The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-03
The Lying Campaign


The Lying Campaign.
There is something to admire in 4 brave
Do,itical canvass conducted upon the
grounds Of reason and practical views a.
to what is best for the general welfare; but
when contest is not OF this character, but
rests altogether on passion and falsehood, II
is debasing, vulgar, and criminal. In the
present political canvass the party in power
trusts its fate to lying md defamation. i
is plain that they know that they are dead
irrecoverably, the moment they rest theil
case upon reason and the calm public iudS
men1.
Beyond all precedent is the political aren't
disgraced by vulgarity and falschood. The
party in power seeks to cyade the exposure
OF their frauds, usurpations, and villainic;
by lying and by defaming their opponents
The Democrats and Conservatives have
charged upon them bravely, but have fought
to disadvantage, as there is no defence made
by the accused. They understand the tao
tics OF the pole-cat. They only seek tc
escape from exposure by enreloping them
selves in the lies which they invent, and
with which they endcavor to divert theil
,,ursaers cIvm Tic Radical game they press
so hotly.
The weapons OF lying and calumny are
not used alone by the lower order Of Radi-
cal orators, but with decided "vim" by
the leaders, such as MORTON, BLAINE,
GRANNY TAFT, the Attorney-General, and
the "great immaculate" as Mr. PULITZER
called Ben. BUTLER. So, also, certain vulgar
editors, who have made the mistake OF
thinking that the Radical party is invulnera-
bic, and that there is DO hope of making
money unless they are on the Radical side.
The New York Tribune, having opposed
that party while its editor was running for
the presidency, has rushed back into the
Radical ranks with an excessive zeal evil
IDENTIFY intended TO atone for its temporary
deviation from error. So the Cincinnati
Commercial makes amends for its wayward-
ness in displaying flashes Of independence
and horror of the corruption Of the Radical
party. 1t emulatcs the caprices OF the
drunkard who, joining fittully the temper
ance party, as repeatedly returns to hard
drink, and forgets not his soft bed in the
gutter.
This campaign, SO vulgar, SO meanly
mendacious," is made so because OF the
brutality Of the party in power, and Of the
impossibility Of finding any Justification for
it in reason and honesty. The Democrats
lind no inclination among the Radical lead
ers to meet their arguments. The tone and
temper OF Radical orators and presses show
that they have no hope but in degrading
the contest. In 1885, when WILLIAM +.
R1TCHIE resented an indignity inflicted
upon his father by Hon. WILLIAM S. ARCH
Err, in the streets OF this city, chair-maker
on Main street hurried to the scene, hurrah-
ing for one OF the parties. HAMPDEN PLEA
SAINTS intercepted him, and threatening him
with cane of - orthodox hickory" drove
him to his shop, eNclaiming, "Damn you,
sir, do you think that this is dog-tight"?
This ancclote often comes to mind when
we read the black guardism Of BLAINE, But
LEE, and some OF the execrable editorials
OF the big northern dailies. So far as they
can make it SO, it is a dog-ight. They are
barking at the heels OF the southern people
and worrying them with cowardly malice
/ which makes them meaner than dogs, which
do not shun danger while marrying the
game they pursue. " e a@
We feel the brightest hope that these dogs
will be driven from the field and into their
kennels, where they will ultimately die,
pessered by their own disappointed ambi--
ton, which will be worse than what some
times Details the dog, the fate o.; being de-
youred by fieas. 'l3a sf.',i ''T'' &c. :.