The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-29
WHAT THE VIRGINIA DEMoChA1'
pApcTts HAVE TO SAL.
n-nehbpre Adrance.l

fLyncI0urg huNhnecJ
ANOTHER IssUE.-We have gwen uhe
people two OF the proposed issues Oh a"
honeism this faIl--two Of the things tney
say they intend to do--pass the c"l nir,s
sioner Of sales and tobacco-sampier , p,,,s
We now give third-the railroad oiIls.
Mahoneism proposed to the people 70 ap-
point three commissioners OF railroads.
These politicians would grab the railroads;
and, by threats or brides. hoped to control
the appointment OF every official on Ine
routes. This was defeated by the big
Four. Now, this scheme, In general
way and in It's general intention, was
bad enough, but there Is way III
which II could have been used, ana
doubtless would have been used,
that in a few years would have made II an
abominatiog to the people. From the ma
ture OF things many OF the railroad en-
ployes are colored men, and such, under
competent bosses, are often preferred.
Now, II all the machinery was TO be under
political influence. here was an opportunity
for innumerable places to be filled by col
ored applicants, and for facility Tor mo-
bilizing tie African troops heretofore un.
known. General Malone when railroad
boss was said to have issued his order
10 such OF the African troops rs were
on the Atlantic, Mississippi and ONO
road telling them how to vote, ana
discharging such as disobeyed or
ders. lie is therefore presumed TO
understand the bearings OF this bill, and TO
know what he can do under II. Now, THIS
bill pretended and prctends to be for the
interest OF the local traffic OF the people oil
virginia. Does not every man OF sense
know that the operations OF this bill and
its workings will be General Mahone's rail-
road policy. and that under 1t he Will re-
sumo his rule as railroad king OF Nir-
cinia; and do not the people along the line
of the road he managed bless the Lord TO
this day that they got rid OF him? was
there not rejoicing when the receiver was
appointed and great thankiulness as long as
Major Fink managed it? Now we have
two cities which every Virginian who is
not selfish, or has not some spite to crafty
or some axe to grind, desires TO see
built up and encouraged, and is deslrous
that our railroad system shall be used Tor
their development. We desire to make
Norfolk what it can and ought to be-the
great seaport and coaling station OF the
South. We want line OF steamers from
Norfolk to Europe, and unless our railroad
system is perverted and politics puts its
unhalowed hand into it we shall see it.
Now, we want our capital; our beautiful,
chief city; our enterprising, manufactu'
ring centre, TO have all the aid and help
our railroads can give it. We are entitled
to have them discriminate in its favor and
not against il. 1t has done more to build
them, more to sustain them than all other
cities. II Malone rules, will there even
be a railroad that will not iniure Rich
mondy
On this subject we Use General Mahone's
name, because on it Gf not on all others he
is the brains and the power OF the whole
party. Nine tenths OF them, even theil
leaders. know nothing OF the merits or de-
merits OF most OF their legislative moves,
and without his head and hand would
"fold their tents like Arabs. and silently
steal away"
These issues are to be made, these mea-
sures carried. these bills enacted. says the
| Coalition press, aud says so because Gen.
eral Malone has decreed it.
Well. we accept the issue. The Demo
crazy opposed the railroad bill OF the last
session, and will oppose it again. n wise
Legislature in giving additional legislation,
amending charters, &C., Of the railroads,
can and should look after the interests OF
the people along the lines, and of our cites
and towns; but the people OF this State
should never consent that these great lines
Of transportation, affecting their material
| interests. should be controlled by politi-
cal caucus, or given up as the patronage OF
any Governor and his Star Chamber. Let
us have laws regulating these great cor
pordtions. properly taxing and controlling
them, but leave their management to their
own officers and stockholders, and, least
of all, can we consent that our railroads
shall be hung, like scalps, at the saddle
bow OF Malone as trophies Of Radical
victory in Virginia.