The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-25
The Virginia Idea.

The Virginia Idea.
Our good friend Of the Charleston Ne'osl
and Courier cannot find any comfort for
his Revenue. Rcformers IN the resolution
adopsed last Thursday by the State Central
Committee Of the Democratic party OF Vir-
GINA. He says:
"The state Democratic Committee OF
Virginia Is highly respectable body, but
n h not a safe counsellor or guide on the
tariff question. In the '0ld Dominion
there Is a strong desire for the removal OF
the internaLrevenue tax on tobacco, not
for the benefit OF the consumer, but to
swell the profits OF the growers and manu-
facturers. For this reason the virginia
leaders advise that the tariff be let severely
alone.
"The Democracy of Virginia will find.
we fear, that there Is little political profit
In adopting the tactics and opinions OF
their opponents. They cannot go as far
on the protective line as the Republicans
win, and they lose the opportunity OF
strengthening themselves with the people
rs the champions OF low taxation OF sue
necessaries Of life. Virginia will be safe IN
November, we presume, In any event; but
IN other States Il will be exceedingly diff
cult 10 elect the Democratic ticket for Presi-
dent on that one great issue Of the re-
form Of the Government"
There is strong desire in Virginia to
get rid OF the internal tax on tobacco; not
simply, however. to swell the profits OF the
growers and manufacturers, but n mea-
sure calculated to contribute largely to the
success Of the national Democratic party
In the presidential election OF this year.
II is hardly too much to say that the Re-
publican party owes its success in the last
two presidential elections to the hordes OF
internal-revenue officials that were crowd
ed into the public service in 1876 and
1880 10 substitute the voice OF Gov
eminent tools for the voice OF the
people. These officials have again and
again cheated the Democratic party
out Of the control OF the Government and
kept the South in constant state OF APP
prehension. Not merely to benefit their
own pockets, therefore, do the planters
and manufacturers OF Virginia demand the
repeal OF the interDal-revenue system, but
TO put an end to bureau which is ntir"
sery Of spies and informers, menace TO
the freedom of elections, an intolerable
burthen on taxpayers everywhere,
source Of the greatest corruption, and in
its practical operation special burden on
Virginia and her interests.
"yirginia will be safe in November, we
presume, in any event." says our contem-
porary. We are of the same opinion. The
Democrats in this State who favor so adj
justing the tariffin its details as to 20 encour-
age productive industries at home" have
never threatened to bolt in case the Lynch
burg platform is not endorsed by the DEM
ocratic National Convention, nor demanded
OF their acknowledgements that they shall
all declare themselves in favor OF "encour-
aging productive industries at home"
The Democratic party of Virginia is
made up in about equal parts OF former
Wings and former Democrats and the de-
scendants OF Wings and Democrats. These
two elements combined in this State to
form an anti-Republican party whose par
ticular mission had no reference either to
free trade or protection. They united to
protect themselves against common
danger. All the Democratic congressman
they sent to the lower house during three
congresses voted gladly and gratefully for
MIR. RANDALL for Speaker Of the House OF
Representatives.
1t may be and as things now stand, it
must be-exceedingly difficult to elect a
Democratic President Of the United States |
this year on any issue that can be raised,
let Virginia stand as firmly as she may.
But we are confident that but for the I'M
wise attempt 10 make the fight on the tariff
question, the Democrats would have gone
into power "with a rush." AS General
GRANT truly says, their prospects were so
bright up to the time of the meeting OF
Congress in December last that almost
everybody conceded that they would have
a walk.over." Our Charleston contcm-
porary is partly responsible for the gloom
and uncertainty which now hang like a
pail over the Democrats.
The State Central Committee OF the
Democratic party Of Virginia indicated by
the resolution our Charleston contempora-
ry refers to that inasmuch as they know
that in this State at least the Democrats
have up TO this time elected no man to
Congress either as protectionist or as q
free-trader, therefore no caucus in Wash
ington has the right to make the questions
at issue between protectionists and free
traders test OF standing In the Democratic
party.
BY the way, 1t is fact worthy OF men,
ton that however 1t may be in New York
and Louisville and Charleston, no Demo-
crat in Virginia likes to be called free
trader. Nor does any Democrat in Vir-
GINA like to be called protectionist.
What better proof is needed that the State
Central Committee spoke last week for all
classes OF Virginia Democrats?
Tonight the caucus meets in Washing
ton. II 1t heeds the voice OF Virginia,
there will be peace in all the land. II not,
we fear that trouble will result. No eau
Gus Is called upon to make party tests on
such questions. MORRISON and WATER
SON have lust as much right to require
every Democrat In Congress TO support the
MORRISON whiskey-bill as the MORRISON
tariff-bill.
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There Is nothing quite so imperative nj