The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-11
About Mr. Massoy's Candidacy.

To the EdfOr Of the DlSp0tCh:
The Philadelphia Weekly Times, speak
ing OF the uprising in Pennsylvania against
Cameron, says that every now and then the
people will take the reins into their own
hands and boss the bosses. There are now
very strong indications that the Virginia
Boss will be possessed by the people this
wear. Whatever some OF General Mahone'S
Democratic ReadjuSter followers may have
thought some months ago, with the lights
now before them they can no longer doubt
but that he is endeayoring to lead them'intO
the STANDARDIZATION camp-t0 the sup
port OF that wing OF the party OF which
Grant, Corkiing, Arthur, Bin Chandler,
and other notorious third-tcrmCrS and CEN
halzationists are the leaders and expo
nents. They are not only all this, but they
are the bittorest enemies OF the southern
people q speak OF the whites; and they
are opposed to everything that cOntri-
butes to their independence, their
moral and social wcll-bcing, and to their
control OF their own state affairs under the
same constitutional limitations that govern
northern people in the management OF their
local affairs. Can any man OF sane mind
who has watched the course and practices
Of the extreme wing OF the Republican
party since the war doubt this for one mo-
ment! Pshaw! every ten-year-oid school
boy in the South knows it,. This taken for
granted, it cannot be doubted that Il large
majority OF the rank and file OF Democratic
Readjusters will follow the example OF
Massey, Newberry, Hale, Lybrook & Co.,
and aid in destroying boSSism in Virginia,
and placing her where she ought Of right
TO stand-at the head Of the column Of
southern Democratic states. From every
section and county OF the State the joyful
tidings are coming up that justify the be-
lief that Virginia is to be freed from RAD
cal rule and ruin this year.
The fact that Mr.. Massey has announced
himself candidate for Congressman at
large, and that he claims to be n Democrat,
is to my mind conclusive that we are to
win grand victory next fall. The Demo
Gratis, il they make 4 nomination at all,
ought to nominate him. II they make no
nomination, feel well assured that when
the day comes for the Democrats to decide
whether they will allow one OF the most
pronounced Read listers and MahoneiteS in
the State TO be elected to Congress. or
whether they will vote for and elect one pf
the ablest and most dangerous foes that
Malone ReadjuSterism has in the State,
they will stand by their principles and by
the man who pledges himself 10 aid in car
rying them out il elected. II is clearly the
opinion OF the large majority Of the Demo-
cratic press, OF the acknowledged leaders
Of the party, and Of its rank and file, that
Mr.. Massey can control n larger vote than
any other man in the State. The tlutterings
OF the leading Rcadjuster organs, and
their bitter denunciations Of Mr. Massey
as the prospects for his being supported by
the Democratic party brighten and almost
ripen into certainty, show their great
dread OF him. But we, as party, ought
not TO regard Mr.. Massey's candidacy alto
gether as a matter OF policy, but we should
remember the debt OF gratitude we owe
him and his friends. When the Legislature
assembled last fall the Democrats were in
considerable minority, crestfallen, de-
spondent, and almost bereit OF hope.
They could do but little more than make q
manly protest against the high-handed and
Unprecedented conduct OF the majority.
AS for successful opposition, II was not
thought Of. The edlcts OF the Boss and the
CAUCUS had been issued, and must be inial-
libby obeyed. At this critical iuncture the
"Big Four" threw themselves into tht
breach, took the leadership out OF the
hands OF the regularly-elected Democrats
and defeated some Of the most revolution
airy and pernicious legislation that was cyel
attempted to be inflicted upon free people
And as the result Of their action and co
operation, hope has.reviyed in the breasts o
our people, new courage and energy ami