The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-14
Roanoke letter.
A DEMOCRATIC CLUB RGANIzED-AsKING FOR
A CONVENTION.

CONVENTION.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.I
ROANOKE, Va, February ~. 1888.
Roanoke is growing town. Every train
lands In her midst seekers after home.
A goodly number Of these strangers are
Democrats, .'not on The sly,' but bold,
truc-blue Democrats. So, in order that
these new brethren might fraternize, as
well as with view to prepare for an or
ganization OF the county preparatory TO
placing county ticket in the field this
spring, OH Friday the 9th the Democrats OF
Roanoke City organized
DEMOCRATIC CLUB,
TO be composed of Democrats throughout
the county irrespective Of former opinions
on the deJt question.
The Club will be known as the "Roan-
okc Democratic Club" after adopting the
following preamble and election OF OIL
GERS
Whereas it appears TO us that in organ
ization lies our only sure means of holding
together the Democratic party, and con-
centrating its energies effectively upon the
work OF breaking down the work OF the
opposing parties; and whereas such or
ganizatiOn should have a nucleus around
which to form and from which to draw its
power and receive its direction; and
where's Club composed OF jealous DEM
ocrats will constitute such q nucleus and
afford directing power for the planning
OF our campaigns much better than
larger organization will be able 10 do
Therefore, we hereby organize ourselves
into club, whose functions it shall be to
watch the interest OF Democracy in gen.
eral and OF Roanoke in particular, and TO
use every honorable means ut our COM
mand for Che purpose Of securing its sue
cess, but under no circumstances cOmprO-
missing with the enemy, believing defeat
upon our principles better than victory
without them.
Any voter OF good character may be-
come q member OF tins Club by signifying
his readiness to work in the interest OF
Democracy.
Dir. II. II. Powers offered the following,
which passed by unanimous vote:
Resolved, That it is the sense OF this De-
mocratic Club of Roanoke that it is of pa
ramount importance to the perpetuation OF
the Democratic organization OF Virginia,
and especially OF Southwestern Virginia,
that State convention should be held ut
the earliest date possible; that all disagree
ments heretofore existing between the two
factions Of the Democratic party. growing
out OF difference Of opinion on the debt
question, shall be healed, and thorough
organization effected in this and every
other county in the State prior to the spring
elections.
ReSotued, That copy OF this resolution
be forwarded to the respective chalrmen of
the State Executive and State Central Com
mitteea at Richmond
THE POLITICAL FUTURE.
We have every reason to believe this
Club will do good work, as it is composed
of good material. Mr.. Lunsford, the pre-
sident, is rising young lawyer OF ability
and energy, and.a Democrat tried and true;
besides, his associates are Of the same type.
The Democratic fire in this section Is not
extineulshed. 1t is just in embers at pres
ent. and can he blown out into life and
brllliancy by the slightest wind OF enthusi.
asm. As TO REIMBURSEMENT, it can only live
by stealth. The glare of day will Kill it at
once. find up here it is the custom OF a
set OF cemagoSues TO tramp through the
country and incitc the plain-plodding peo-
pie to oppose the Democratic party by tell
ing them taxes are to be raised and labor
and products OF the soil will be Oh apened
II Democracy is in the asceDdency. know |
1t sounds foolish, but not longer than Fri |
day former Realiuster told me this was !
the argument used TO the people in the In |,
terror OF the county. Isn't II presumablc /,
that when these people see they have Leen
deceived they will rise in their anger and |
crush those dcceptious creatures.
believe the Democracy OF Roanoke can |
and VIII be aroused. Somebody must lead. |
and no lead can be maintained without or. |
ganization. There are two siaunch Demo |
cratic organs In the county-the Salem
Times and Roanoke City Reuiew. There
Is also Republican organ In Salem and
" siton-the-fence "journa! In Roanoke. but
with those two Democratic journals before
named we ought to lead on to victory.
MUST HAVE a CONVENTION.
We must have convention at once.
when We can elect new State Central
Committee, composed Of discreet vet fear
ess men. who viii keep up the organiza-
ION OF the State. The Rtadiuster Demo- I,
rats are all disguised with Mahonc's negro
and want to fratcrnize at
nee. So let us have convention OF our
'arty. say not later than March 10th. But
\ tue mean time our County Comm;tsea