The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-24

An Able Letter from Mr.. l.. q. wash
inston on the Late Election
I'm virginia.

that graceful writer L. Q. Washington,
Esq. Speaking OF how we arc. misreprc-
scented, II says:
ebay by day journals protesting re-
spectability and edited by persons who
would feel greatly panied in private life to
| be considered wilful liars and slanderers.
have, nevertheless, wilfully and delib-
erately belied and slandcred the white
people Of the State of Virginia. Reading
after them ono would suppose that the So
called Bourbon Democracy had OPP
posed all industry, progress, and enlight-
| eminent; had endeayored to break down
and defeat the common-school system by
violence and even robbery; had falsely pre-
tended TO desire to pay the public debt,
but had done nothing to that end, and had
controlled the State bya policy OF intimida-
ton and violence toward the negroes and
by wholesale frauds at the ballot-boX.
These charges are made or assumed in pub
| LEGATIONS in Republican Journals almost
without number. In the same breath it is
assumed that the Readiusters are just MS
much disposed to deal fairly and literally
with the public creditor as the Democratic
party Of the State, or sc-called founders
that they arc par erccllence in favor OF n
| free ballot and q fair count, and opposed to
all forms OF intimidation and violence.
They are the Liberals. The others are the
Bourbon aristocracy."
He farther continues Of the
ISLANDERS AGAINST VIRGINIA.
"If there were any truth in rhe charges
against Virginia they would apply with
equal or greater force to the ReadiustCr
leaders than TO the regular Democracy. 1t
| is hardly two years and half since the
schism occurred in the Democratic party on
the debt question. Prior TO that time, say
/ from 1867 down TO 1879, period OF twelve
years, Malone, Cameron, Riddleberger,
and Paul, trained in the same ranks with
John Goode. John W. Daniel, General w.
II. +. Lee, Eppa IIuntOn, and William III.
Payne. From 1869 down to the present
the regular Democracy have held the State.
III their tenure OF power from 1869 to 1880
was by fraud and violence, then the respon-
sibility lies rs much at the door Of Malone
and Cameron as anybody else. When did
any one ever hear from them or any OF their
associates prior to their severance OF party
relations that there had been anything UNI
fair in respect TO the Virginia elections :"
After touching at some length upon the
roll-tax and whipping-post, Mr.. Washing
ton says:
$50 far as the progress OF the State Is
concerned, it is safe to say that three
! fourths OF the white race, and far larger
proportion OF the taxpayers and men OF
property are members OF the regular Dem
/ ocratic party. They are the people who
are pushing forward the State and deycl-
oping its resources. They are the men
who are bringing foreign capital into the
| State, and fostering immigration. They
constitute the better elements Of society in
the State, or at least the bulk OF it in most
OF the counties. This part OF the subject
is well summed up by General Malone
himself, in late interview printed in the
New York Tribune. Said he:
"'What struggle it has been! just
think of what lie had to contend against
the ariStocracy, society, the Church, the
bondholdcrs, and ALL "
Here is a precious cor fession. All the
influences Of the religious organizations on
the side Of the Democracy! Does not this
concurrence mean something? "Society."
Is "society" dangerous force? II nine
tcnths OF 'the gentlemen and ladies OF the
State are on one side, docs that work q dis
qualification for moral and sound political
agencies? The "aristocracy!" What ariS-
tocracy? Not of wealth foully won-ac-
quired by correct Government contracts, 10y
the bribery OF railroad companies, by the
favors OF rings, by star-route tobbery, by
Treasury syndicates-but the earnings OF
honest industry, mercantile intelligence
and skill, Of the professions, and the
fair strife OF legitimate, beneficial
competition. But large fortunes are
very rare indeed in Virginia. There
were never many of them Mt any time.
Most of the so-called aristocracy Of Virgil
MIA are now quite po0r-poor because
honest and because robbed OF their pro-
pcrty by General MahOne's Radical allies,
and their social position is the result OF
birth, education. refinement, virtue, and
public spirit. Among these are the heroes
OF the Confederate army-the gentlemen
who enjoyed the friendship of Robert Lee
and whose fame constitutes part Of the
neffaceable glory Of Old Virginia. That
this class have rejected the control OF Ma
hone and spurned all the alluremcnts Of
Federal Office from the Republican party
through fifteen long years OF hardship and
poverty speaks well for Virginia, for the
South-ayc, and for human nature itself.
40 PERMANENT REPUBLICAN, ADVANTAGE.
The idea that the Republicans are going
to hold Virginia permanently is simply alb
surd. The body OF the white Democrats,
numbering from 10000 to 1000 votes, who
have given Malone his victory, did so upon
a debt issue, which obscured all Federal
issues. Neither side presented Federal is
sues as most important in the canvass. The
Readluster leaders may or may not try to
sell the State permanently to the Republic
can party, but, though they may join it
themselves, they cannot transfer their fol-
lowers. The idea that the great issues be-
tween national parties can be set aside in
all the South for local debt issue Of Vir-
GINA, or for some like issue, and the solid
South thus broken, is folly to any thinking
man. The crimes Of the Republican party
have passed into history. Its heresies are
as vile, its corruptions as bold, its section
aism as
DEEP AND MALIGNANT
as at any time since the war; Its vices are
constitutonally ineIadicable, not the mere
fashion OF an outer garment. Whether
coiled up and at rest, or striking at full
length with fangs full Of venom, it is the
same unfailing enemy OF constitutional
compacts, Of peace, prosperity. liberty,
and every sound principle by which gov
ernments are upheld and civilization adj
vanced. Its strength lies in sectional pas
sion, in tariffs and rings, and all the agen-
cies Of corruption and falsehood. In every
hour OF temporary triumph it has impu-
IDENTIFY assumed that the Democratic party
would abandon its opposition and surren-
der the field, only to find that great party
Interchangeable in its protest against wrong,
and, despite timid and unwise leadership,
standing menace to its cruel reign. The
conflict Of the past twelve years and more
will go on till the Republican party dis
hnnda LIS rnfor,,, L, irn,,nn.iIfo Ifa dia-