Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-16
A New Phase Of the Virginia Situa.
ton.

The confidence with which the Virginia read
just erS have proclaimed their ability to carry
the state, was. apparently, inspired by assur
alces OF support from republicans Tue Rich
mond IntSttJen@er, republican paper, owne
and edited by Col. John r Popham, fc 1eral
otec holder, has hauled down the regular re-
puofc2n electoral ticket and hoisted that of the
readJuste'S- This paper takes the ground that
IT Is impossible TO elect the Garfield ticket and
that, therefore, IT is the part Of wisdom for re-
publicans to aid IN putting the readjuster5 In
complete control OF Virginia. 1t advises
the withdrawal of the republican electoral
ticket IN favor OF the readjustcIS and should
this t2 done 1t would probably put victory In
Mahone's hands. But, in the first place. very
much depends upon the Influence this Ricn-
mond paper has With It's party. Tine republican
state committee and leaders of the p3rty NAV
ignore or repudiate the advice OF the Richmond
organ. In the second place-and it ts an I'm.
portant consideration-an open alliance with
the republicans, If brought about, might sIarm
the democratic readjuster5 and dive them to
the support OF the ular ticket There is no
question but that the white voters In the re
adJuSter party are almost unanimously for
HancOcs. They are sincere in their suppoIu OF
the democratic presidential ticket, and would
readily vote the regular (or fdndeD ticket If
CONVINCED that democratic success IN the stat,
would be impeTllled By their not doing So
The readjuster leaders hold their followers
by maintaining that their elect )ral ticket
commands the largest support IN the state, and
IS the only one that can defeat the republic ns.
Let this assertion be successfully controyeIt-d
aud the men who voted for Tllden IN 1876 would
promptly ignore state issues and support the
regular democratic ticket But herein Hes the
democratic difficulty as long as two elect oral
tickets remain In the field There is no way of
demonstrating which Is the stronger, and the
voteI5 Will accept the assurances of their re-
spectiye factlonal lea 1erS, and thus divide their
strength at the polls. 1t Is evident, also, that
very large majority of the fundeTJ would not
hesitate 10 vote for the Teadju5ter electors tt
they believed 1t necessary In order 20 caIfy the
state for Hancock. The white voters OF the state
are, IN short, earnestly in favor of HancockS
election. Hence II any Sort OF alliance Is formed
between the republicans and reaijuster leaders,
Is 1t not likely that the white voters of
the latter party may be- ONE suspicious? 1t
might arouse their democratic suspicion. Tie
regulars now charge that Malone sHd hts leu
tenants are not honest in support OF HanC ock,
and point TO the fact that the r8a lust IT cleo.
tolls are not bound by any OF tpe usual pa-ty
forms and pledges ID cast their votes in the
event OF their election for the democratic ticket;
that the readJuster5 refused to send delesat2s
" INT SiuCiuudtl COuNc1tlo0. l12I T1ey Wa'C@Q
until after both parties had chosen Their pres,-
dentisl tickets, and then a re11justar con-
yention assembled without any soIG OF
democratic authority and declared that
their elections were for Hancock. The regulars
insist that the readjuster convention decided
TO support Hancock. because the white voters
who bad stood by Malone could not be held
with any other name. However whether the
Richmond republican organ succeeds or fails In
Its attempt to take the republicans over TO the
rea1justers, its action Is bound to have some
influence upon the election In Virginia. At any
rate, the paper has joined the rea 1jUstcls for
this fight, and has thereby weakened any
chances that may have existed of republican
success and added to the prospect OF rea 1ju5tar
victory, 10 the event that the two democratic
factions fell to harmonic