The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-18

u
the whole matter IL TO submit ii TO the peo-
pie. This can be done 10 one day without
cost, and yirginiaps can and will cheerfuIly
devote that day 10 their State and country.
The last analysis Of Democracy Is that ma.
iori'y must role. BY this standard we wish
aud propose TO measure and contrast your
Democracy and our own.
Your rejec ion OF our propositions OF the
10th instant turns upon the Sd section OF
those propositions for the amendments sug-
gested as TO defraying the expenses OF the
and as to designating the c0mpet-
ing tickets otherwise than a. Funder and
Readiuster, do not involve any matter OF
principle, and might be substantially
granted: the section which was and is our
political ullimatum. We cannot and will
not yield 10 any demand that would place
us in the position OF abandoning faith
ful allies; and we cannot concede
that any mans Democracy Is TO be con-
cluded by his vote in 1876, by his previous
political opinions or associations, or by the
fact that three weeks before the election he
should not have paid tax which, by the
terms Of the law, be may pay at any time
previous 70 the very day Of election. We
do not forget that in the call issued by your
committee for the Convention CT last May,
the cooperation OF the citizens OF Virginia
in your primary meetings was asked with
out the Imposition Of any of the conditions
you would now require OF US as essential.
We propose to recognize in its projected
primary every registered voter who, by
therein, should show a pur-
pose to support Hancock and Eaglish.
We saw aud see no reason why any other
qualification should be demanded OF the
voter. Why should Democrats wish TO
place limits upon the membership OF their
party? Why should they not seek and
welcome converts and recruitsY To apply
your suggestions TO the politics OF every
State IN the Union would be to measure
Hancock's strength by Tilden's vote, and
to discard the proffered support to our
candidates OF men like Forney in Penn.
sylvania or Butler in Massachusetts. And
here let il be remembered that the National
Democratic Convention found no difficulty
in recognizing and admitting delegates from
the Butler faction in the latter State, though
fresh from primaries OF their own, although
their leader was not in 1876 National
Democrat, nor did he "yote with that party
in the last presidential elecion." To adopt
your policy would be 10 consign Louisiana,
Florida, and South Carolina forever to the
control Of the Republican psrty. III this
policy had governed in Virginia in 1869 she
would still be subject to rule the very re-
verse OF Democratic.
1t were folly, in our view, to proclaim so
narrow a rule OF prescription. even were 1t
not a violation Of every principle and
precedent OF Democracy. Men cannot be
excluded from all voice in party affairs aud
still be relied on to champion party meas
ures. Our desire is to attract, not 10 repe',
votes for Hancock and English. We have
deemed that the Democratic work OF the
hour. We have not supposed that the po-
litical antecedents OF voter, nor his color,
could constitute a valid reason for reject
ing his assistance to our cause, and in this
view we have been supported by the de-
claraions OF the Chairman OF the National
Democratic Committee as 10 the policy and
duty OF seeking TO obtain for the Hdncock
ticket elements OF strength heretofore
given to the Republican candidates. We
do not wish and have not sought 10 exclude
from the proposed primary any class OF
YOUR voters. We Cannot admit that 1t Is
right in you 10 ask, or would be otherwise
than un-Democratic for Us 10 consent, that
one Readiuster should be excluded from
the polls who is willing by participation in
the primary TO give token OF bis support OF
Hancock.
Nor do we know under the wording oil
YOUR amendment who might or might not
be prescribed from voting, nor what scope
or significance might be given TO the
term National Democrat. Every member
Of our party has been declared by your
official body to be beyond the pale oil
National Democracy the language OF yOul
amendment may be intended to include
and exclude us all. We have upon this
committee which you have addressed and
which i now replying to you, gentle
men who did not vote for the Nationa
Democratic candidates at the last presi
dental election, but who are to-day earn
est and active supporters Of Hancock and
English. Was it expected they should bt
ostracised in the primary? You have upon
your own electoral ticke: gentlemen who
within the past twelve months have voted
for Republican candidates; and lest II
should he said that those cases occurred IN
local and national contests, yon have upon
that ticket at least one gentleman who
within the year was more than willing to
give bis vote for Republican for United
States senator. The term your com
mittee has used suggests test: how and
by whom should it be applied! lf by
ourselves, we could not allow any plei
OF regularity drawn from an uncballengec
attendance upon the Cincinnati Convention
to cover language and acts which, coming
from recognized organs and official canvass
ers of your party, could be only accepted
as showing preference for Gariield's sue
cess in Virginia rather than thar our ticket
should give the vote OF this State to Han
cock. Nor could we permit the Democracy
OF any Readjuster who adheres TO the plat
form OF the July Convention and support,
the ticket then proclaimed 10 be challenged
and denied under sanction OF this commit
tee.
We claim and insist that every act and
utterance Of our party has been Demo
cratic in spirit and In deed. We claim Ia
have Iabored for years with the single view
Of impressing upon the administration 0i
Virginia's government the will OF ma
jority OF lbe people. We claim that the
original and continuing cause u our con-
troversy with your party has been our
Democratic respect for the popular will,
and your un-DemOcratic resistance thereto.
We claim T. have spoken and to speak Tor
a majority OF the people Of Virginia, thrice
asserted at The ballot-bOX; and We claim TO
have been net at every contest by methods
at variance with the fundamental doctrine OF
Democracy. 1t has been our part always,
as now. to seek consultation with and au
thority from the people. The policy OF ouI
opponents has, on the contrary, been marked
by persistent refusal TO seek or be bound ss
the popular will. But this letter il mo-
written for the purpose OF farther crlmipa
tions Of our respective parsies, though th'
manner OF your rejections OF our proposi
ton Of the 18th made ID necessary tina
snnne nniice shnuld hA. taken of thl