The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-24
Judge Crtche,. a Better.

Judge Critcher a Bolter.
The public viii learn with surprise and
regret that Judge CRzrcHER, Of Westmore-
land county, has announced himself as an
independent candidate for Congress, in OPP
position to Hon. B. b. DOUGLAS. Mr..
CErTcHER il a bolter in advance Of the nomi-
nation. We have not seen copy Of his cir
cular-ietter addressed to the voters OF his
district; nor do we suppose it would afford
us any light il it were accessible. The man
who quits his party fer the sake OF office is
never at a loss for excuses wherewith to at
tempt to Justify his conduct. The Frede-
ricksburg Star gives us hint or two
as to the reasons given by Judge
CR1TcHER fer his course; and these
reasons arc no worse and no better
than mighthaye been expected. They are not
reasons at all, but mere quaker-guns mount
ed in the absence OF any real guns. Real
guns he had none-substantia reasons. The
reader will, nevertheless, wish to know
what these excuses are. They are-first,
that at the approaching election there will
be no party contest in his congressional
district; secondly, that the National
Democratic platform does not alto
gether suit his notions; thirdly. that
Convention nominations are not popular !;
and fourthly, that there are too many DEM
ocrats in Office. II the first assumption
were true, Judge CITcHER, it is pretty safe
to say, would not be candidate. 1t is only
because he expects the support OF the Radi-
Gals that he ventures to take the field
against DOUGLAS. The second reason is
evidence to the same purport. Judge
CRITCHER processes to dislike the Demo.
cratic platform in one particular, and OF
course to that extent claims the sympathies
OF the Radicals. The third reason will
prove equally acceptable as the first
two to the Radicals. Whilst the fourth
is an arrow drawn from the Radical
CULVER. Over and over again have
we seen it stated in the Washington Re
publican and the Norfolk Day-Boot that the
old-Line Wings were out Of place in the
Conservative party. In the New York
Times OF Friday last is long article, the
burden OF which is the same as this plea o.
Mr.. CRlrCHER's. Here is an extract from
it:
.'The appeals to the old Wings which ed
itorially and in the form Of letters are APP
pcarins in several of the States, and notably
in Tennessee, indicate the presence OF I'M
dcrcurrents of opinion favorable to thu
Republican nominations"
.The hope OF the South really lies in the
self-emancipation OF these old Wings, ant
the moderate sons OF old Wing fathers,
from the bondage which the passions o.
wartime and the animosities it has be
queathed, together with the merely com
Portable considerations OF social life, have
imposed upon them"
The Times is the most INSCRIPTIONS Rad
ical paper we know Of, excepting OF course
such kitchen-cabinet organs as the Wash
ington Republican; and the Times sees il
these appeals which Judge CRITCnER ant
others arc making TO the Old-Linc Wings
"undercurrents Of opinion favorable to tho
Republican nominations" And Judge
CRITcHER himself will just rs likely rs moi
find himself in the Radical camp before No
vember next. His last excuse comes will
u Dau grace III IliS liihc, III ouI vi Ihc tIli u
highest State Offices which were filled in
1878, that OF Lieutcnant-G overnor and that
of Acknowledgement were given to Old-Lint
Wings. Then United States senator was
to be elected, and an Old-Lne Wing got tho
position; and then, when this Senator'S
place was to be filled, another Old.Lint
Wing was chosen Licutenant-Govcrnor.
Judge CRITCHER's excuses are the best he
could find. Let the public Judge him. We
confidently predict that he will be defeated
by q larger majority than DOUGLAS received
over SENER in 1874.