The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-18
Bowling Them Over.

Bowling Them Over.
II Is amusiag to observe how stubborn
facts and cold truth have bowled over the
attempts Of the ultra-BLAISE organs to be-
little the Massachusetts, protest. IL 1t
were not well known that desperation
blinds, the public might imagine that they
had been putting up arguments for the fun
Of seeing them knocked down, and thus
oontri buting 10 the humors OF the cam
paign. when the Massachusetts revolt
first developed such papers as the Tribune
fastened TO spread the information that II
was dude movement. The idea was not
only funny, but charmingly original.
What could be more ludicrous than the
picture al reform stalking through the
land in a high white hat, gold eye
glasses, and lavender unmentionables. The
people could not keep from smiling audi
bly, as they thought OF the catastrophe that
would result TO the attenuated eXtremities
OF this animal, should IL make any violent
exertion in endesvoring to kick over the
mountain OF corruption that Repuolicanism
has piled up. However. when the Boston
papers published the names OF the signers
to the call for the Massachusetts, independ-
ent meeting this picture faded, and In its
place was presented all the responsibility.
solid avoirdupoise, mental and moral
force, and political influence, that are asso-
ciated With the gold-headed cane, the snuh-
box, and the black silk stock. No one
acquainted with Massachusets politics
could fail to recognize that the protest. in
stead OF representing the "fighty impulse
Of few restless and disappointed young
bloods," expressed the earnest conviction
OF some of the most thoughtful and careful
men In the State. Then the public had to
indulge in another smile. The alley had
been swept OF BLAINE pins by tenstrke.
But the BLAINE organs, though pref
ty badly demoralized, set them up again
with an alacrity worthy OF better cause.
Their next step was an attempt to prove
that the opposition to the Chicago ticket
had been excited by the free-traders
and was aimed al Mr.. BLAINE's
protectionist ideas" whatever they
may be. They labored strenuously to
inculcate this notion. Yet there were
as many " Protectionists us Free-Traders
in the meeting. and the resolutions adopt
ed were eoquently silent on the subject OF
the tariff. They simply set forth that
BLAINE and LOGAN do not represent the
reform sentiment Of the country, and on
that account should not be made President
and Vice. President. II the voice of the
meeting demonstrated one thing above
another il was that the present is no time
for splitting hairs or squabbling over
minor issues.
And in this especially, we recog-
nize one OF the bealthiest signs OF
the times. There are as earnest "Free-
Traders" and as earnest Protection
ists' in Massachusetts as there are
in any State in the Union. Yet the
men composing the Independent meet
ing counted these differences as nothing
compared with the necessity OF securing a
pure Administration. Whatever may be
the final outcome Of their action, certain it
Is that they have risen superior to the
strongest political predictions, and what
many OF them regard as personal interest.
They have set an example which, il not
lost upon the people, cannot fail to mark
brighter era in the history Of the country.
II their declaration is worth anything they
stand upon ground that should be, and we
believe will be, taken by the Democratic
party at Chicago in July that the paramount
duty OF the hour is to destroy the Repub-
lican hydra which for over two decades
has been preying upon the vitals Of the
nation. II the sentiments expressed by
some of the leading participants in the
meeting were uttered in good faith, and
we have no reason to entertain doubt
on that point, 1t only remains for the
Democratic party to vindicate its integrity
by nominating an honest ticket and placing
administrative reform above every other
issue in order to secure their earnest CO.
operation. In word, the Independents
have so completely cleared the way to Dem
ocratic success that for the party to refuse
to walk in it would be not.only blunder,
but crime against the people.