The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-12
Hope or Fear ?


is the more powerful incentive to action.
We will not discuss that question; but In
view Of the grand Democratic victory in
Ohio, We In Virginia must endeavor to
make Fear drive up her forces alongside
the forces enticed into action by Hope.
Let us not countenance over-conhdence
on the one hand, nor over-auXlety on the
other. II you are OF the hopeful kind, be
not too sure. II you are OF the despond-
ent kind, be not too much alarmed. Nir-
ginia needs the exertions Of all her sons,
and she would hive neither too much con.
fidence nor too much tlmidity 10 keep any
out Of her service.
Whilst, therefore, we would warn the
Democrats Of the North not TO lose sight
OF Virginia lest calamity overtake the
Democratic party, yet we would encourage
the faint-hea-ted II any such there be
among the Democrats Of Virginia. From
every section comes the news OF Demo
cratic gains-from almost every county in
fact. We have in our possession letter
from a gentleman who has visited every
county mentioned IN the following article,
and confirms all that Is said in It. We
quote from the Petersburg Mail OF yester-
day:
A gentleman in this city wrote to one OF
the coolest and most iudicious lawyers in
the Southwest for his calm and dispassion-
ate opinion as to the political situstion in
that section OF the State, and in his reply
81 ho y,
from all can see and gather, is that we
will send delegates from the following
counties in this district: Washington, 2:
Lee, 1: Smyth and Bland, 1; Giles and
Pulaski, !; Montgomery, /; Craig and
Roanoke, /. We will also elect the sena-
tor from Lee. Scott and Wise, and the sem
ator from Roanoke, Craig. and Montgom-
cry.
There have been great many changes,
but Malone is making desperate effort to
retain his control OF the Southwest.
awe have a good fighting chance in this
county CTazewelD, and we are very hope
ful of carrying it. The race will be close
nearly all over the Southwest. i will write
you again later"
We quote the above rs a specimen Of the
intelligence that reaches us from all except
a very few counties. There is a sense OF
security felt by the Democracy which ought
to presage a grand victory. Indeed, one
OF our exchanges, the West Point Star,
says that from all it can learn the one thing
the Democrats In that section have to learn
is to guard against apathy produced by over
confidence. This would be most unfOr-
tunate result OF spreading good news IL it
should extend over the State. Surely the
Democrats, who boast OF their intelligence,
have sense enough TO know that victories
in Virginia are not achieved by reading OF
or growing over victories in other States.
Far better be little frightened. Let us
show you what you may have to overcome.
Let the Democrats OF the North turn
their eyes to Virginia and learn what duty
requires that they shall do for her.
Ohio is Republican State. For twenty
years it has quadrennially voted for the
Republican candidate for President OF the
United States. II. therefore, it had gone
for the Republicans last Tuesday. that fact
would not by any means have indicated
that the Democrats could not next year
carry the presidential election. There are
Democratic States enough without Ohio TO
enable us TO do this. We took this posi-
ton before the Ohio elections were held
and we hold il STILL
But suppose Virginia were to vote the
MALONE ticket next month--that is, elect
MALONE Legislature? What would you
think Of that result? Such avictory might
well cause every good Democrat in the
Union to fear that tie Democratic party
would next year lose as much in the South
as it would gain in the North. And Of
course in that event there would still be
chance OF Republican success in the presi-
DENTAL election. We took this position
also before the Ohio elections came off, and
we hold II still.
Whats Have you really deceived your
self into the belief that we have let out
secreti Can you or we see further ahead
than WILLIAM MALONE, or suggest to him
shrewder policy? Are there any sharper
politicians in the world than the Republi-
can leaders y-the men who in 1880 snatch
ed Victory from the very Jaws OF De
feat !
What did these leaders in 1880! Why,
after even Maine had so voted as to leave
the Republicans almost nothing upon
which TO base hope OF success in the pre-
sidential election, those Republican leaders
concentrated all their men and money and
efforts upon the Democratic State Of In
diana, aud by sheer force Of unscr,lpulous
workers and unwarranted measures car
rIed that Democratic State for the Repub-
licans, and made not simply possible but
almost inevitable the election OF Republi-
can President Of the United States. The
gain OF Indiana was the gain OF the United
States. The Democrats OF the Union never
rallied after their defeat in Indiana.
Now, then, ye true Democrats of the
North, be on your guard IL YOU would
counteract the efforts Of MALONE to induce
the Republicans Of your section to concen.
trate their men and their money and their
forces upon Virginia now. He may try to
use the result OF the Ohio elections as
means oil soaring the Republican party into
contributing large sums of money 10 the
support OF their allies, or rather the Re-
Puoiicans, In this State. See to it that YOU
are as wide awake as he and rs liberal as
the Republicans Of your section. Let not
The late OF Indiana In 1880 be the fate =,
Virginia In 1888; for II you do, another
presidential election may be lost to YOU
through your inexcussble apathy. We
have little or no fear Of defeat. but we
would guard even the outposts.
Look out for the next movement unon