The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-27
The Virginia Democrats.

The Virginia Democrats
The Democratic State Convention Of Vir-
ginla was called to meet this year chiefly for
the purpose of recognizing the party. There
is to be. we believe, no State election, prop
erly considered, but members of the legisa-
ture are to be chosen. The business before
the convention was the organization of the
State committee and the declaration of the
so-called principles of the party. John S.
Barbour was elected by the convention chair
man of the State committees, which means
he is the man the party puts in the front to
antagonize Senator Malone. he is to be
the boss of the Democratic machine, and il
he succeeds in vanquishing the enemy he
will have whatever reward he claims. He is
the chosen chief, and his only instructions
are to defeat Malone.
The situation is peculiar. Most of the
things for which the party of Readjusters
was called into existence have been accom-
plished. The debt question has been settled
according to the scheme which Senator Ma
hone advocated and the courts, State and
National, have affirmed the validity of the
settlement. That is no longer an issue. The
requirement of the payment of a tax as
prerequisite of voting has been abolished in
accordance with his policy, and whatever
else he proposed to do If he had the power
he has carried through. 1t is fact that in
Virginia there is more equality of rights be-
tween the races than in any other Southern
State, and Senator Malone has been faith
full in the execution of his pledges to the ne
groes. new impulse has been given to the
educational work, and some reforms in the
system of taxation have been accomplished
while others are in contemplation.
In carrying ont his program Senator Ma
hone divided the Democratic party and those
who followed him co operated for that pur-
pose with some Republicans, he himself, shut
out from the Democratic party, has acted in
the United States Senate with the Republic
Republican national administration and such
assistance in his political schemes as the adj
ministratfon could give, often at the expense
of the Simon-pure Republicans who never
were Democrats and refused to sink the
Republican organization in that of the Re-
adjustsrs. OF these Congressman Dezen-
dorf is the present leader. The policy of
the Democratic party now is to win back to
its ranks those who went out with
Malone. Him they will not forgive
but they are proceeding on the theory that a
large portion of his followers, now that the
NH cd
settled will gladly seek shelter in the old
party organization in preference to following
him into the Republican party where they
are willing enough he shall go provided be
does not lead the whole body of readjusteIs
with him. They want to recall enough of
them to give the Democratic party control
of the State, and for that purpose they have
ceased to fight against the principles be de-
elared, and accepted them. They are will
ing his work shall stand if they can get con-
troll of the Offices and secure the electoral
vote for the Democratic party.
We are not sure but they will succeed in
this. Nut all the Democrats who were willing
to scale down the debtor, or determined to
do it, are willing to ENTHUSIASTICALLY with
their old associations, and endure the social
obliging that such uction entails. They are
willing TO be forgiven for what they have
done, and to be welcomed back and Toasted
as repentant prodigals. 1t was for
some time doubtful whether the Democrats
wonld not attempt to call back the wan
derers by by making race issue, but they
seem to have thought better of that at least
so far as public utterances are concerned.
Their platform contains nothing offensive
on the race question. They pledge support
to the public school system until every child
of whatever color may secu.e the benefit of
free education. That sounds liberal, but
the whole effect of it as practical matter is
nulliied by another resolution which pleds-
es their opposition to any increase of taxa
ton whatsoever, directly or indirectly. Now
the benefits of the school system cannot be
extended to all the children of the State
without increase of taxation, and they know
1t. Mr.. Malone knows it and be favors an
increase of taxation for that purpose which
is an honest meeting of the issue. The
Democratic resolution on the educational is
sue is therefore piece of pure defamation
of no significance.
The only national issue they seem to have
cared to commit themselves upon is the tar
iff question, and regarding this they have
borrowed the equivocal and meaningless
generalities of the Ohio Democratic plat
form, and added to it declaration in favor
of the total abolition of internal taxes. The
taxation of tobacco and whiskey is regarded
as peculiar hardship by southern Demo-
Gratis generally, and the first article of their
free-trade creed relates to these necessaries
of life. The campaign will be watched with
much interest because Of its bearing on the
National election of next year. If the Bour-
bons are defeated there will be what they
call down South "a right smart chance" of
carrying Virginia for the Republican candi-
date for President.