Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-18
The Point of Danger.

we 10 UOt tar euCH III OutSohe VI thS
current campaign. On the contrary. we
regerd II IA next 20 impossible. The wrong
OF 1877 will never be repeated. The re-
cent universal demand for the nomination
Of Mr.. TnDEE by the Democratic National
Convention, and the nomination Of Mr..
HESpRIcEs for yicc-Prcsident, are facts
which point to n result very different from
the one unprecedented by the gentleman
first above alluded 10.
The most important question 10 be de-
cided this year rs whether the people OF
this country have the power to cnange
their rulers. All the other questions
treated so deliberately IN the Platform OF
the National Democracy win be subordi-
mated TO the one everything purpose OF the
people TO right wrong that has damaged
republican institutions. Can the people
govern themselves! viii they allow their
public servants 10 become their masters,
and TO perpYuate the rule OF party which
the voters have at the ballot-box ordered
10 surrender the control OF the Govern
men, into new hands' Or as the platform
has II:
"Such change was alike necessary IN
1876, but the will Of the people was then
defeated by fraud which can never be
forgotten, nor condoned again."
(which can never be forgotten nor
condoned again." This language is not
too strong 10 express the well-settled pur-
pose OF the people to have II decided this
year once for all whether the Republican
party in Office is strong enough to set at
defiance the will OF a majority of the peo-
pie out OF Officer Are the people their
own rulers? Is this free Govern
mept? Can the voters release them
selves from the control Of this party
oil seciionallsm' Is 1t possible for them
to place the Government in the hands
Of the Democratic partyy Win any
majority that can be rolled up at the polls
suffice 10 convince the one hundred thou
send Republican ofiice-holders who have
so long controlled the Government that
the time bas come for new party to as
sumo the reins?
The grand issue before the people is
again referred TO IN the Democratic plat.
form. in the language following:
awe believe in free ballot and fair
count, and we recall to the memory OF the
people the noble struggle OF the Demo-
Gratis in the Forty-fiith ard Forty-sixth
Congresses, by which the reluctant Repub-
Iican opposition was compelled to assent
10 legislation making everywhere Illegal
the presence OF troops at the polls, as a
conclusive proof that Democratic admins
tration will preserve liberty with order"
This declaration IL well-timed. 1t was
made just at time when Republican
boosters were threatening to use all the
power OF the Federal Government to aid
them in their effort to carry enough OF the
southern States by force or fraud TO elect
their nominee. Recollect old ZACH. CHAMP
LER's policy in 1876. He telegraphed on
election-dsy that HAYES was certainly elect
ed; and his prediction or utteranee was
made good by the "vlsiting statesmen"
The votes OF Florida. Louisiana, and
South Carolina were counted for HAYES,
aud he was declared elected, and
finally was inaugurated. TMDEN's poDU-
l.r vote was 4.2S4, $50, as against a popular
vote for HAYES OF 4,O33, $50 (see SPoPFoRD's
Almsnacl-a majority OF more than two
hundred and fifty thousand. The CnAND-
LERs, the sBERMASs, and the rest OF the
conspirators said that South Crolina,
Florida, and Louisiana had voted for
HAYES, and the votes Of those States were
counted for him. Can this wrong be re-
peated with impunitys Can Florida,
Louisiana. and South Carolina be counted
for CLEVELAND this year, or Will the people
see 10 II that they are counted for the man
for whom the voters east themy There is
in the Democratic platform one more refer
ence 10 this most important Of all the mat.
tiers now occupying the public mind. It's
IN these words:
"With profound regret we have been
apprised by the venerable Statesman
through whose person was struck that blow
at the vtafprinciples Of republics (acquies-
cence In the Will Of the Majority that ne
cannot permit us again to place In bis hands
for the reason that the achievement
oil reform in The administration OF
the Federal Government Is an M
dertaking now too heavy for his age
and falling strength. Rejoicing that his
life has been prolonged until the general
Judgment OF our fellow-countrymen Is
united in the wish that the wrong were
lighted In his person, for the Democracy of
the United States we offer TO him in his
Withdrawal from public cares not only our
respectful sympathy and esteem, but also
that best homage OF freemen, the pledge OF
our devotion 10 principles and the cause
now inseparsble in the history OF this re.
public from the labors aud the name of
Samue. J. Tildep."
II goes without saying that the Republic
can leaders will not attempt again 10 count
for their candidate the votes OF southern
States that have been actually cast at the
ballot-box for the Democratic candidate.
In word, they will attempt to control the
popular elections. II not troops, at least
Federal spies aud informers, special deputy
marshals, supervisors OF elections, and all
other kinds OF Republican officials, whose
bread aid butter depend, so they
suppose, upon the election OF BLAINE.
will be employed by WILLIAM L.
CHANDLER and his INSCRIPTIONS asso-
eistes In the effort TO capture some OF
the southern States. We always give the
Philadelphia Telegraph the credit OF being
. fair paper. II is for BLAINE, but 1t has
no secrets TO keep In his interest, nor in
the interest Of anybody who would treat |
with contempt the verdict Of the people as
given at the ballot-box. The Telegraph
talks out IN meeting as follows:
"Tbere Is some talk about the Republl. |
can managers making very serious efforts
TO capture certain u the southern States,
which have oil along been credited TO the |
Democrats. Virginia, West Virginia,
North Carolina, and Florida, have oil been
spoken Of % possibly profitable ground for
missionariesto labor upon but
L dbes not seem TO have occurred 20
anybody that, II the right kind of efforts
ire made, there IL possibility that Lou
sians may be captured from the Democrats,
" thai, even II II Is not revolutionlxed at
BIS election, work can be done there
which will yield important results 10 the
lear future. Indeed, Louisiana Is for many
essons more promising field for Republic
90 laborers Of the right sort than any
Their Of the southern States named, except
erhaps Florida. OF the two, Louisiana Is
A. a -. - 1