The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-26
9itIn,ond dispatch,
a National Contest.

~ff~~~~W
n l. very true that we proposed last year
10 ad;ourn reimbursement until this year,
and IN, we then claimed that we were en-.
raeed in national contest and might well
and ought to postpone State matters until
1851. when they would be In order.
But note these facts: We did not then
know that General MALONE would convert
fse contest OF 1881 into a national one. We
did not then know that lie intended to act
with the Republican party. We did not
then know that man who prciessed 70 DC
as good Democrat as any in Virginia.
and who months afterwards claimed 10
be a better Democrat than BEN HILL
would In october, 1881, be the dispenser
OF the patronage OF sialwart Kepubheah
Administration, or the ally OF CAMERON
CoSK11Ne. CnAyDLER, and others OF the
Interest enemies Of the South. We did
not then know that BRowN, HILL, BAYARD,
HAMPTON, GARLAND, PENDLEToN, RANSOM,
VAgcs, aud all the other Democrats in the
United states outside Of Virginia would
this year be found treating General Ma
HONE rs political enemy and his party as
The allies OF the Radical Republicans OF the
North. We did not then know that Gene
ral MALONE would vote for CoNELIN0 IN
preference 10 RANSOM, or KELLOGG in pre-
ference TO one Of the best Democrats in the
United States Senate.
II General MALONE had continued 10 oc-
cupy this year the ground which he oecu-
pied iast year, the contest now going on
would have been State contest But this
he did not 90. He has abandoned his po-
sitlon, whilst the Democrats, now as then,
declare and approve themselves to be
part Of tho regular national Democratic
party Of the United States.
one Of the reasons why the pending con-
test must be considered a national one is to
be found in the fact that the Legislature
which Is TO be elected on the 9Th Of
next month will redistrict the State for the
election OF members Of the national
House Of Representatives. II General
MAHoNE had continued TO profess TO be
Democrat, and had proved bis fidelity to
the Democratic party by his acts in and out
of the United States Senate, there would
have been and could have been no contest
between him and the Fmdcrs rs to this
matter Of redistricting Virginia. Both he
and they would have been anxious not to
allow the Republicans any advantage in
The matter. They could have Joined battle
On readjustmcnt questions and joined
hands IN redistricting the State. But notso
at this time. General MAHONU now joins
hands with the Rcpubicans-not with the
Dcnocrals-and if he and The Republicans
together have a majority over the Demo
Gratis in the General Assembly about TO be
elected, they will so redistrict the state as
10 aid C0NKLING and CAMERON TO destroy
the Democratic party Of the Union, and
throw the national House Of Representa-
tiyos into the hands Of the party which so
long oppressed the South with reconstruc-
tion laws and prosecuted her through
plundering officials.
So that the present is clearly a national
contest. II involves the debt question;
but it viii not turn upon that question so
far as General MAuOSE's colored allies are
concerned. II General MALONE succeeds
on the sth OF November, he will owe his
success to negroes who do not carea cop
per whether the public debt be fixed at
one or at forty millions-be doubled or en-
tirely repudiated. There are doubtless
few thousand whites Of his party whose
votes may be Influenced by their opinions
upon the debt question; but much
the larger number Of his followers will be
negroes. II these would abstain from
voting, the Democrats would beat General
AlAHoNE's party more thsn three to one.
They will vote his ticket either az negroes
or as Republicans, yet in either case as enc
mics Of the national Democratic party. All
true Democrats should, therefore, rally to
the standard OF DANIEL, BARBOUR, and
and show the so-called ReSdius-
ters that we know as well as they that we
are engaged in a national contest.