The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-23
What Charles City Thinks Of IL.
CHARLES CITY COUNTY. Va, !
June 20, 1882.
o the Editor of the Dispatch

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
have read with much interest the dis
cussion going on in your columns rs TO thu
advisabiIity OF supporting Hon. John r.
Massey as candidate for congressman a,
large against a Malone nominee. / pre-
sumo that the whole question turns upon
the policy OF doing so, and that mere
sentiment OF gratitude to Mr.. Massey fol
his gallant fight against the tyranny OF the
Boss ought not to outweigh the central
consideration whether his candidacy VIII
tend to success or defeat OF the Democratio
party. IL is law confined not simply 10
physics that large bodies move slowly.
| For years the mass OF Democratic voters
In Virginia have regarded Mr.. Massey
ms the incarnation Of all the diabol-
ism they have fought so hard I'M
der the name Of Roadiustcrism. In
every corner OF the State he has been
denounced by Democratic speakers as the
enemy Of Democracy, and his name has
been linked with that OF Malone in every
form Of denunciation. Whether this was
wisely or Justly done Is not now the ques-
ton. An impression intensely antagonls-
tic to Mr.. Massey has been made. and in
the minds OF many cannot be ellaced by an
apparent change in Mr.. Massey's political
alignment. All men are not philosophers,
and the cry OF principles, not men, does
not find an echo i'm the heart OF the average
voter. The fight last fall was bitter one.
Democrats thought then that the issue was
clear and defined enough between Rcpllb-
licanism and Democracy, and yet Mr.. Mas
sew was on the side OF our national enemies.
You and /, Mr.. Editor, may willingly con-
cede that he has atoncd for the errors
OF the past, and that his action since then
entities him to our cordial gratitude. But
can YOU get 10000 out of the 100000 DEM
ocratic voters to think the same? fear
not. | fear that there are many OF them
whose memories are tenacious and whose
prejudiccs are so deep that they believe
that Mr.. Massey's political sins, (Which
are seventy times seven, would take seven
ages to purge in. and then they would
haunt him to Heaven" or at least to Con-
gress.
But again: Even il we admit that the
endorsation OF Mr.. Massey rs a candidate
for congressman at large by the Democratic
party would strengthen the party in the
State and result i'm local success, yet we
must also consider whether such 4 step
would benefit the party in the fight ii will
have TO make outside of our own borders. Ii
is claimed that there is a strong prospect OF
the Democracy making gains in the North
at the next election because OF the position
at present assumed by the Administration
in it, support of MahoneiSm and iis rcpu-
diation measures. If this be so, would we
not deprive ourselves of all right to use
that weapon against the Republicans il we
select as our candidate Mr.. Massey, who
Is as much identified with the charge Of
financial heresy as Mr.. Malone in the minds
Of the northern people: The nominee for
congressman at large will necessarily be
the representative figure in the campaign.
Can we afford to select Mr.. Massey rs the
Virginia type OF Democracy: Would it
not be better to let the people Of his i'm
mediate district, where his personal influ-
once would be strong factor in the can
yass, use him as a means to redeem their
district
OF course. in all that ] have said as
sumo that Mr.. Massey will, ii he runs,
claim Democratic support upon the ground
that he is 4 Democrat. ii he is To be SIM
ply colorlesS affair called an Independent,
he "maun gang his ain gait no Demo
crat would care the toss of Il copper be-
tween him and the Malone candidate. If
we are to give him our support, he must
be regularly nominated a. our candidate;
he must fully commit himself to all Demo
cratic principles, and pledge himself to act
without reservation with the National De-
mOcracy in Congress and to go into the
Democratic caucus. After all this Is done
fear he will still he a heavy load to carry:
if ANYTHING less than this be required Of
him, he will not receive the support Of the
Democrats OF the North SIDE.