Daily Republican., 1881-10-29
Tho Vlrxfn1a Contest.


The debt question has entirely d'sap
peared from the Virginia canvass, ant
the political battle is being fought ou
on the question of other reforms ih'
Bourbens themselves have ueclare'
with their candidate for Governor AZ
their month piece that the fight they
are making is for the preservation o.
the Democratic party. They see tha'
ifa single breach is made in the line OF
the solid South the downfall of the
whole system of political power based
unon war memories, sectional pre]u-
dices race hatred, and cruel prescrlp-
ton for opinions sake, cannot be long
ayerted. If Virginia drops out OF the
line and enters the path of Liberalism
and progress, other States will 80 on fol-
low, and it will be impossible to con.
duct another Presidential campaign
with the electoral vote of all the Old
Slave States securely bound and dellV'
cred in advance to the Democratic par
ty. We are not at all surprised thai the
Bourbons, not only of Virginia, but OF
the whole United States are desperate
over the prospect of losing the OLD
Morher of States and Statesmen from
the roll of the Solid South. The loss OF
Virginia ty no means covers the total
oss to the Democratic party. 1t means
the loss also of North and South Caro-
lima, and in fact the whole tier Of Gait
States, except possibly Texas II
means the total disentegration OF the
Dem ocratic party. The scheme which
the Bourbons have consolidated by
GROSS violations of law and justice and
a Violent sacrifice of the rights OF
whole classes of citizens cannot survive
a single defeat.
On the Read ulster side or more prop
erly called Liberal side, there is very
little talk about the debt save to expose
the in consistency of the Democrats,
who profess to be the champions OF
State honor and in the same breath de.
clare in their platform that they will
raise no taxes to pay principal or inter
est on the bonds, and to show how they
have made the debt football of specI-
lation for the benefit of Legislative rings.
Outside of the debt question the Liber-
AIS are contendiny for fair and free
politics, tor common schools in which
to educate the children Of all classes; for
au unintimdated ballot and an honest
count: for the development and pros
perity of the State and for the enfran-
chisement of the whole South from the
rule of a proscriptive, reactionary po,
litical oligarchy. The result of the
contest will depend entirely upon the
action of the Republicans of the State
If they throw their whole strength fol
the Liberal ticket, it will be elected, il
not it will in all probability be defeated
Under these circumstances it looks to
us very plain that the Republicans
should support the Liberal Anti-Bour-
bon ticket, and We are glad that with
but few exceptions they are supporting
it.
The only question before the people
of Virginia is, whether the BolrbOns
shall be gwen a new lease of power and
the opportunity for breaking up the
solid South be thrown away by the
action or non-action Of the Republican
voters, or whether they shall join the
Liberals who have abandoned the Dem
ocratic party, and by 80 doing win a
great victory for their own principles
and rights. There ought to be no hesi-
tation. The road to victory is broad
and plain. If the Republicans of Nir.
ginia give the Eeadjusters their $4,000
or $4,000 votes, Bourbonism will be
overthrown in Virginia and new day
will dawn for Republicans from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande.