
to censure it for so doing, we must repeat
what we said last week: that to make fight
upon any such question as free railroad
law, the bankrupt law, or what not, Is to
abandon the policy which has saved Virgil
MIA from the fate of South Carolina and
Louisiana, and to magnify these new issues
into an Importance which they ought not 10
have when compared with the issue of keep
ing the offices and the tax-Iaying power in
the hands of the real people Of Virginia.
OF course, our neighbor of the Enquirer
is not going to support candidates who are
"devoted to Virginia" as the Wing under
stands that sort of devotion. That journal
is just US patriotic as the Wing, and just as
anxious to see Virginia prosperous and Con-
servatism triumphant. But 1t cannot see
with the Wings eyes. Thrust, therefore, be
counted out of the fight if the Wings policy
prevails; whilst, on the other hand, the
| Wing must be counted out if the Enquirer
policy prevails. In saying this we take it for
granted that neither would go over to the
Radicals.
Upon this question we appeal to the pco.
pie of Virginia. We appeal to them to an
swer in their next State Conservative Con-
vention. Weappeal from PHILIP "smiing"
to PHILIP who don't "smile.' Can they af-
ford to engage in a contest of the kindaboye
described!