The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-28
From the DausIllc TIme'.l
xcsfer from Judge A. n. Lybrook.
PATRICK COURTHOUSE, Va, I
August II. 1880.


ionaI district. reply to-day and give my
easors. whether worth anything or not,
yhy I cannot conscientiously accept the
I have been sincere oppo-
TENT Of Fuuderism since 1871 no one more
IMPOSED 10 its adherents In 1873; no one
more opposcd 10 them In the State to-day,
md for this very reason am opposed TO
he plan for the present campaign
,donted by the July Convention. Last
airing. when IL was announced from
at Richpond that the Key
note OF our party IN the national campaign
was 10 DO an independent electoral ticket,
committed 10 neither national party, had
as TO It's feasibility or proprlety'
secured the adoption OF reso-
lutious In conformity thereto at meeting
OF on; party in this county. Two weeks
later similar resolutions were offered al
meeting I'm Henry county. Counter resolu-
tions were offered, disturbance occurred,
and the meeting adjourned without adop'-
ing the first, but informally adopting The
latter. This expression OF sentiment,
which really accorded with my own,
me that the people would
not, and could not, vote with the soldity
and enthusiasm for this scheme that they
did for the cause OF readiustment last fali.
The issue last fall was purely State and
financial one--this fall 1t Is purely political
and national one. The people so under
stand it, and will act accordingly. My idea
then was from the first TO take no part in
the presidential election as party, but
permit the individuals OF the party TO vote
as they might choose through the electoral
machinery OF the other parties in the presi-
Il. nj mi 70 maintain tho
my OF party in the congressional contest by
nominating candidates OF our party. This
plan would have gained many friends, and
made no enemies. IL would have granted
TO our Republican friends the same liberty
OF free vote that we claim for ourselves,
aud they, conscious OF their hopeless mi
nority in the State, would have. rewarded
us by uniting with us on our candidates
for Congress, and we would have swept
the State by majority unparalleled in the
political history OF the State. | am per-
fectIy sure Of this. Fundersm would
have been dead forever. The next step we
take is no step at all. We defer action
until after both national conventions have
determined on their respective candidates,
as our enemies say, "to see on which
side to fall" We allow them TO take the
inside track and quietly constitute them
selves the regular Democratic party OF The
State, send delegates to the National Con-
vention, assist in the nomination OF Han
cock, and put in the field n regular electoral
ticket, and are to-day, by their activity and
our non-cOmmittal iDaction, recognized by
the Democracy Of the United States as the
only Democratic party OF this State, and
the only real supporters Of their ticket. In
the mean time the astonishing popularity OF
their candidate, not ours, forces us to sur
render our scheme OF an independent
electoral ticket, and claim 1t as our duty,
not theirs, TO elect their candidates through
another hostile and antagOnstic electoral
ticket.
The natural and certain result OF this
action will be TO weaken the Readiuster
party, by abandoning our former Repub-
lican supporters and sending them to the
support Of Garfield, and putting to hazard
the success OF Hancock by this unnatural
schism between bis friends. IL we should
thus be the cause of his defeat in this
State, we will be charged with having so
intended, and then | would respectfully
ask you, What will be our chance OF
carrying out to a successful issue next
year our policy in regard TO that most
prominent and vital of all questions, so far
as we in this State are commemorative pub
lie debt? The Republicans will not assist
us, for we have already abandoned them; ;
the Conservatives will not, for we will have
assisted to defeat them in their most cher
ished hopes. j have suspicion that we
have fallen into the trap set for us by the
Funders when it was determined to keep
tnIS debt question open TIL after the prcei
Dental election through the Governors
veto.
The only possible vitality our party can
ever have is purely financial and not politi-
cal--its sole strength is entirely local and
confined to this State. Here il is all power
ful though in its infancy. Let it assume the
role Of political party, and as such assume
a place in national politics, 1t Is essentially
nothing. Hercules was an infant at home
in his crib when be strangled the serpent.
Had the infant toddled abroad the serpent
might have swallowed him.
Parties should never be personally hos.
Iile-how they can remain politically hostile
W hen they are advocating the same policy
and striving to elect the same man to office
as the representative Of that policy can't
The only question now before
the people of the country Is the great one
whether the Republican party is to be per-
petuated in power, or whether Democracy
shall again take control OF the National
Government. This is the all-absorE.
ing question. Its daily-increising mag
nitude as the struggle grows in warmth
Oyershadows all other local and minor
issues. Virginia presents the only ex.
ception. We here present the unnatura
spectacle Of ignoring that great issue, and
are engaged 10 spiteful quarrel over
matter that can have no possible connec-
ton with or influence over the presidential
contest. The people know, or will know
this before next November, and will act
accordingly. For my part, l am now for
and / want every legitimate
means resorted TO TO secure him the largest
vote possible. / want the undivided infu-
euce OF my vote in his behalf to reach the
Electoral College. l would prefer n Re-
idjuster to have the privilege OF taking it
here; but IL be can't take 1t there, | Will
send it by any other man whom can
rust TO discharge that duty. / don't pro-
pose to employ two men to do what one can,
md have them quarrel on the way-split
hat vote into halyes-cluse one half to-
1eutralize the effect OF the other, and finally
,rystalize it into full vote for James A.
Garfield. Yet that is just what the tw con-
ending parties are doing in this State to-
lay. II were to accept the appointment
,ou tender me this letter would contain
bout the substance OF my stump speeches
You see how unfit l would be TO advo-
,ate the propriety OF the policy
ldopted by our Convention OF July
asst. am perfectly sincere when say
hat / am absolutely devoted to the cause
II reimbursement and the Reorganization OF
be State government. / subordinate every
,tber question to this. Next to this Is the
uccess OF the Democratic party this fall. |
hall cbeerfulIy support the Readiuster for