The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-01
An Old Citizen 10 Colonel knight.
rFOf the DiSDatch.l

IF the way i. still open for fair discussion
and inst conclusions We would like to say a
word about the canvass: but If it Is not 1t
will only do harm for wuen candidates for
Office have come to the conviction that they
are necessary TO the public service, and have
secured the Unlimited confidence of some
times even few friends, they no longer ey-
anime themselves or ponder their motives oil
action, And / mean this is the case with
most men who are once induced to come be.
fore the public. We feel assured, however.
that Colouel Knight is geull aman not
likely to close himself in from the il lluence
of fair reasoning, and we therefore submit
the following:
Colonel knight has referred to some frauds
ia the primary cleo ion Or nomination Of
delegates 10 the senatorial convention, we
know not which. Now, we think these mat
tiers complained o. by him are really not un-
Cerstood by the people generally may be
rot one in fifty and that the term used is
very inappropriate is indeed most likely, for
yve hardly can suppose Colonel Knight
means TO say thar anybody having chargo
OF the matters deliberately porpetra;ed I
fraud upon him. Surely he does not can
to say that General johnson aud Co'olel
Tanner did so. CIR got others to do so. The
more reasonable solution is that Colonel
Knights deas of fraud are measured by
bis own convictions of what he cOrcaiveS to
be courteous and fair among candidates for
public favor, constr uing the rule to be-to
help your opponent rather than help your.
self. But did Colonel knight help tt C others
as against him>tlt? Until this is evident be
should not characterize as afraud the kindly
offices OF candidates for one anotber-if, in
deed, there has been any such Partially
shown among them. If the friends OF Cen
eral johnson helped Colonel Tanner, and,
rice uersa, suppose either Of these gentle
mems friends had helped Colonel knight,
would it then bave been right? We will not
do Colonel knight the Injustice to say that
be would say it would be. But does 1t
Colonel Knight remember in old times, when
Colonel Jouts used to help Major Smith mt
his "log.rolllng," and Msjor Smith went
over the mex. week TO return the compli-
ment TO Colonel Jones, and how it was COM
plaiHed of by some that neither of these good
citizens helped Captain Townes to roll up
his logs, when the fact was that Colonel
Jones and Major Smith only thought some
one else would help Captain Townes, and
anyhow they could not help every body; and
if Colonel K. would only preserve The prin-
cipie OF natural selection he would see
how easy it is to account for how any two
gentlemen may be little more friendly at
times to each Other than to some other peo-
pie without being adjudged perpetrators of
fraud thereby.
Considerable latitude has long been given
to candidates to do what Is cilled "putting
the best foot forward" in electioueering, and
it is rather out of place to expect more dis
interestedness from candidates for Office
than from men 10 all other situations of life.
But let Us go step further. Colonel
Knight tEinks-b honestly no doubt-lbat II
something that was done had not been done
he would have got the nomination. Just SO.
1t is no more than "you came too late" or
any other mishap. Who really knows that
the case would have been different, unless in
some way Colonel Knights fIiends bad been
more numerous or more industrious? Colo
Eel Knight was deserving of their every eff
fort, and had been at home be would very
surely have received my vote; but / see no
Just reason now 10 desert the regular nomi-
nees. What says Colonel Knight to asking
himself this question:?
/, W. C. Knight, am q candidate for the
votes OF the Conservative party, but cln /
honestly expect 10 ssst i minority OF its
rotesa 1t Icannot an certain OF defect |;
or It Is plain that must ges aid from the