The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-11
Learning from Defeat.

Rob IvGEIsoLL Is entitled to credit for
declaring In favor Of the abolition OF the
tax on tobacco. Being interviewed as to
the causes Of the Democratic victories OF
Tuesday, he said:
"The first cause was extravagant appro-
priaiions. Second, q refusal TO reduce tax
alton. At least S15,000,000 should have
been taken from the burden borne by the
people. Twenty million dollars should
have been taken from sugar, and the entire
tax from tobacco. The Republican party
sbould have taken such steps that all inter-
nal taxation could, within one year from
now. be abolished. The people are tired
paving war-taxes in time OF peace. They
want collectors, and Treasury officials, and
gsugers, and all sorts OF detectives and
spies discharged"
That is the policy which we have Tor
some time been strenuously recommend
ing TO the Democratic party. We mean so
much OF what Mr.. INGERsoLL says us re-
fers 10 the entire abolition Of the Internal
revenue system. We don't think there
can he any good reason to doubt that the
voters would almost unanimously approve
OF such action on the part OF Congress.
We are confident that the Republicans oil
the present Congress will do their best TO
embarrass the next House OF Represents
tiycs, this latter being Democratic. They
win probably endeavor so to cut down the
taxes as TO compel the next Con-
gress TO raise them. There is nothing
which the Republicans will hesitate
to do 10 accomplish their purpose OF per-
petuating at every hazard the rule OF their
condemned party. II was war party in
its origin. and ought to have persisted long
ago. II has been cruel, heartless, and con-
sciencelcss in its treatment OF the southern
people. but has always taken good care not
TO run counter knowingly to any OF the
nreiudices OF the northern people. IL has
tried 10 put the South under negro rule,
but IL has never treated the negroes OF the
North as social equals, and never will so
treat them. 1t has used the negroes as
tools: but It has no more confidence IN
their ability to rule the southern States
wisely than have the southern people them
selves. The party which conferred the
ballot upon the negro. and passed the IN
famous reconstruction acts, will not will
ingly surrender the control OF the Gov
eminent. Desperate measures will be re-
sorted TO by the mOri5und party. But II
the southern people. and the next Demo-
cratic Congress, do not lose their heads rs
o consequence OF the recent victories, q
Democratic triumph in 1884 will place the
Government once more under the control
OF the grand old Democratic party.
Mr.. INGERsOLL said something more
among other things the following:
"It looks TO me now that General Sher-
man will be the next President. The Re-
publicans will be compelled TO take such
q man a. General Sherman, and Sherman Is
the only such man l know. Stalwarts,
Breeds, reformers, and ciyil-seryice
gentlemen can all unite on General Sher-
man. a soldier and statesman"
That is a shrewd suggestion. Mr..
BLAINE's friends have overdone their work.
They have killed of not the Stalwart lead
ers only but their own leaders. They
have, like SAMSON, pulled down the tenn
pie upon their own heads. Mr.. BLAINE at
tempted TO slay only his "thousands,
but he has slain his "ten thousands y; and,
unlike DAVID and SAUL. he has slain men
OF his own party, if not OF his own faction;
or, rather, in killing OFF the Stalwarts he
has almost killed the party itself. 1t can
be revived, Mr.. INGERsOLL thinks, not by
Ia, -
tain.
Mr.. iNGERsoLL's prediction may come
true. II so, General HANCOCK will be run
again by the Democrats. We have no
civilian in our ranks whom we could safe
~ pit against General SHERMAN.