Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-21
The Prospect-virginia.

The Prospect-Virginia.
Two weeks from TO-DAY the people OF the
United States are TO decide whether they
will resume control OF the Federal Govern.
mcnt, or win allow the men 10 continue to
control Il who In 1877 stole Its highest Of.
ticc, and who are determined never to sur
render power IL they can keep IL by the use
Of intimidation. bribery. and fraud. 1t Is
net unusual for political orators and wri'
tiers 70 magnify the importance OF pending
elections. Bit we do not think that the
importance Of the election about to occur
can be over-cstimsted. Surely crisis
IN the affairs OF the nation must have
becu reached when the offlce-hoIders dare
to organize an army Of Federal officials
and par them with the peoples money for
ossrying the elections for the Republicans
and pcrpetusting the rule Of aparty which,
but for these unjustifable measures,
would Be condemned to retire from the
public gaze and turn over the offices OF
Government to men who will not prosti.
tuie them to partisan purposes.
Where IL the fight Of next Tuesday week
10 be madei Which OF the States. North
and South, will by common consent be con-
sidered - not worth spending money or
time uponf VIII any? VIII the Repub-
llcsus spread their nets oil over the land, or
will they concentrate their efforts upon
particular States i--upon States In which
they consider that they have what they call
a "fighting chance, Or, TO reduce the
proposition 10 It's lowest terms, will they
devote ell their time, all their money, all
their speeches. all their endeavors at
bribery and intimidation, to the State Of
New York;
Another question, however, precedes
these. II 10 Is 10 whether New York is or
10 not the pivotal State. Will the Union
70 % New York goess Can either party
elect Ito nominees without the vote Of New
York; II not, then we may be sure that
no stone will be left unturned In that State.
The Democrats In New York no longer have
auy doubt ~ to their ability TO carry
their own State for CLEVELAND. Can the
Republicans elect BLAINE without the vote
OF New York; We cannot see that 1t Is
possibIe for them to do so. Nor is II proba-
BILE that the Democrats can elect CLgvE-
land without the vote Of New York. There
IL 80 much sympathy between New
York and Connecticut and between New
York and New Jersey, that II New York
were to vote the Republican ticket these
two states would be very apt to vote like.
wise.
We are trying to fiud out whether any
strong, or protracted, or general effort will
be made by the Republicans to carry such
States as Virginia, and we have, according
b, tired to subject the problem TO the doc
trine Of probabilities. The Republicans
evidently made tentative effort in West
Virginia in the recent State election. They
tried TO ascertain the possibility OF dissolv-
ing the solidity Of the South. and
to that end selected for their field
Of operations State which borders
for hundreds OF miles upon the Re.
pubIicsn States OF Ohio and Pennsylvania.
and whose mining and manufacturing in
terests were supposed to be almost iden-
tical with those which had made these
two States MECHANICALLY Republican.
Well, what was the result! We all know.
West virginia's answer was given in I'M
m,stakahle terms. II tells the Republicans
too plainly 10 be doubted that the greater
the efforts they may make to carry Yves,
Virginia, the greater will be the Democratic
majority in that State.
But how as to the congressional elec
tons! Well, we consider il absolutely
certain that the next House Of Representa-
tiyes will be controlled by the Democrats
The elections already held indicate that |
will be well-nigh impossible for the Repub
licans to elect majority of the member
Of that House. They will lose in tn
South, as foreshsdowed by the results il
West Virginia. They would. therefore
have to gain more than seventy member
in the northern States which have not We
held their congressional elections. They
would, In word, have 10 gain two mem
bers In every Eve districts. They cam
DO 1t.
Therefore it would seem to be at leas
probable that not much money will b
spsnt on congressional candidates. TIL
Republicans will make their fight for BLAIS
and for the life Of the party. No mino
consideration, however great in itself. wi
be permitted to interfere with this suprem
object. II would be result worth
OF their utmost exertions 10 secure tn
next House Of Representatives to the RI
publicans. Considered by itself II woul
be grand victory. But contrasted wit
the all-absorblng object OF having Repul
1icsn President and atfording the Republ
can party . chance for life after this year,
would be NJ nothing. So far us the Repul
Mcsn psrty 10 concerned. the only victor
worth winning 10 the victory IN the pres
Dental election. Without that, the part
ends its existence on the ttb Of March mex
"The conclusion OF the whole matter
u that II we are 10 have hand-to-hsr
hght IN Virginia this year, II win be "a
along the lines" We cannot afford
leave any point unprotected. We dare N
leave any congressional district unvisitedt
our speakers. West Virginia has stood firr
The Republicans win leave her "alone
her glory" The invading army will reas
NJ next We are, 80 to speak, under Il
shadow Of the Federal capital. which
filled with Republicans who would "a,
I'll aid dare ell" TO make Virginia r
publican State. Shall we not. then, srou
ourselves and shake OF our lethargys
net the prize 10 be gained one worthy
our best efforts: What would be 70,
feelings II II should turn out that Virgin
hsd voted for BLAINE and thus secured h
elsctioni IL this the most improbable n
suh 10 the worldl But still II Is possible
Let ~ NOT allow even this posdbilit
longer to exist. Let us make II ceYtai
thai Virxinia will be amongst the State