The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-04-10
A Virginia Opinion.

Mr.. Tildcn be nominated al Cincinnati,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Tennessee and Louisiana would
be lost to the Democracy. The Common
sceaitA may be right in its opinion, but
upon what its opinion is founded it does
not state, nor can We conceive. The Com
noa1cealtA knows that Mr.. Bayard was
the personal choice Of Virglnians for Pres
iden. in 1876, but believing him unavail-
able, they espoused the cause Of Mr.. Til
den, whose name created more enthusiasm
among that people than that Of any other
presidential candidate presented for their
suffrage since the war. In the Tenth lie,
giOn Of Democracy, whore the Common
,ecalth circulates, and especially 10 Rock
ingham county, never was Democratic
enthusiasm, perhaps, more marked than
in the campaign Of 1876. The 3,400
Democratic majority in that county was
scarcely exccllsd in the days Of Democrat
and Wing contests in ante-bcllum times.
What Mr.. Tilden has done to forfeit the
support Of Yirginians since the campaign
Of 1876, we are at loss to know. He is
the same Reformer now that he was then.
All attempts to cast Odium upon him BY
income suits aud cipher telegram investi-
cations have come to naught, aud he stands
to-day, 10 every particular, just as he did
four years ago. It was no faul, Of his
that he and his party did not secure the
fruits Of the victory Of 1876. Various
causes cOnspired to keep him out Of the
executive ofhce-mistakeu judgment upon
the part of two Democrats now aspiring
for the presidential nomination and the
perfdy of few Southern Democrats, are
perhaps the most prominent. There is no
purer or more conscientious man in
American politics than Mr.. Bayard, and
Mr. Thurman Is scarcely inferior, but to
these two gentlemen ID largely due the
passage Of the bill creating the electoral
commission, BY which the Democratic
party vas defraaded out of the presidency.
Gov. Hampton, Of South Carolina, was
willing to trade with either party for the
redemption Of bis State, and sent an enbas-
sador to treat with both Tilden and Hayes.
Is cared not for the Democratic party of
the country, 50 he and his party gained
control Of South Carolina. Gov. Nichols,
Of Louisiana, stood Ia the same position.
We are not prepared to say now who made
the contract, but a contract between Dem
oerais and Republicans was made BY which
the Republicans we're to have the electoral
votes Of South Carolina, Florida and Lou
isiana, and the Democrats were to secure
the State governments Of those common
wealths, the Returning Boards to be re-
warded by Office for their perddy In the
matter. That contract was carried out,
and the further agreement that the federal
troops were to be removed from the South.
Thus, 10 a measure, Il was that Mr. Tildcn
was traded OF and kept out Of Office.
Thus il was, 10 large extent, that Mr..
Tildeu and the Democratic party did no,
secure the fruits of the victory Of 1876.
To him, then, is in uowise chargeabIc the
failure.
We do not concur in the Common
realths opinion in regard to the loss Of
North and South Carolina, Florida, Ten
nessee, aud Louisiana to the Democracy,
in the event of Mr.. Tildep's nomination,
but as TO Virginia il may BE- correct. In
less there be more harmony ia the Con-
seryatiyc ranks there than is now apparent,
no Democrat will carry that State. The
Readjusters, who number nearly, if not
quite, half Of the strength Of the Conser-
vatise party, do not seem disposed to heed
the call for State convention issued by
the regular Conservative State executive
committee. and the probabilities, from their
present attitude, are that they win send
separate delegation to Cincinnati aud put
a distinct electoral ticket in the field. If
that should come to pass the State viii
surely go Republican. Or, if the Read
jaster electoral ticket should be successful,
we would not be surprised IL the vote Of
the State would be for sale, as il is proba.
BILE the vote Of Virginia might decide the
contest. Recent events show that not
much confidence can be placed in the
Democracy Of Geo. Malone, and others
Of the readjuster leaders, judging from
their records, care more for Office than
principle In the event Of the success Of
Rcadjuster electoral ticket, and Virginia
holding the deciding ballots in the eleetor-
al college, official position would be
weishty inducemcnt for that party 10 cast
the vote Of the State for Grant