The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-20
The Third District.

for Congress by the MALONE parry IN uis
district SURPRISED no one. II ha 4 been un-
t,erstood for some time that IL he desired
the nomination lie could get 1t. We bad
supposed u not uaiIkely that after GEORGE
ID. WIsEs nomination by the regular Demo-
cratic Convention, JOHN s. WISE would de-
ctiuc 10 be a candidate before the MALONE
Convection; fer he cannot possibly have
any hope OF being elected unless the Repub.
tlcsns decline to nominate candidate OF
their own and come TO his relief. The Re
adj listers are no stronger In Richmond now
than they were three months ago, when The
civ elections were held, and when their
candidates were beaten so badly that the
race became a farce. The Democrats OF
Richmond expect to send GEORGE ID. WISE
out Of this city next November with not
less than three thousand majority over any
body that may run singie.handed against
him, and with larger majority over each
II be has two opponents.
Captaiu JOIN s. WISE may or may not be
an acceptable candidate to The Republ cans.
He will, we presume, decline to run as
candidate for elector now that he Is candi-
date for Congress, and as The leading organ
OF bis party declares that persons who may
be elected TO Congress next November VIII
be Ineligible as electors. He has pledged
himself in the most solemn manner to vote
for HANCOCK II chosen as an elector, aud we
eau safely promise that he will do so II
elected. But whilst the HANCOCK men may
thus rely upon getting his vote il he shall
have the power TO east one, because he con-
siders himself bound in honor to support
HANCOCK, it is none the less true that IL
GARFIELD had been recommended 10 his
support by the July Convention be would
have been Just as ready TO vote for Re-
publican as for Democrat for President.
In letter which he recently caused TO be
published in the Richmond Wing Captain
john s. WISE said
"Wben we get there ITO the July Conven-
tionl, and the party policy is settled after
full conference. will, for one. abide BY It's
determination. whether our course be to
support the Cincinnati nominee, or the Chi
cago nominee, an uDpiedged ticket. an indie
pendent ticket, or no ticket at ALL"
So it Is a clear case that the Republicans
have no right 10 complain OF Captain JOIN
S. il he does support HANCOCK, seeing that
he was Just as willing to support GARFIELD
II the July Convention had told him to do
so. II they have no candidate OF their own,
many Of them will doubtless vote for him.
There is a very large Republican vote in
this district. The Republicans ran no eau
didaie in 1878. In 1875 the vote was for DR..
MILLS 13,430; for GILBERT e. WALKER
1886. 1t would thus appear that if the
Conservative vote were divided between
the two WIsEs, the Republican nominee
would certainly be elected. But it will not
do to assume either that JOHN 5. WIsE's
vote will all be taken off GEORGES, or that
the negroes will all support the Republican
candidate. There are some MALONE me-
groes even in Richmond. These negroes
will ell vote for the MALONE candidate.
Tha vote this fall will be large, owing to
the election OF President; but will fall be-
low that OF 1876, owing 10 the capitatioD-
tax qualification. There win possibly be
$4,000 votes cast. or these GEORGE ID.
WISE ought to get at least 10000. The Re-
publican candidate viii probably get 5000,
and John S. WISE 5000. II there be no
Republican candidate, the vote for congress
man will not 20 over 100000; OF which
GEORGE ID. WISE will probably get about
$4,000 and JOHN s. about 5000.
However, we will not insist upon the ac-
curacy OF a mere guess. The Democrats
cannot afford to sit down in ideness and cal
culate that their candidate will receive
large majority. The regular Democratic
electors, too, must be chosen. There Is not
q vote to throw away. Let us buckle on our
harness with the determination 10 work
faithfully in the Democratic traces from now
until the Cd day OF November next. Thus
may the victory for which now we only
hope be then assured.