The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-22
The Dangerous Caucus.

The Dangerous Caucus.
We hear that the Democratic speakers In
che Southwest have used to much advan-
tase = point to which we Called attention
ON the 9Th OF this month, and which, for
augh, that we know. they MAJ hsve pre-
v,ously used. II Is worthy Of repetition.
The shrewdest Of the MaRoNE organs say
never word OH the subject
The caucus is more or less Objectionable
under any circumstances. But u becomes
I. menace 70 the liberties OF the people
when II Il used, as General MALONE uses
n. TO tie the hands Of every member OF
the Legislature elected by his party. The
Democratic members may safely caucus
amongst themselves; because II they de-
tect any signs OF bad faith. or foresec the
adoptjcn of measure highly obiectiona-
BILE. they have the right to withdraw from
the caucus before the decisive vote IL
taken, and afterwards to vote in the Legis-
lature itself as they please. But not SO Is
the MALONE caucus managed. The de-
luded follower OF the false Prophet pledges
himself 10 go into caucus and also TO
abide BY the action OF the caucus, and this
without any qualification whatever. Let
us once more reproduce the MALONE
pledge:
81 hereby pledge myself to stand by the
Rtadjuster party and platform, and to go
into caucus with the Rtsdjuster members
OF the Legislature that meets at Richmond,
and vote for all measures, nominees, and
candidates to be elected by the Legislature
as the caucus may agree upon"
Here Is no loophole OF escape. The vic
tim Is enmeshed as thoroughly as the fly
In the web Of the spider. There Is nothing
10 be done but TO '.vote for all measures,
nominees, and candidates " "as the caucus
may agree upon"
To elect men TO be legislators who have
no right whatever to Judge for themselves
as TO what measures they will support and
what they will oppose is particularly dan
gerous ut this time. The appointment OF
negro trustees to assist in the management
OF the public schools Of Richmond has
aroused the fears and excited the indigna-
tion OF the whites throughout the COM
monwealth with the exception OF few
counties. II the Democrats carry the next
Legislature they will owe it to the fact
that CAMERON, FAIR, and BLAIR made
PAUL and FORESTER, two negroes, trus-
tees Of the public schools Of this city.
But here comes in the danger. III the
Coxlitionists carry the State, the ne
groes will claim this fact as proof that the
people OF the State are in favor OF negro
trustees for the public schools, to be pro-
portioned TO the number of negro votes in
the several counties. In forty counties the
negroes will be entitled to majority Of
the trustees. They will claim their rights,
and the Mahoneites will either have to
concede that it is a right or else to
own that the CAMERON. FAIR, and BLAIR
did wrong when they appointed two negro
trustees in Richmond. VIII they do this |
latterS Scarcely. They have not manifest !
ed at any time disposition to take any |
step backward. On the contrary, they have
from time TO time conceded more and more |
to the negroes and Republicans. But let
us suppose, as we have said, that the Ma |
honeites shall have elected majority Of the
members Of the Legislature. Among these
members there will be perhaps ten
negroes. These ten negroes will con-
stitute much larger proportion
OF the MALONE caucus than the "Big |
Four" did Of the last Senate. These |
ten negroes will hold the balance Of power
in the MALONE caucus, and may often die
tate their own terms-always, when the |
caucus is nearly equally divided. The last
House OF Delegates stood about sixty CO.
alitionists to forty Democrts, we think.
Let fifty-four Of the sixty divide nearly
equally on any measure, and even six
negroes could turn the scale. The bill to
change the charter OF Richmond comes up.
The whites in the caucus divide ~ to q.
Then the negro members will not support
the bill unless the negro voters Of Rich
mond are secured places as policemen and
trustees Of the public schools. They will
be sure, too, to demand constantly-in-
creasng proportion Of these places.
Isn't it clear case, then, that, as we said
on the 9th instant, it will be especially
perilous to elect caucus-b bound legislators
this year, when there may be half dozen
or dozen negroes in the Coalition caucus,
whose votes may turn the scale in favor OF
measures which no one now expects TO be
adopted either in caucus or in the Legisla-
ture itself? Be sure the negroes are going
10 demand their "rights." One Of these
"rights " is to serve as trustees on public
school boards. On every stump in East
Virginia MAHoNE's orators Justify CAM
ERoY, FAIR, and BLAIR Tor recognizing
this right" and other kindred rights will
be insisted upon In the MALONE caucus.
Beware, then, We white voters, Of candi.
dates pledged to go into caucus and sup.
port all its measures and nominees. II any
pledges are to be required, let them be giver
to the white voters, who ought to be salts
fled with nothing less than a distinct pledg,
In favor of keeping negroes out of tn
boards OF the public schools and out of tn
police force OF the cities.
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Another Question.
When asked whether or not they intent
to support the next Democratic candidate