The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-11
Congressman PIaft's Statement about
the Virginia Election-Reply or
Prominent Republican.
1jfors of The UtspdtCh

To The Editors OF the Uispdlch:
Iobserve In the New York Tribune OF the
9th special dispatch from Washington TO
that paper which says: Representative
James II. Platt, of Virginia, is here, and has
much 10 Saw on the subject Of the late eicc'
ton in that State. He charges that there
was never such q disgraceful system OF ter
rorism and fraud as on the day of election,
in many portions Of the State, on the part OF
the Democrats. lie says he personally Wit
messed scenes of violence that would have
shamed the worst acts of Tammany. lie
saws negroes were beaten, ballots destroyed,
life threatened, and that men were driven
away from the polls who would have voted
the Republican ticket He says that in Rich
mond workmcn in tho tobacco factories were
threatened with discharge If they did not
vote for Kemper; and, finally, that the re-
suit was due to fraud. He says many ar
rests will be made, and trials had under
sthe laws of Congress-
It is well enough to call things by their
right names; and as a Republican who had
the success Of that ticket as near to bis heart
as any other man in the State, and who had
"a good opportunities as Mr.. Platt for OBJ
serving and knowing the manner in which
the election was conducted in this city, do
not hesitate to say that his statement, so far
"a il refers to Richmond, is not true. That
the honorable gentleman believed he was
stating facts l do not question; but that be
had any authority for his assertions will not
be believed by any fair-minded Republican
in this city. =,
We were fairly beaten. and by means that
would have been considered entirely honor
able by every member of our party had we
,,sed them successfully In our own behalf
For one, I am wearied and ashamed Of this
nusillanimous cry of fraud" terrorism, D
g intimidation" SC, following upon every
disaster that befalls US, and that miserable
bugbear threat of an appeal to Congress fol
| redress. Our defeat, though 80 terrible, has
not necessarily deprived US of our manhood
| Instead of trying to cover our own short
comngs BY sneaking behind these miserable
pretexts of wholesale accusations Of corrup-
ton against the other party, would it not be
more manly and honorable to candidly &C.
knowledge our defeat2 Say we've been
whipped; We have met the enemy, and after
giving them as hard battle as we were able
have been oyerthrown in the contest. They
used Greek fire, poisoned bullets. and
all the other horrible appliances OF CIV
ilized and uncivilized warfare; but
who in our party Will pretend 10
saw that the same system has not been
adopted by Republicans soheneUer ice had
an opportuntty. Of course we do not mean
to say that the leaders or the honorable,
high-toned gentlemen of either party openly
encourage this sort Of thing, nor do We
mean to characterize it as being other than 1t
is. and that is as being fit only to be prac.
ticed by rogues and scoundrels. But are not
these rogues and scoundres common to all
parties and are we not making ourselves
appear very contemplate in the eyes of the
world by crying out fraud ciolence! m
timidation y! every time we are deteated'
And then, to add to our humiliation, some
indiscreet, over-zealous Republicans must
post to Washington and procure it to be
telegraphed to the four points of the COM
pass that Congress will interfere; that the
laws of Congress are to be enforced ana
more of the same sort of senseless threats,
rendered more so by their never amount
ing to anything more than threats. mr..
Piatt has always stood well as u man OF FAIR
ness and not easily to be led OF by sucn
miserable clap-trap, and it is to be hoped tllaI
he has not been correctly reported IN this III
.tancn A REPUBLICAN,.