The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-22
The Nahonc Reputation Convention.

This monQrel body. composed OF rene
sade Democrats, Garfield Republicans, and
negroes, assembled In Richmond on the 1tb,
and, having adopted series OF reputation
resolutions, selected an electoral ticket COM
posed OF white men and former Democrats,
and pledged them TO the support OF Han
cock and English for President and VICE
President OF the United States. The mani
fest absurdity and Inconsistency OF their
action Is thoroughly displayed by compare
son n the Democratic platform Ito which It's
candidates are pledged on the subject OF the
preservation OF State and national credit
with the platform which that Convention
adopted. and which, making no other de-
slaration OF principles, distinctly an
tagonizes the bold policy expressed OF de-
termination on the part OF the Democracy
to maintain invioate State and national
credit. These men were drawn by the
stress OF events TO adopt line OF policy
utterly at variance with their real wishes
az 10 the election TO occur in November.
They had intended to coalesce with the
Radicals up TO aud even after the stanton
Convention, il not actually by a fusion
ticket, at least by cooperation, and but Tor
the nomination OF General Hancock that
scheme would have been carried 0ut but
the nomination of that hero and statesman
was received with such enthusiasm by tue
people OF the State that it became apparent
to the most obtuse, and OF course palpaDle
10 the leaders OF that party, that no Demo
Gratis in the State sufficient to elect the re-
suit could be seduced from their allegiance
to give vote for GARFIELD, ana IN their de-
parture they have adopted the hypocrltlca
complaint to which they have resorted-tht
Nl,1c IN of
Hancock by Withdrawing enongh Demo
cratic votes Tor their ticket from the regular
Democratic ticket to give plurality to Gar
field and thu. elect his electors.
The scheme is a cunning and bold one
and worthy OF the Mcphistopheican intel
lect which conceived it; but we thinl
when the people comprehend its effect an(
operation there will be very few, no matter
how violent their attachment to reSd1u,t
ment, who will be willing, not in its In
terest, but for the benefit Of Massie, Ms
hone. and that band OF leaders 10 turn Ovel
the State to Garfield, who has always beer
Its deter mined and bitter enemy, and there
by possibly defeat the election OF Genera
Hancock, who has always been I'M
friend Of constitutional freedom, and
therefore, Of Virginia and its people. Tit
voters do not vote for the President direct
". but for electors, who are absolute masters
OF their votes, and theoretically represent
no candidate. When, therefore. mar
votes for the regular Democratic electors M
vote is not counted for General Hancock
but for them, and il he should vote FOL
the Reputation electors the result L
the same; no matter how many votes
are cast for each set they cannot b'
counted and cast as whole for either oil
both sets OF electors, but must be cast sep
arately for each. II. then, the Democratic
ticket should have 100000 votes and TIT
Reputation ticket 10000, although both are
Hancock tickets, they will not be added 10
gether and counted, but will be counted
separately foi each set OF electors; snt
II the Garfield ticket for electors should
have 10l ZOO votes, those electors would
be declared elected, although the ac
tual vote OF the State by the people wal
l24,OO0 for Hancock to 100000 for Gar
field. Every voter will thus see that wber
he casts a vote for the Reputation elect
ors, although nominslly voting for Han
cock, he is practically and really voting To-
Garfield, unless in the improbable contn
gency OF the Malone Reputation ticke
having more votes than the Radical tickle
or the Democratic ticket, and we do no
suppose any man, however sanguine. be
lieves that such verdict is possible
hsrSt Enterprise.