Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-28
TUESDAY. OCTOBER %, 1894.
election by Bayonet-Again.

Election by Bayonet-Again.
II GROVER CLEVELAND shall fail TO be
elected President OF the United States
next Tuesday, II win not be because ma
iority Of the voters do not now desire his
election aud intend TO vote for him, but
because the unisithful servants whom the
people have kept In office for so many years
have determined TO revolutionize the Gov.
eminent and prolong Indefinitely their
own rule.
Now or never. This year or no year.
The voters are challenged by the Republic
can Office. holders to make good their claim
to rule this country. The gage OF battle
was thrown down two weeks ago to-day in
Cincinnati. The question is 10 be decided
next Tuesday. We have not neglected
since early 10 the year TO warn our readers
that the question OF questions was to be
submitted TO the people for a final deci-
sion this year; that the wrong OF 1876 was
TO be rigbted. or else our free government
was TO perish aud IN its place was to be
substituted o government by ofice-hold-
ers. or, what Is the same thing, govern
ment by bsyonet.
The great Iron Wheel OF Federal power
is now employed in moving and controll-
ing the election machinery. II Is already
turning upon It's axis. Federal deputy mar
shals showed themselves at the places OF
registration in Richmond last Satur-
day, and will be out In full force
on election-dsy. Their presence at the
polls foreshadows the approach OF des-
polio rule. One more opportunity Is to be
afforded TO the people to signify their dis
approval of these proceedings. II they
make no sign this year, they may
rs well bid farewell to free elections; for
there Is no limit whatever TO the number OF
msrsbas that can be appointed to over.
awe the voters. Nobody knows but that
next Tuesday there may be twenty thou
sand stationed at the ballot.box in New
York. For what purposef To secure a
free ballot and a fair counts No, thou
sand times no. The real object is to carry
the elections by force. II the former
were the object, there would be
rs many Democrats appointed as Republic
cans. Nay, more. II the object were to
secure fair elections. the number OF Demo-
cratic deputy marshas in New York city
ought to exceed largely the number of
Republican deputy marshals, seeing that
there are fifty thousand more Democratic
voters In that city than Republican.
But again: II the object were to secure
fair elections. the remedy is Infinitely worse
than the disease. So long as each State Is
free and independent, and by its own
election officers aud under its own laws
conducts its OWE elections 10 its own way,
a law OF compensation operates. The mis-
takes, or blunders, or even unfair cleo
tons, in q Republican State are scan
celled," to speak in arithmetical phrase, by
the mistakes, or blunders, or unfair cleo.
lions, in Republican State. The wrongs
OF the one party in Maine are neutral.
lied by the wrongs Of the other party in
Maryland. But when the mailed hand
OF the Federal Government clasps all the
Of the country from Canada to
the Gulf Of Mexico and from Virginia to
California, IL brushes them in Its grip, and
leaves nothing but wrecks. II will be an
chain Of outrages on the elective
franchise, and all committed by one party
aud In the interest Of one party. The Fed
era, Administration will control the elec-
tions Of President, Vice-President, and
congressman, and eventually, OF course, of
all State officers.
And yet We are told that there Is apathy
in Virginia. Well, perhaps there Is but
we venture TO say that election day will
show, wbatveer the northern States may
do or fail TO do, that as in 1865 the Old Do
minion stemmed the torrent OF Know
Nothingism because her people recognized
il as an attack upon religious liberty, and
therefore an attack upon the fundamental
principles Of free government, so now in
1884 the same people regard the present as
another crisis II the life Of our country,
snd recognize elections by bayonet rs a
forerunner Of the destruction OF the founda-
tions upon which our free institutions
were erected.
But We do not mean TO encourage you in
your lukewarmness nor in your laziness.
You cannot without culpable neglect OF
your duty TO your country longer fail to 60
TO work TO aid In swelling CLEvELAYD's
majority in this State. Don't, we pray
you, don't rely upon MIR. BARBOUR nor the
State Committee. They are only the in
struments through which you, the people,
are to be reached. You are the men that
Mr.. BARBOUR and his committee are look
ing to to do the work Of the campaign.
1t Is to you that they allude when
they say that the people are st
work and will give good account Of them
selves on the 4th OF November. 1t is your
money, We rich mon, Of which the working
bees In the Democratic hive now stand so
much In need.
Yes, 1t IL yonr zeal. your iabors. your en-
thus,asm. your goodwill. your iuviucibili-
~. that will carry Virginia for CLEVELAND
and HESDRIcKs II for them Virginia shall
De carried at all.
eye knew your duty aud We did II not"