The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-15
8ithm,ond 1ispatth.
SATURDAY. ..DECEMBER Is. 1888.
A Victory for Arthur.

a NlCtOlJ AOi
The Republican National Committee de-
cidcd by vote OF % TO is, as we stated
THURSDAY, not 10 make the basis OF repre-
sentation in the next Republican National
Convention different from what II has been
heretofore. This result may be set down
~ victory for the Stalwarts-for ARTHUR
and MALONE. Itdoes not absolutely prove
that the MALONE delegates from Virginia,
rather than the BLAINE delegates, will be
admitted into the next National Conven-
zion. but Il IL at least an indication that
such vii, he the fact. We say II Is ayictory
for ARTHUR and MALONE because General
MALONE is for ARTHUR. and ARTHUR,
rs controlling the Government officials IN
the South, desired the southern states 10
be fully represented in that body. There
fore General MALONE has reason TO be
pleased with the decision. IL Is possible,
of course, that the BLAINE men may be
numerous enough in the Convention itself
10 protect the interests OF the distinguished
statesman OF Maine, and seat the delegates
his friends send from Virginia. His
friends succeeded in controlling the last
national convention Of his party in the
face OF circumstances better calculated to
discourage them than anything that has
vet appeared upon the surface this year.
They defeated CoNKLING, CAMERON, and
LoGAN-ibe bosses OF New York. Penn
sylyania. and Illinois-and also Cen
raj GRANT. 1t was almost a miracH-
Ions victory. IL is difficult to I'M
derstand how that grand triumph was ac-
complished. But so il was. GRANT, C0NH-
LING. LOGAN, and CAMERON claimed that
a State convention had the right to elect
and instruct the whole delegation from
the State how to vote. BLAINE's friends.
on the other hand, commended that
each congressional district had the right to
elect delegates, and that these delegates
were the real representatives OF the people
and could not be instructed by State con-
yention. Mr.. BLAINE carried the Conyen-
lion. So II is at least possible that his fol-
lowers NAV be successful next year in seat
ing whatever BLAINE delegates may be sent
from the South.
The Republican National Convention is
the product Of a peterborough system OF
choosing delegates. 1t is by no means a
representative body. The sixteen southern
States-Delaware Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia. North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, MiSsis-
sippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Mis-
souri,, Kentucky. and Tennessee 1913
electoral votes, and are OF course repre-
scented in the same proportion in National
Convention. Therefore, nearly two-tifths
of the members OF that body hail from the
States above named, not one Of which will
cast vote for the Republican nominee for
President Of the United States. COnse-
quently, ii Mr.. ARTHUR can command the
votes OF all the southern States, and an
other ninth OF the delegates, he can be
nominated. This condition OF things can
not be agreeable TO Mr.. BLAINE, nor to any
other Republican who expects his name to
be prominent in the National Convention.
But are not Democratic National Con-
yentions obnoxious TO the same objection
Not TO the same extent, by any means; for
in them the nomination is always made by
a two-thirds vote. That OF itself is great
protection against undue control Of that
body. But that is not all. There are no
States in which the election OF the delegates
can be controlled 10y the patronage Of the
National Government. II one candidate
has the power 90 secure the delegates in
one State by the use OF local patronage, this
Is fully offset by the fact that another can
didate can secure the vote OF another State
In the same way. 1t is a small wrong con-
trasted with the outrage of securing for
one aspirant, by the use OF the nations
offices, the solid vote OF twO-ffths OF the
delegates TO National Convention.
We take it for granted that the BLAINE
Republicans in Virginia will, as they say
they will. send delegates to the National
Convention. The meeting they held in
Washington the other day was quite re-
spectacle in numbers, and indicated that
they are stronger than they were before
General MAuONE'S late defeat.