Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-30
Shake OF Your Lethargy.

will fail in her duty - herself, to the na-
tional Democratic party, and to the
nation. We know she will not IL the
people fully comprehend the situation.
Yet we say 10 every Virginian that
neither our confidence nor your own alb
solves you from the obligation to make y
supreme effort on the day OF election.
Neither our confidence nor the facts and
the figures before us absolyes lis from ap-
pealing TO every Democratic voter in the
Commonwealth TO subordinate every other
duty 10 that OF going TO the polls and cast
ing his ballot for CLEVELAND, HENDRICKS.
and reform. We would moi be an alarmist
we would not insult our people by doubt
ing their honesty OF purpose. but conf
dence may be misplaced. The issue that is
upon us may not be realized in all its
length and breadth. The meaning Of Re-
| publican success. when may he accom-
| pushed through derelction on the part OF
Virginia, may not be understood in all its
terrible import. A little Indifference here,
| little apathy there, little over-confidcnce
in another place, may fasten despotism
upon the country.
The question is not simply whether this
man or that man shall BE- President. The
question Is whether the republic OF the
fathers OF the Constitution shall live. A
| crisis is upon us in which we must choose
between a government by the people and a
government by an oligarchy. The hour
las come in which we must say whether we
are to be a free people or whether Ameri-
can liberty Is TO be throttlcd The issue is
the people against the office holders.
In the last twenty years the Republi-
can party mas strained our lnstitu-
tons TO the utmost tension. The
crimes its leaders have committed
in the name OF Liberty defy all civil
lied code to image or TO name. There is
hardly an article in the Constitution .hey
have not violated. They have led the peo-
pie so far from constitutional mOoring that
they have the temerity to claim openly and
arrOgantly a prcscriptive right to adj
minister the Government. In the
last twenty years the party has
stolen the presidency once, robbed
the payers Of millions OF dollars, ruth
lessly trampled the rights of the people OF
whole States under foot, Systematically fOs-
tered corruption IN every department of
the Government. and labored continuously
TO array one section against another and
one race against another. The burden
Of its song has been yillficstiOn OF the
South. Its stock IN trade has been venom
and appeal. to sectional feeling. The re-
suit has been business unrest, depression
in manufactures, stagnation in commerce.
And with another four years OF power this
end. That such is the prospect is
foreshadowcd by L0GAN's threat that the
Administration must go beyond "declara-
tons and resolutions" by disappointment
and by the utterances OF Mr.. BLAINE and
his organs. The cry raised against the
so lid South means that IL BLAINE is elected
the South is TO be crushed by the Radical
Juggernaut. 1t means that the scenes OF
the days OF reconstruction are to be re-
enacted. IL means that bad blood is to be
stirred up between the races in order TO
prevent another revolt against Radical
methods in the North Ii means the bayonet
at the ballot-boX, and additional license to
the revenue spies and informers. II means
a mOckery OF individual freedom and a
trayesty upon the right Of franchise. Ii
means that the State shall be turned over
to Mahoneism. II means political satur-
malta.
II will not therefore, do to take any risk.
II will not do to feel secure in your conf
dence. The interests at stake are too mo-
mentous; the failure Of the people to win
involves too much The Republican party
is desperate. II must win all or lose all.
Its leaders are prepared TO go to any en-
tieme. Republican defeat will be Re-
publican annihilation. Republican de-
feat will place 1t beyond the power
CT that party ever TO make another
contest. Republican defeat will end
bribery. corruption, and coercion at
the polls. Republican defeat. and that only,
could establish the fact that this is a free
Government Let Virginia beware, then,
lest peradyenture, she be caught sleeping
and be shorn OF her locks by the Republican
DELMAH. Let her awake and shake her
self. Let her put forth her full strength.
Let every man be at his post on election
day. BY the memory of her past.
by her hope for the future, by her love Of
liberty, by her hatred OF tyranny, LET her
do her duty and all will be well. We re-
peat that the issue is the people against the
ofiice-holders. lie that is not openly and
actively with the people is against them,
against liberty, against peace, against fra
ternity, against his race. No Democratic
voter can sink the responsibility the situa-
tion forces upon him.