The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-28
The Issues.

II the Democratic party ought 10 "ahe
an iss,,e Of the tariff question because q
large number OF its members are free
traders. then there is no good reason why
II should not abandon It's present organiza-
t,on. and allow the voters to divide upon
other issues. We will not assume Tor
moment thst The gentlemen who are such
strenuous free traders that they cannot
consent TO leave the question OF pro-
trctiye tariff In allegiance for the present
would be so ungenerous as to ask the OLD
HxYRY.CLAY Wings of Virginia, or the
protectionists Of later date, to recant
their well-considered opinions as heresies,
and vote to sustain policy which they be-
iicye would be injurious TO the best inter-
csts Of the country. These protcctionisfs,
recollect, do not ask the free traders 10
support a tariff for protection. They
merely ask that that question shall DC kept
out Of sight for the present.
The Culpeper Exponent goes farther
than the free traders pure and simple. IL
would have the Democrats divide upon
other questions. II says
.Tbe tariff Is an issue. and test ques-
ton: the national-bank system Is an issue
the regulation OF railroads and all otliei
monopoIes is IN issue. These are All hye
issues. and there is no escape from them.
For ourselves. we shall insist that they be
made prominent in the campaign TINS year.
They cannot be ignored"
why not, to be sure, II any new tests are
to be made? We will say, however, that il
we must meet new issues, we shall GER
tainly take our own side OF each new one
that arises. We are for the national-bank-
ing system. So are nine-tenths OF the
Democrats in Richmond. And Of course
IL the question to be decided by our votes
Is whether that system is TO be destroyed
or not, we shall vote against destroying it.
This country has the best currency which
IL ever had--one which II would be next TO
impossible to improve upon. Our i'm
preston Is that our neighbor Of the State
has also come out most decidedly for the
perpetuation OF the present banking sys-
TEN.
As to "the regulation OF railroads and
other mOnOpolies," that is a phrase which
NAV mean much or little. II the EIp0-
nsnf desires to see how unanimous the De-
mocrats of Virginia are upon that question
It may inform itself by reading the leading
editorial in the State Of the 9TH Of January
last, which takes TO pieces and exposes in
the most merciless manner bill which was
then before the Legislature "to regulate
railroads"
Let us understand what the Exponent
means. Would that journal support Gen
eral MALONE il he were free trader In
preference TO Mr.. RANDALL, who is a pro,
tectionist? Would IL be willing to declare
that all the candidates for Office in Virginia
must be taken from that wing OF the Con-
servative party which is made up Of Old
Line Wings? Would the Exponent vote
for Governor CAMERON, free trader, in
preference TO JOHN OTT, \. S. BUFoRD, or
any other protectionist. Or does the EI-
ponent mean to compel such men to sup
port free-trade candidates! Or would it
expect or allow them TO vote for Republic
can or Readjustcr candidates holding their
views?
These are plain. practical questions.
They are addressed to this one points it
time to disband the Conservative party Of
Virginia!