The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-15
Independents.

We have been in the habit OF regarding
the individual who styled himself an In
dependent" as q sort Of political mongre!,
whose creed was uncertain, and whose pO-
sition was indefinable However, rs we
grow older we have a clearer conception
and appreciation OF these self-immolatinS
patriots, and the more we see OF them the
stronger are we convinced OF their disln-
terestedneSS.
The independent politician is political
fortunc-hunter-a man who hangs OH to Il
party solely for the purpose OF being hand
somcly supported; and failing in this, he
leaves party, stands on high moral ground,
and becomes 4 salf-constituted candidate OF
the people II often happens that these
self-same gentlemen could once shrek loud
est about the inriolability OF party obliga-
tons, and could manipulate at one period Il
party caucus with as much skill as the most
experienced in the land; in fact. we have
thought that majority Of the "indepen'
dent" candidates who have infested
the country since the war we're men
whose skill in party tricks had rem
dered them unpaiatable TO their party
friends: whose chcanery and unprEci.
pied actions in attempting to pack conyen-
tons in their own interest proving un-
ting forth the bad treatment they had re-
ceiyed at the hands of convention, the de.
mands made upon them by their friends not
to submit, which had been duly considered
and after such due consideration they, with
great reluctance, bad consented to sacrifice
themselves to uphold the majesty and vim
dictate the wrongs perpetrated on the party
by becoming independent candidates. The
/ va bntv ny1rrl1 Inh
specious appeals, and the political existence
of all such as have tested public sentiment
has long since ceased.
When Il man is weak within his own
party but is anxious to serve his country
he comes out rs an independent candidate,
because, forsooth. he is "unskilled in the
mysteries OF conventions ~; because he
knows that were he to submit his claims to
the suffrages Of the party with whom ne
claims to have affiliated his defeat would be
certain and inevitable. Such mans po-
sition is indeiensibie. How humiliatlnS
it mus. be to have thus openly to
acknowledge his own weakness. Such
man, however, recks OF nothing but nls
probability OF success, and his calculations
can be summed up as follows: 81 can't get
the nomination. | can get SO many iocas
Conservative votes, it matters not VINO Is
the nominee; then my family connections
are extensive and those under personal OBJ
legations to inyself are numerous, so that
can rely on so many, Again, there will be
quite q number within the ranks to whom
the nominee will be personally objections
BILE, and shall secure that element, and
then-and then shall get the entire Re-
publican vote, and thus you see my election
is assured"
Such men are traitors to principle-they
are untrustworthy; and still there are
many snch IN this State who are seeking to
mislead the people by false pFetensions
merely for the sake OF filling office. There
are many such daily scattering seeds of
discord in our midst, raising false issues,
and agttating the public mind with false
hopes.
But weicarnot think that the people Of
Virginiawlll be mislel we cannot believe
that they will be untrue to themselves; we
cannot believe they will recede from the
position SO boldly taken in the past. On
the contrary, We shall see the independent
crushed in the coming contest BY such
unanimity that hereafter he will hesitate
long before le appeals to the people. Call
5hImselt by whatsoever name he will, he Is
the most dang etoils enemy to the Censerya-
tive party - Manassas Gazette, S.
y r - 4