Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-04
The situation in Virginia.

ne
Virginia may now possibly be clasSed among
the doubtful states In the presidential election.
The Indications are quite plain that there Will
not be any union OF the two democratic factions
In the state. Each bitterly denounces the other,
and with divided democracy there Is a chance
OF republican success IN the state. The leaders
OF the democracy seem TO have abandoned all
Idea OF union Of factions, and the regulars are
now preparing for a vigorous canvass against
both republicans and readjuSterS as the only
means CT carrying the state for Hancock. In
the first place, Ii Is evident that the rea llster
faction cannot elect their electoral ticket.
They permitted the funders TO get the
position and prestige OF regularity By sending
delegates to the Cincinnati convention and
large numbers OF democratic re3itusters, re-
cognhing the force OF this position, are openly
Joining the regular ranks for this national con-
test In spite OF this the readjusteTs are making
a determined canvass, because. as they say, it
would be political death to their party" to
permit the regulars TO win; that the regulars
or, as the readjusterS term them. funder5-
would then, in the event OF Hancock's election,
control the Federal patronage OF the state, and
use IL TO support fundertSm and destroy the re-
adjusterS. For this reason Gen. Malone and
his lieutenants are fighting the national con-
test upon state Issues They warn their fol-
lowers that desertton, even for this campaign
means political death to their party. The reg
ulars are endeavoring to retire state questions
for the present, and discuss none but national
issues; but the readusters will not permit It.
This explains the breach between the two fac
tons and makes the difficulty of union appa-
rent. The capitation tax WILL 1t is estimated
by democrats. reduce the aggregate republican
vote by 40 coo. as that number OF col0red men
Will not. or cannot, pay 1t. In the presiden-
tial election OF 1SI6 Tilden received with a
united democracy, 139, 61O votes to $3.50 for
Hayes. In 1877 there was no opposition to the
democratic state ticket. and the total vote cast
was loo, 269. Then the capitation tax law was
not In existence. In view OF the irreeoncilable
difference In the democratic party Ii the re-
publicanS determine to make fight they
would, as one OF the primary and necessary
measures, provide for the payment OF the cap
ttation tax of their party followers as the dem
ocrats are doing. Naturally the democrats
will lose thousands or votes b. this tax. Say
their losses In this way cut the total
democratic vote, upon the figures of
1876, down TO 125,OOO. Then, If the
readjusters get anything like what they claim,
they would divide this vote, leaving, say to one
faction 5000, and to the other 60, 900. The re-
publ1cans could, with their %, 900 votes of 1876
muster enough to win the field The regulars
are counting upon vote OF at least 90, 900, CIV
ing the readjusters about S5 900 or 20, 600 Then,
their estimate Is, that the republicans will not
under the capitatiOn tax, cast an aggregate
vote Of more than 10000 or $4,000. Az least.
there Is a field In Virginia for republican fight
but the managers, before going into 1t, must
make up their minds to furnish $780, 900 or $40 900
to pay the one dollar per head capitation tax for
poor colored men who are not able to pay 1t
themselves.