The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-06
The Proper issues in virginia.
To the Editor of the Dispatch

| mOfrlrN OF NlIEIult vi tIN 80
tainly the responsibility for attenptins ~
revive il as an issue at this time cahio. w
laid at yolr door, or that OF those WHO
think with YOU. That properly belongs 10
others. who have been discussing II IN sea-
son and out OF season, with proper respect
for the opinions OF others in some cases,
and In others with an incompetence that
generally belongs to that class OF people
who are usually possessed OF more zeal
than knowledge.
PRAY. let them remember that whilst they
have their opinions on this and other ques-
tions. and express them in such arguments
as they deem best, large Numbers OF others
think quite differently. Ii they discuss Inc
tariff, or national banks, or internal i'm
proyements, i'm all reason and fairness OF
discussion let them omit the p~rcfiXes,
"thus says the Democratic party" "The
national Democracy will fight on this issue
in 1884," viii il not be more proper 10
say that the opinions expressed are those OF
the individual ~Uttering or publishing them!
Are not the White people Of Virginia, who
compose its 0nscryatiye Democracy, COM
pctent TO frame their own platform without
being told to stand upon one r~cady-nade,
say Dy some seli-constituted guardian, said
platform being his exclusive patent. III
everybody in and out OF the State will not
misunderstood this fact, vs. shall be con-
tent.
Before the war the Democratic party ad-
yocated a low tariff and opposed national
banks and internal improvements by the
General Government. When has the DEM
ocratic party OF Virginia since the war an
nounced Itself rs in foUOr OF national banks
and internal improvements aud opposed TO
a high tariff, or Uice UeTSd2 Who is au-
thorized TO do for that party what 1t has
never done for Itself? Why make an
issue on the tariff and not on the other ten
Pets OF the old-time Democracy?
Napoleon used TO say, "Thc tools to him
that can handle them" Platforms and prin-
ciples are best in the hands OF those who
in discussing public questions recognize
existing conditions and the changes which
time has wrought.
In 1869 the white people Of Virginia,
who compose her Conservative Democracy,
found shat the negroes OF the State were
arrayed by designing demagogues in solid
phalanX-thc Black Republican party pur-
sued a policy dictated by hatred OF the
south, and hostility to orr dearest interests
OF person and Of property.
Bank men and anti-bank men, hish-taria
men and low-tariif men, internal-improyc-
ment men and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
men, Joined hands in organizing the Con-
seryatiyc Democracy Of NirSinia-Stuart
and Baldwin. Early and Flournoy, with
Kemper and Marye, Payne and smith
Old-Line Wings with the unteIriticd Demo-
cracy OF the Old Dominion. Our Carnot
to |"OrganiZe victory" was Raleigh T..
Daniel, with all his gifts Of nature and
lcarBing-hunscT a lifelong Vhig. Our
platform was Opposition to Radical Re-
publicanism" in the South. Has the Demo-
cratic party OF Virginia changed that plat
form Ii so, when and where? True, we
wagcd several UnSeemly contests on a State
issue into which we unfortunately driftcd,
with what result all are too well aware.
Now we have hardly emerged from that
error, when the people OF Virginia, and OF
the South indeed. are asked to repeat it in
another form. What reason have they for
deserving their old colors and seeking new
issues?
Let us see.
What cause exists for changing either
the principles or the policy OF our party IN
Virginia?
As TO the proper policy OF the Demo-
cracy. we find that Malone has gone over TO
| the Republicans and is leading the negroes
OF Virginia in mbrOken column. What
cares he OF they about low or high tariff,
bank or internal improvements? Nothing
absolutely. lie really can be trusted on
neither side OF any Of these questions, be-
cause his sole aim is punishment OF his
personal enemies and reward OF his friends.
and lac will spouse or oppose any position
50 long. and only so long, as it will aid him
in achieving n victory and maintaining his
personal dictatorship. 1t is considered
good gcneralship mot to do what your
enemy desires"
He earnestly seeks that we shall commit
ourselves to accepting either thc tariff or
bank or internal improvements rs an issue.
in order that he may thereby secure the
needed white contingent to give him con
troll forever OF this State. lie sees clearly
that the negroes OF the State will support
him on either side Of any Of these qucS-
tons, and he trusts with unfaltering faith
that we will commit the folly Of assisting
him. as heretofore, to achieve success 10y
dividing the white people OH public "ques-
lions" about which the negro cares no.
thing, because he knows nothing. II is
not his Wisdom, bit our blindness, 1chich
has giUen him control Of Virginia. Shall
we any Longer continue to assist him?
So much for policy, and now for the
principal at issue, at ii any there be.
Since the civil war parties have not been
divided on The line OF the tariff. Other
questions haycAssumed pred0minance, and
/ elections 20 OF chiefly on one issue.
To speak plainly, certain Democrats from
the North and Northwest have endeayOrcd
OF commit their party TO the principle OF re-
tanning internal-rcvenuc taxes in order TO
| f1aao nr faauv ipasaorfa n ao-.i1le ~ fia
free list.
Now it is easily dcmOnStrQ5lc h0tintcr-
nal taxation is far more 6urihenSOme TO
the country than the same amount obtained
6y import duties.
All taxation is taking part Of the pro-
pcrty OF the citizen. Import duties on
foreign products can properly confer the
benefit OF assisting American labor by the
same act which creates the burthen, whilst
the internal tax Is a dead burthen which
%confers no benefit, whilst il may even assist
the foreign laborer. As, for example, bv
internal taxation, coupled with free trade
in the article taxed, YOU might arrive at
the result OF preventing its manufacture at
home.
Whilst all this is true, we find Mr.. Nor
rison, Of Illinois, who was chairman Of
the Committee OF Ways and Means OF the
last Democratic House, opposed the aboli-
ton OF internal taxes, and would have
them as permanent as the national debt it.
self. Is this old-time Democracy! What
Democrat before the war ever advocated
such doctrine?
Mr.. Randall, on the other hand. has said:
The interna[rcyenue system has no war
rant in any Democratic authority IN this
country; . is a creature Of war neces-
sliy, and as that war has long since passed
away submit there is nothing in the pres
ent condition OF the country for the con-
tlnuance OF this oppressive and unjust