The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-16
What q Readiuster Thinks Of II.
JUNE II, 1882,

question of policy involved.
am no PARTISAN; have no personal in
| tsrest in any mans election, nor am ! actu-
atcd by enmity to any man or any party.
! | have learned. however, from history, and
even from personal observation, that in
republic party which has been elevated
by success beyond the fear OF opposition,
will abuse its power; that, as such abuses
| become fragrant, out OF its own ranks will
arise men to protest against them, and that
none can so effectively as they voice the
demands OF the common veal.
Parties are formed and kept together by
COMPROMISE fact which many of your
correspondents have forgotten or have
never considered.
Let agreement upon every possible point
be required, and we will have rs many par
ties Is individuals.
| Let lis lay down platform OF 4 dozen
different planks, such as tariff, national
banks. liquor law. a Sunday law, a dog
| law, &C., &C., and. without compromise
and concession, we have Just a. many par
ties as there are permutations Of the num-
Der twelve.
But when one great measure Of supreme
importance 0vcrshadows all other issues,
then we have the ideal party organization.
Forgetting for the time being all other diff
ferenccs, all former affiliations, all pros
pective alliances or hostilities, we rally
around the one point OF common interest,
and with single, united. harmonious effort
the appointed work is done.
Have we not now in Virginia such raj
living point; an interest paramount for
the time TO all other interests, in the pre-
sencc OF which all minor difficulties should
be forgotten? But for the last four years
the action of the Conservative Democrats
has been a reckless defiance OF this plain
political law, and we see the result.
There were two national parties-the one
recognizing the South as a cocqUal part OF
the Union, whose interests should be pro-
tccted and cherished for the common good
of the whole; the other recognizing in the
southern section NINE OF wealth to be
worked for the enrichment OF the great
New England nation.
The white men OF Virginia. and many
colored men of intelligence and property,
were ranged on the side OF their own in
terests, and quietly held the fort secure
against every assault from without.
Then arose 4 question of local policy;
andslow did ne representative wisdom OF
| the Conservative party dispose OF it!
! Why, they said TO those who differed
with them upon the debtquestion, "Think
with us, vote with Us on this local ques-
! ton, or you shall not muster with Us or
| fight under our banner in the national con-
test"
Now, the position Of these good Conser-
NATIVES was one OF self-sacrifice; they were
out in the cold, and their table did not
groan under the abundance OF loayes and
fishes. SO their accommodation was
only stagc-thundor, and nobody was
frightened nobody hurt but themselves.
From the moment when the Lowell Demo-
cratic committee took this suicidal step the
contest was settled, the triumph OF the Re
adjusters assured. II was formal notice
to the Republicans on which side to range
themselves.
As IA Roadjuster, with every opportunity
to observe the campaign OF 1870, am con-
WINGED that nothing less than This unheard-
OF blunder and outrage could have saved
the RcadjusterS. Ii they can't spare an
office, they should at least set up q mOnu-
ment to commemorate the chief OF the Con-
sentative Committec-the founder OF the
fortunes Of Readiusterism.
Can there still be found a man who would
defend the justice or the policy OF this ia
tai action of the Conservative leaders !:
Yes, il appears there are still some imprac-
ticable people, who, not satisfied with set
ting up local question As test OF NO.
tiOnul orthodoxy; not satisfied with pro-
curing the reimbursement OF the State debt;
not satisfied with driving out of the Dem
ocratic party one third OF it, members, rev.
authorizing the politics OF the State, and
giving TO The Republicans both houses Of
Congress, now insist on perpetuating their
L
the dead issue OF the debt question their
shibboleih OF party fcalty, and scornfuly
excluding every man whose opinion ever
has differed from their own.
The Readiusters have accomplished all,
and, unfortunately, much more than all,
they ever undertook. The work OF the
party complete, it has no longer reason
OF existence. Many OF its members, find
ing no longer Il local issue to divide upon,
are returning whittier all their interests
and sympathies lead them-to the Demo-
cratic fold-when, 10 the door is slammed
t in their faces!
The success Of the Roadjuster party
ought to disband it. and il does show
, signs OF disintegraton. Who are they
who come forward TO maintain its disci-
: pine and keep its ranks unbroken? Why.
| the Democrats Of the Pharlsaic we-are-
better-than-thou school. "Once a Reid
iusler always Readiusler," they cry; Sin
our ranks we will none OF YOU; once
YOU have dared to differ with us, and even
now we doubt il YOU are truly penitent."
Well, il you would purge your party,
purge it thoroughly; see that each man is
right OH the Missouri compromise, the
alien and sedltion law, Irish land tenure,
the origin OF species. As to Mr.. Massey and
the men who stand with him, there may
have been errors IN their political career.
Certainly there has never been a man in
public life who did not have errors inn
puted to him; but in the last session OF
the Legislature they displayed the highest
virtues Of true public servants. Strong
party men, they faithfully adhered to then.
party as far as they could; but when the
cause OF right, the interests OF the State,
were at stake, no force, no seduction, could
swerye them from the stand they had taken
in the discharge OF their duty and In de-
fence OF the common veal
1t II an absurd falsehood TO say Massey
left the Readiusters because he could not
get Office. The Office was thrust upon him
laid at his fcet--if only he would accept the
party badge aud submit to conditions in