Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-20
Mr. Blnine,s Letter-Aeain.

HOWELL CoBB, one OF the frat Speakers
the House Of Representatives ever hsd,
was jocularly charged by JOHN C. RTvss
with preserving bis reputation 90 an able
parlIamentarian by resorting upon occasion
TO little trick. That IA 10 say, whenever
any member appealed from q decision OF
his, he ordered the clerk 10 read ~ iusti-
fication Of bic ruling one or more Of the
longest rules IN the House handbook. The
members, said Mr. RrvEs, "never know
what 1t was oil about" but they neverths
less voted with great unanimisy that CosB
had decided Alright.
Mr.. BLAINE, In writing his letter Of SC
ceptance, acted upon HOWELL CONS plan.
He wrote letter so long that the average
voter will neither read It nor even listen to
Its reading. He IL expected, however, to
take the unknown for the magnificent, and
TO vote accordingly. But win be do ~
VIII he not rather vote for CLEVELAND
We alluded yesterday TO the fact that Mr..
BLAISE's big figures bad been given to the
public long ago by New Yorker. We
could quote q good many now from the
same New Yorker on the same subject. He
touches a number Of points overlooked by
Mr.. BLAINE.
Has the reader noticed remarkable omls-
sion In Mr.. BLANR's letter. What has be
to say on the subject Of the internal taxes.
What proposition does he advance for the
relief OF the burthened tobacco interests OF
Virginia and other States? What does he
say he VIII do with the internal-revenue
spies, informers. and electioueerers The
letter Is immensely long, but we have not
been able TO find In Its "linked sweet
ness long drawn out" q single word
intended for the encouragement of
Virginia planters or manufacturers. Per-
haps be was afraid TO recall public at
tention TO his little sehome Of las, summer
for distributing amongst the States all the
proceeds OF the internal taxes. Certainly
heis not proud Of that scheme. but ashamed
OF 1t, or be would have made some sign
concerning Il. He had the best OF oppor-
tunities to allude to 1t. and the best OF rea.
sons for so doing. The Democratic plat
form denounces 1t In the following terms:
ave are opposed to all propositions
which upon any pretext would convert the |
General Government into o machine for |
collecting taxes to DO distributed among
the States or citizens thereof"
Now, II Is certainly worthy Of notice that
though Mr.. BLAINE delayed the publication
Of his letter OF acceptance for SIX weeks
and more In order that be might learn be-
fore launching ii what the Democratic plat
form had to say on the various subjects |
which he expected It TO touch, and although |
he had read the resolution above quoted |
before writing his letter, yet he says
never word in regard TO IL. Significant |
silence. There IL more Of this internal
revenue collected in Virginia than in all
the New England States together. Why |
should Mr.. BLAINE trouble himself with
reference 10 such taxi The consumers
among his people pay their share OF 1t, but
hey have no trouble with the spies and
nformers who collect the tax. 1t Is in the
south that the poor moonshiners live. II
Is here that the crack Of the Government
rife Is heard in every neIghborhcod where
there is little apple-brandy made.
Mr. BLAINE says:
"Apy effort to unite the southern States
upon issues that grow out OF the memories
OF the war viii summon the northern
States TO combine in the assertion of that
which was their inspiration in
the civil struggle. And thus great eper.
giles which should be united In common
industrial development Will be wasted IN
huriful strife. The Democratic party shows
Itself a foe 10 southern prosperity by
always invoking and urging southern po-
litical consolidation"
Mr.. BLAINE he's been charged with false.
hood. Certainly he is guilty OF suggesting
a falsehcod in the aboye-quoted paragraph.
The effort is always made by his party TO
unite the northern States upon issues that
grow out o! the memories OF the war, aud
thus inviting the northern States to unite
the southern on the other side. The sin is
the sin OF Mr.. BLAiSE's own party. IL Is
the fault OF the Republicans that the South
is solid. They compel such state o!
things by their injustice, cruel misrepre.
sensations. officious deputy marshals and
supervisors, and however else they eau. I
Shame upon Mr.. BLAIsS for thus wronglng
people who long to be at peace with
everybody.