The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-21
o,r Gentle Adversaries.

wo cannot too much admire our Radical
a,iversaries for the faithful devotion aus
,,a,cd by the two factions 10 support Of
their respective nominees for Congress II
This district. We wonder at the pertinac'tS
displayed by each, and we cannot help re-
marking upon the gentieneSs and courtesy
which mark their rivalries. We can nara's
see the great personal worth and towering
merit OF the leading contestants that shooio
call forth such loyalty and undyipg defot'oh'
Ia: that's their affair. not ours.
AS one of the episodes OF the poiitlcs OF
these DAYS il is lovely. The rare virtues us
played 60 far to atone for any objections we
nav entertain to the principles and purposes
~ the contestants. We are overcome with
enthusiastic interest in the fight, ana are
row audibly shouting for SMlTB ana again
ringing out our applause of BURGESS, who'
besides Standing forth undismayed by the
dcnunciations of his rival and the terrible
onslaught of LINDSAY and the brass band,
vigorously assaulted Major HIATT, the solemn
guardian Of the National Cemetery, ana
added 10 the funeresl expression OF bis fes-
lures by placing one OF bis eyes in mourn
ing. A man who could thus stand before
hostility in mul,iform shapes, even Its
srsyest phases, and, preserving an undaunted
front, upon occasion strike back, deserves
especial eacomium.
But we cannot applaud him at the en-
raEse OF the "bey congressman" who Is
everywhere and at all times outspoHen ana
r?riptimida.ed. he deted even the granite
works, and pronounced the Government
a,ehi,ec. NrlLET false one in language BE-
iory1ug TO no particular order OF vocal
architecture, tu, made up in composite style
cr The hardest material. SO did be speak Of
prRGzss and W AsnBuRS, PLATT and STowELL,
AID others; and such were his piainncssa and
vigorous opinions Of them, that they we're
;-Eeprcssibiy inccnsed against him. Trey
denounced him in return in all sorts OF
,e.ins, and finally, as an extreme expression
G; resentment, declared that he bad been
kicked out Of the Republican party" We
90 not think The honorable and gallant
yuuGg congressman ought 10 regard this as
enc Of the worst Of lates. He might at least
TX himself, in the language of the soldier
dfummcd out of the Public Guard, "lf am
noi fit for such company as that, whatam lit
tuT:'
Yes, we stand by SMITH also. Weapplaud
I'm. II was great in his followers, OF all
c0lors, when they found that they had been
tamboozlcd, and that the horrible expcdient
Q! packing" so unknown in their soci-
e:y. had been resorted to, that they should
eciemniy ard proudly secedc from the Con-
gc.tion in which their noble leader was
about to be led to the slaughter. What Is
1itc worth if man is 10 be sacrificed in so
larbarous mapHeri 1t was IN act of tow
&:iEg resentment worthy Of the SMITH party.
The scene that followed, Of the unanimous
endor>ation, by those who remained in the
body, of the also gallant BURGESS, was ex.
~ct;y what was TO be expected. And now
The rivals stand molly defiant, ready to do or
Gle. Weexpect great things. Pledges have
been made. and promises Of wonderful
&. hieyemeEts uttered by both sides. They
re portentous, and the Conservative party
should have Il Wholesome apprehension of
what is coming. They cannot be too watch.
al, too active. 1t Is hard enough to defeat
ore man, let alone two such puissant gen.
;!snen as now thunder forth their thu eats.
We are little JEALOUS of BURGESS, how
ever. Postmaster EDMUNDs, who represents
;?Ic Government in the case, declares his APP
!toval of BURGESS, turning his back coldly
upon the hoy congressman" This is I'M
fair. SMITH wants TO >taDd by the Admins
t:ation; why drive him OFF, We know that
Government has been running" the Repub-
lean party-that il has been deemed proper
10 Use the executive, judicial, and military
power OF the nation to put down rebels ana
Iut up Radicals; but Mr.. Postmaster ED
MINDS ought to know that Mr.. SMITH is no
rebel. and he should be careful how such
1ncn-rising young men as he-a-e iroWned
down by official scows. The Government
certainly wants friends now, and cannot
afford to spare those who have stood by it
and it's officers under very trying circum-
stances.
The moral Of this contest in all its va
.ieties, and also of the Government inter-
ference in it, is of value. 1t is striking
feature of the times. 1t is significant alike
Of Government corruption, the dsintegra-
lion OF vicious party, and the ultimate
doom of combination held together and
sustained by no better motive than the
spois of Office, contracts, and jobs Of Gov
eminent. The Convention that was called
10 compromise difficulties and unite the
party created hopes and presented pleasing
prospects to more than one aspirant. The
"third man" was more than reduplicated.
We sympathize with them in their sorrow
for their promptly-blighted prospects, and
,eLder 10 BURGESS ard SMITH our best wishes
;Eat they may continue to have gay and
came canvass.
Hunt Them Down. 4