The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-04
.o,d viru,nia N9vcr Tire.


Colonel. Tox wHrTEusAp tells In the FOL-
lowing amusing article why II Is necessary
to have Democratic State Convention this
summer. After reading Il, every good
Democrat will Of course cease all OPPOSE
ton to convention, in the confident ex-
pcctation that the State Central Committee
win look at the question through Colonel
Tox's spectacles. We quote:
In many quarters there Is call for con-
veuticns, candidates, and canvass. IL Is
not our present purpose to discuss the ex.
pediency Of this course, but to remark that
Il Is the expression, In large degree, OF the
characteristic fondness Of the virginian Tor
politics. For your typical Virginian, no
thing possesses the fascination OF stormy
convention and a tempestuous canvass.
As the appointed time approaches, the
routine candidates and canvassers' IKE
trained warehouses, snuff the battle aiar
of, and paw the ground with impatience.
These are the active and actual participants
IN poJitics. But besides these there is an
other class who are, so to speak, on the re-
tired list, but are reluctant TO accepta release
from active service. They manifest rs
much interest az the soldiers on duty.
They are the veterans OF a. hundred cam
paigns, and feel themselves still as capable
as ever to set a squadron in the field.
These antiquated steeds have. 1t Is true,
been turned out to pasture; but with the
first notes Of preparation they begin to
arch their necks, to distend their nostrlls,
and to prick their ears to catch the distant
strains OF martial music. Irresistible Is
the force of habit. General Bayley Pey-
ton, who was noted Tennessee turfman,
owned q famous racer, Ticonderoga, we
believe, OF whom he used to tell story
which comes to our mind. When Ticon-
deroga was in full career rs racer 1t was
the habit OF the General to make his trainer
walk the noble animal for an hour every
morning around private track at his stock
farm in order to keep him nimble and
i'm proper plight. After Ticonderoga
was, in the decline Of his powers. retired
from the turf, he kept up the old habit,
and would, OF his own accord, march up
every morning at the stated hour, take the
track, elevate his head, and stalk around
the course with the conscious air and gait
OF the victorious racer. And to complete
the picture, the General would add, the
thoroughbred colts in the pasture, and the
Conastogas, too (who despite their fetlocks
dragging in the sand, imagined themselves
racers) would all fall in behind Ticonde-
roga, affect his style, and march around
with stately tread. These thoroughbred
colts and Conastogas have their counter
parts in our political campaigns. When
the Ticonderogas take the track they fall
in behind and go through the motions
with the pomp and circumstance Of gen.
uine race-horses.
And now II we don't have the canvass,
wha; are the retired statesmen, the active
statesmen, the pseudo and the embryo
statesmen, 10 dos Their pent-up patriot
ism and eloquence must have vent. The
convention and the canvass are an absolute
and imperative necessity. True, the at
tention OF our rural statesmen. with clover
seed on their hats, is sadly needed in hus-
banding the crops and in the other opera
tons of the farm, but such considerations
weigh not feather with the genuine Viz
ginian when duty to the old State, loyalty
to his party, and ,mmemorial custom sum-
mon him to attend the convention and en-
Ter the canvass. At this call he hesitates
not for moment to "lay down the shovel
and the hoe" and 10 forget his domestic
affairs in his zeal for the public good.
There is one thing OF which old Virginia
never tires, and that one thing Is politics.