The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-06

8I-1 go
II acknowledge that for these and other !,
things which have made the "Big -Four,
famous we owe them debt when cannC.
hi easily cancelled; but are we 10 mar.
rjrbt OF, 10 ruin, when our very poiit'ca'
liie ia imperillcd, to reward these men,
vvhon nolicy and reason stand IN our PAIN
and with nropbetic voice, warn us against
the madness and folly OF such coursef
M, 7 saw emphaticaliy, mol Ana tnough
the /" Big Four" for the noble stand tney
have taken upon these questions, should DC
remembered by us while gratitude is
numbered among the virtues OF the
world n e. unreasonable In them 10
exnect ms 10 stake our all upon Dir.
Massey,s success when the odds are over
whelminp against him. Besides, Is It ne
cessary for us to reward these men for
doing only what they acknowledge 1t was
their duty to do, and the duty OF every
man in whose breast the spark OF patriot
ism had not died? Have the affairs OF our
Marty come TO such pass that political in
feorjty. as q matter OF right, should be
deckcd with a medal, or political virtue
rewarded with q chrOmoi Some OF Mr..
Nassey's friends even talk as il there had
been some bargain entered into to reward
him for the detection Of the "Big Four"
II there has been any such agreement, who
were the accredited agents who had the
authority to bind our party by any such
contract, and TO hitch the Democratic tram
to Mr.. Massey's locomotive! And even II
any one had the right to enter into any
such contract, there are thousands OF Dem
ocrats in this State who would rather
20 down in defeat on the field OF
battle with colors flying and STAIN
less record than to triumph 10y
methods identical with those corrupt
bargains we have so bitterly denounced lii
Malone.
But Mr.. Massey's admirers intimate that
some one OF the /" Big Four" will yield to
the "Boss's" entreaties, and new ses-
sion Of the Legislature, with all OF its at
tendant evils, will be the result il we do not
bow in humble submission to Mr.. Massey's
will. II they can be cOaXed, bullicd, or
seduccd from what they have time and
again pronounced to be their highest duty,
BY the man whom they have persistentiy
denounced as the most tyrannical fraud OF
the age, then | say neither they nor Mr..
Massey are any Democrats, and 1t would be
the most ineXcusable Of all Glunders FOR us
10 nominate or trust one whose interest was
the father of his Democracy and whose
ambition melted him to that q" death-bed"
repentance which led him back to his first
love. II were far better TO let Malone do
his worst than TO hire these men to stand
firm TO what they say are their convictions
when we are handicapped by weight
which will render success an impossibillty.
But there is another very serious question
which ! have not seen discussed, and which
will inevitably have q great effect and
weight in this canvass should Mr. Massey
receive our nomination, and that is the
question OF "Local Option" Mr.. Massey
is. | believe, the chairman OF the EXecu-
tive Committee" Of that organization in
this state, and its sympathizers are, verify
believe, in a hopeless minority among
the voters OF this State, and to
nominate Mr.. Massey would be to
invite the hostility OF hundreds OF
men whose very business his convictions
attack. No doubt temperance is a beautiful
virtue, and the resolution to promote and
foster it noble sentiment, but when you
attack mans interest you either make an
enemy of him and lose his influence or
render his friendship worthless: and we
Gratis" as the VIVA calls. lis, who love
" Bourbon whiskey," and upon whom this
argument will tell with resistless force. Ii
Mr.. Massey gets our nomination John ,.
Wise will in all probability he the nominee
and Standard-bcarer OF our opponents. lie
will enter the canvass rs against MI Mas
sey with all the prestige OF his fathers
name and family, with al unbroken Read
iuster and Republican support, and with
the fact III his favor that he has never voted
for any anti-whiskey bill or measure,
nor committed himself in any shape or
manner upon this question. which is Of
such vital importance and concern TO so
MANY of our citizens. What indignant de-
mails on our part or what fierce phillip
pics from our ablest speakers could parry
The adroitncss or discount the force and
ingenuity with which the Richmond Wing
would urge this question upon every man
who loves whiskey in this Commonwealth!
IL would not be hard to fOretell the result
of such a contest, where malicious skill
would have such field to operate upon the
passions and prciudices caused by an ap-
petite for whisl,ey. No, Mr.. Editor, he
could not be elected. 1t would he but q
repetition OF Greeley's campaign against
Grant; hut race between Roznante ana
FoXhall--a spawned, attenuatcd mule
against the tleet-foOted IrOquois.
Then, again. Mr.. Massey says he is
Democrat. Wen, if we do not nominate
him, we VIII have the benefit OF his inilu
ence without having to bear the burden Of
his candidacy; aud If he is not sincere in
his professions Of Democracy, he deserves
no support at the hands OF the party he
has fought with such energy.
have thus endeayored, a far as | can
learn them, to show the sentiments OF the
OF this section, and ! feel assured.
il we bestow our nomination upon one who
has ever been true to his principles, we
can with greater confidence appeal to the
people OF this State than ii we nominate
Mr.. Massey, whose record will put lis on
the defensive from the very incipieGcy Of
his canvass, and which will inevitably re-
suit in disaster and defeat.
Yours truly,
STRAIGuTOUT DEMOCRAT.