The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-23

differences which divide the several Demo
cratic su- poftcrs Of Hancock In virginia
arc nurely local, the Democratic committee
came 10 prociaim a truce between these
factions ia the presence OF common en'
envy.
Had the plan Of such primary election
prevailed there would have been no national
canvass IN Virginia. Here there would have
been but one strife, and that between Demo.
Gratis. The dissensIons wEereon the Repub
licans row rely TO carry Virginia would
have been embittered by long canvass, anc
the yIciousness OF the plan would have beer
the excuse Tor such apathy by the con
auered as would have made the Republican
task easy In this state. This miserable device
10 divide the Democracy Of Virginia into two
hostile camps. In q fight out oil which no pos
sibie consequences could grow to the only
question discussed therein. was further mar
red by the extraordinary proposal to sub
Gait the question OF the relative strength Of
Ithe Democratic parties 10 Virginia to thu
determination OF sIl the voters OF the State
whether legally qualified or not, who wished
to amuse themselves with casting ballo:
And that no element OF the ridiculous nigh
be wanting, II proposed to saddle the eX
pen,e OF this costly warfare between Demo
crats on that National Democratic Commit
tee whom the proponents OF this plan have
everywhere been at pains to denounce ant
DEFY
The State Democratic Committee, charged
with the maintenance OF Democratic su
premacy In Virginia, aspiring TO no con
auest over other Democrats, and assem-
bling for peace and union, not for war anC
discord, could OF course never accede to {
proposal TO submit the question OF Demo
cratic existence in Virginia TO the arbitra
ment OF 10000 colored Republicans, the
majority OF whom, DISTINGUISHED by law
will not be permitted 10 vote In any elec
ton; but, having come prepared 10 make
sacrifices for unity, they accepted this cum
brous. costly, and strife-engendering plan
rejecting some OF its ridiculous features
whose ab,urdty was so patent that Its
trainers promptly abandoned them, and
asked but one amendment-a clause pro
yiding that the election to determine which
should he the National Democratic ticket iu
Virginia should be participated in by ma
tionaI Democrats alone and that no Demo
crat, no matter what his views on State
issues, should be excluded, proposed as the
test OF national Democracy the voters p0'
sitlon in the last national election, when
Virginia cast the largest Democratic vote
ever PEELED In her history by many thou
sands.
The intrinsic justice OF this provision
needs no illustration. No argument can
strengthen its transparent proprlety and
wisdom and right.
This amendment was, after long delay,
rejected as emph Itically as the Shenandoah
plan, and the cause franklv assigned was
an unwillincness TO offend the COt0red Re-
pub[icdnS in their ranks. ThereuD0D the
7th-of-July Committee, 10 emphasize its re-
solve to listen TO no just terms OF settle
ment, cut off all opportunity for further
labor in the cause OF union by the curt an
nouucement that they had adjourned sine
die.
This is the record OF an earnest attempt
made by the regular Democracy OF Virginia
to preserve her vote for Hancock by the
voluntary sacrifice OF half its chosen cleo
tors, and Of the failure OF that attempt.
To the judgment OF Virginia and Of the
people OF the whole Union we leave the re-
8 ponsibilitv of that failure with entire con-
fidence. Sucb concessions have never be-
fore been recorded in American politics !;
such a resolve 10 rule or ruin never so inso-
ienty avowed. Let those whose energies
have hitherto been expended in suggesting
forms Of fusion now abandon that futile
task and give their hearty support to the
ticket OF that party which to the clam OF
regularity and utilization with the National
Democracy, nowhere disputed, now adds
the higher claim OF ma9nanimOuS and re-
jecled offer to sacrifice its rights. its pres
tige, and its just pretensions on the altar OF
Democratic union in Virginia and Demo
cratic triumph in the country.
Already many OF the best men OF the Re-
adiuster party are fighting with conspcu-
Gus effect in the common cause with their
lately separated Democratic brethren.
Every day benceforh will witness hun
dreds OF accessions Of true men who were
Democrats before the debt question entered
into our politics, and will be so long after
ii is finally disposed Of.
With such an effort as the true Demo
mocracy OF the Union have a right TO eX-
pect OF Virginia, the Old Dominion will
answer with no uncertain sound in NOvem-
Der, swelling that victory for the regular
Democratic ticket, which all the omens fore
cast as the certain issue OF this great con-
test.
awe have a great duty to perform tOge-
her. Let US do it with one heart and voice."
A. NJ. KELLEY,
A. S. BUFORD,
JOIN w. WRIGHT,
JoHN w. LAWSON,
JOHN r. HARRIS,
JAMES BARBOUR.