The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-15
The rndependcnt Movement.


Each days exchanges and Geographic
news bring us additional evidence OF the
formidable character Of Republican and
Independent opposition 10 the Chicago
ticket. Despite the efforts OF the orr
sinal BLAINE and the crow-eatlng organs
70 proye the contrary, II must be Ell
den, to every man who reads at all
that disaffection is on the increase.
Were this state OF things simply the
ouigrowth OF personal feeling towards
Mr.. BLAINE, who, like all men Of posi-
tive character and aggressive disro-
sition must engender strong personal
autagonism, we would not be disposed to
attach any great importance TO IT. But II Is
patent that such Is not the case. Sufficient
time has elapsed since the nomination to
demonstrate that the cause OF the revolt Is
more decp-seatcd than even we had reason
at first 10 suppose. The first flush OF dis
appointment being over, the anti-BLAlNE
Republican and the Independent papers
are looking the situation calmly in
the face. while they have not ceased
their attacks upon BLAINE's record,
they are discussing the issue at
stake from the standpoint of principle.
What they said in passion Immediately
after the Convention they now reiterate
coolly and deliberately. The sum OF these
utterances is that the whole outcome at
Chicago was betrayal OF the confidence
81 oil ~
party, and that the success OF the ticket
must endanger the best interests OF the
country. The logic OF their position is
that after the demagogy developed at Chi
cago il would be suicidal for the business
men of the country TO trust the BLAINE
division Of the party.
And in this the anti-BLAINE masses are
keeping abreast Of the press. In fact, it
may be said that in some aspects OF the
situation the dlsanected people are a step
in advance Of the papers. In Massachu-
sets the opposition has taken organized
shape, and there is every reason TO
believe that there will be similar
movements in various other sections
OF the country. 1t is true that the
Independent movement NAV result in the
formation OF a new party rather than an
auxiliary OF the Democratic party, bat 1t Is
equally true that in any event the Demo-
Gratis have all to gain and nothing to lose
equally true that the breach between the
BLAINE element and the antl-BLAINE
and independent elements OF the Re-
publican party is Treconcilable. The
philadelphia PreSS'S "few disappOint-
ed voters" are developing into thou
sands, whose motto is no compromise
with fraud, corruption, and demagogy.
The New York 1ri6une'S little "band Of
kickers" prove TO be members OF an ag-
gressiye army. In support OF this it may be
stated that in addition to the names men,
toned yesterday in our press dispatch
from Boston the Boston papers OF the day
before published a list Of signers nearly
six columns long OF " Republican and In
dependent voters OF Massachusetts, who
think "the nominations just made at Chi
cago ought not to be supported in any con-
tingency likely to arise"
As we suggest above, and as the last re-
solution Of the Boston meeting indicates.
it is question whether the independents
will support the Democratic ticket or NOM
mate a ticket Of their own. Yet at pres
ent there is no good reason why they
should not pursue the former course. II
they are sincere in declaring for reform,
they are already aligned with the Demo-
crazy, and nothing but criminal blunder
at Chicago in July could justify them in
not voting with the Democrats. That such
blundeT win not be made we are certain.