The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-16
The Policy of the Democrats.
ROANOKE, VA, November H.


To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Within the next few weeks the question
as TO whether Virginia is to be a Demo-
cratic or Republican State will be deter
mined by the legislative action Of the lately
elected lawmakers.
The dav after the election one Of the most
prominent and influential Mahoneites in
the State remarked to the writer: "Gene-
raj Malone is at present defeated. but he
will eventually gam his most signal victory
from this very defeat" Shall this man
prove prophet?
The general at present commanding the
army of the United Stltes made his military
reputation by turning a terrible defeat into
an effective victory. When Sherdan's
army was defeated, flour soldiers had been
true to themselves, and had not been car
ried astrav by an inOrdinate longing for
plumber and spoils, Sheridan would to-day
be IN name what he is in fact. very insig-
nificant man. History often repeats itself,
and the past should be our signal-light to
protect against future danger.
If the Democratic party are now true to
| themselves, true to the pledges made be-
fore the election, and true to the prompt
ing of common sense, their victory is per-
manently assured, and Mahoneism will
never again be formidable power in this
State.
The Coalition leaders are already pre-
pairing to take advantage Of any impolitic
| legislation on our part. They even now
seek TO create the impression abroad that
the Danvile riot was ln,tigated by the
white citizens. and that but for it Coalition
would have triumphed.
| We know that such is not the fact; but
the outside world will Judge us not by the
protestatons OF either party, but by the
character OF our future actions.
The Danville riot was really the result OF
incendiary harangues by Coalition speak
ers, not intended probably to provoke an
actual race COLLISION and bloodshed, but
only 10 unite the negroes against the
whites, and thus prevent any attempted
division OF their votes. Nor did this riot
materially change the result of the cleo
ton. This result was clearly foresha0owed
weeks prior 10 the Danville tragedy. The
clearly apparent uniiication OF the negroes
in opposition to what they termed "'the
white mans party" and the belief that the
debt question had ceased TO be Il factor in
politics. had long ago determined the ac-
ton OF the great mass OF the sturdy yeo-
many OF this whole State, the men who
think much and say but little. They be-
lieyed that Virginia, in its State, local, and
municipal government, ought to be under
!, the control Of the white race, and that the
inferior race should not be permitted to
govern our State. They back their judg-
ment by their votes, and have surely set
tied this one question for all coming time
whenever the question is presented as q
sole issue.
Such being the facts. we dare not inter-
fere with the settlement OF the debt ques-
ton as already agreed upon. To do so
would be an act OF bad faith, and sui
cidal policy foolish and fatal.
We are now free from the debt, and very
few taxpayers would again willingly as
sumo any obligation TO pay that portion
from which they have been legally released.
The law had imposed upon us debt
for which we were bound as endorsers fol-
those who made it. This debt could have
been settled, and ought 10 have been set
tied, upon more equitable terms than the
law imposed; and we believed the Federal
Government should have assumed the
debt-at least the percentage OF value OF
our slave property which they had by force
wrested from us, and upon which the orr
giDal promise OF payment was based.
We regarded the debt lawful one, and
while legal, fully binding upon us. Now,
though such Is not the fact. the law has
been changed. IL declares we no longer
owe the debt. Under this state of facts
no party could have a respectable follow.
Ing who would attempt to carry out the
suggestion Of the Louisville C0'srier-JOur
nal and imDose obljQations from which
we have been fully and legally released