The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-04
The Real Contest.

The Real Contest.
The Lynchburg Advance copies one OF
our recent articles urging upon the Demo
cratic R~cxdjusters the importance OF align.
ing themselves this year with the national
Democratic party, and comments upon II
as follows:
"AIl this Is true. The party In Virginia
which we have called Coalition or Malone
tic Is simply a part Of the Radical Republic
can party, although, for particular pur-
poses, II II hypocritically calling itself Just
now sRexdjuster.' Last year and the
wear before II was Coalition-LiberaI-Ar-
Standardization. and where there Is a
Radical majority they say Coalition now.
We had lust as well drop the names they
bore ne a faction, for they have become
mart and parcel OF the great Radical
wing of the Republican party, and are
for Arthur doubtless for president.
Perhaps. rs has been said, Malone
NAV be Vice. Well, perhaps they
ought not to be separated in the political
death which will overtake them in 1884.
We had as well drop all other names in
Virginia as elsewhere. To the outside
States we are Democrats and Republicans.
Malone has absorbed the Radical-ltepubli-
can element in Virginia, and Is really the
leader of any Republican clement that can
make any fight i'm Virginia. Democratic
Readjusters and conservative Republicans
had as well cease standing aloof, and had
best give their support 10 the Democratic
party. And this line. as the Dispatch says,
had as well be drawn now. In virginia
this spring and this fall vote for ana sup
port only the men who viii vote Tor ana
support the Democratic candidate in 1854"
That last suggestion is a practical one.
Let the Democratic candidates for the Le-
gislature In every county bring their OF
ponents to the book upon this point, and
compel them to answer whether they will
vote next year for the Republican or the
Democratic nominee for President Of the
United States. II they decline to pledge
themselves, the voters are intelligent
enough to draw the proper inference from
that fact. Indeed, there can be but one
logical inference; for every man who in
tends to act with the Democratic
party next year glories In the name
OF Democrat, and is always ready and
willing 10 ayow il to be his purpose to
vote for the nominee OF the next Demo-
SidAtS 0tio touftutipHs hS II Wv
man who besitates is lost to honor, so
the candidate who hesitates to declare his
preference as between n Stalwart Repub-
lican and a generous, liberal, national Dem
ocrat, Is lost to the Democratic party.
There can be no questions Of reimbursement
involved IN the campaign Of next year.
This last remark reminds us that there is
O movement all along the lines Of the CO.
alitionists to represent themselves as con
posing a party neither Republican nor
Democratic, and rs intending TO run can
didates for the next Legislature not rs
Democrats nor as Republicans but as
"Liberals" or "Rcadjusters," "friends
OF the public schools" and all that sort of
thing. (By the way. let us say that a few
more such blows mt the public-school sys-
ten as was the one administered to it by
CAMERON, FARE, and BLAIR, when they
appointed W. negroes trustees Of
the public schools of Richmond, and
on a board OF which five members
a quorum, and three members a
majority Of quorum we say, a few more
such blows would knock all the life out of
the public-school systcm.) The Democrats
of Virginia need not be at all afraid TO Join
tons which these Coalifion,stS proPooo 20
make prominent in the election OF 1888.
We need not evade these questions &C all.
But let the line be distinctly drawn as
Democrats and Republicans.
When a candidate appears before the peo-
pie, let him be asked to say publicly
whether he is q Democratic "Liberal"
or a Republican "Liberal." Don't let him
escape, like the cuttle-fish. by darkening
the waters in which he is swimming. Let
him say what he will in favor OF local issues,
and profess what he will as to the debt
question, and the schools, and tire railroads,
and what not, and then when he has eX-
hausted his catalogue, ask him whether he
will next year, Uhen nOn Of these issues
can possibly arise, vote for the nominee OF
the national Democratic party for Presi-
dent of the United States.
Fortunately for the Democrats, there
will be in Virginia no elections for men,
bers Of the Legislature in 1881. There
will be no elections except national ones
for congressman and for electors Of Presi-
dent and Vice-President. In a word, every
man in this State will be forced to act, if he
acts at all, in the elections Of 1884 either
with the Democratic or with the Republi-
can party. There can, therefore, be no
good reason why any candidate for the
Legislature who does not intend to deceive
the voters shall not tell them which party
will be his a year hence. Let this be done,
and there need be no ap%prehensions as to
the complexion Of the next General Assem-
bly,.