The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-04
War Declared.


The Washington Post OF yesterday has
undertaken the task Of reading out OF the
Democratic party Mr.. RANDALL and all the
other Democrats in Congress who have
dared or shall dare TO vote against the Nor
gIsoN tarl6 bill. Nay. worse than that: IL
launches its thunderbolis al every Demo-
Graf IN Congress who shall dare 10 vote
against any tariff bill that Democratic
caucus may endorse. We are not mis-
representing the Post, as perusal OF Its
own columns VIII show. IL says:
.. The Democratic Representatives who
elocted Mr.. Carlisle TO the speakershlp con-
ytitute q three-fourths majority OF their
party in the House and should absolutely
control its policy. In giving practical en-
dorScment 10 the Morrison tariff bill they
will proclaim as traitors all Democrats VINO
JON the Republicans in voting against H.
when 1t is recollected that Mr.. RANDALL
and many other Democrats. including
Hon. GEORGE ID. WISE, were elected as
proseciionists, and are under the solemn
obligation OF pledge tothcir constituents
to vote IN Congress so as TO protect AmerI-
can interests snd American laborers, the
follv OF the Post in making any tariff bill
4 test Of the standing Of any Democrat IN
his party is at once shown. Can an honor
able man declare himself specifically to his
constituents 10 be in favor OF "a tariff SO
aijnsied in its application as to sen
courage productive industries at home, "
and then 20 10 Washington and allow n
caucus 10 tie his hands and shut his mouth
when "prOductive industries ot h0ne .
are in dangcry
We foresaw months ago that just such q
spill. in the Democratic party as the P0@
demands was threatening the success OF
that party in the presidential election OF
this year, and we at once set about TO do
all that VIC could to avert the danger. The
declarations OF the Democrats in the Nir-
ginia Legislature on the subject Of a tariff.
as these declarations appear in another
column Of this days Dispatch. prove con-
clusively that the Democrats OF this State
are opposed to adopting new Shibboleth
for their party. They do not wish other
issues than those upon which they gained
the grand Democratic victories OF 1852,
when the voice of the people turned
out a Republican House of Represents
tives and put into IFS place House
Democratic by more than seventy ma
jority. Why arc not the issues OF
that wear as good now as they were
theny Where we're the Posts thundeTs
when GEORGE WISE, CONVERSE, RANDALL,
V0aRHEEs, PAYNE, and numbers OF others
OF the best Democrats in the United States,
were during the campaign OF that year
pledging themselves to the doctrines wmch
that journal now wishes them TO renounce
In 1882, as the New York World well
says, the vote all over the Union showed a
general desire 10 drive corrupt men from
power, TO restore the Government to Its
former simplicity. honesty, and constitu-
tional landmarks, and to vindicate the right
and the power OF the people to elect their
own public officers.
Is the spsils system to be overlooked
Is official dishonesty to go mnoticeds Arc
the wrongs and outrages perpetrated upor
the South by the Republican party to e
unrebukedi Is free trade more important
than the right to seli-government! Are
southern men to prefer the reduction by Q
few cents of the tariff OIL iron or any otheI
article to the repeal Of the internal taxes
But we need not argue such question
here IN Virginia.
Does the reader wish TO know how the
Post speaks OF the man to whom the south
ern States owe the deepest debt OF graft
tude that it has ever incurred: Gead:
1--WE are given II understand that Mr.
Samuel j. Randall, OF Pennsylvania. ha'
formed an alliance, offensive and defen
siye, with the Republican minority in thu
House. with the object Of striking out The
enacting clause in the Morrison tariff bill
as soon as IL is reported from the Commit
tee OF WAYS and Means, and thus in ont
motion not only killing the bill as whole
but sitting all debate upon it. He ha'
contracted to lead the Republican onposl
ton TO the bill and to deliver in the Re
publican camp some fifty Democratic vote'
against H."
That is a libel upon Mr.. RANDALL. III
has formed no alliance with the Republic
cans. lie has simply declared it TO be hi
purpose to vote as he has always voted
as h,s constituents expect him TO vote; ant
rs The Post last fall said he would vot
when it opposed his election to the speak
ership. OF course such charges will o
treated with contempt by MIR. RANDALL
and all the other Democrats In Congress
whether fifty or more, or fewer. The
win account to their constituents for thei
votes.
We await further developments befor
going at length into the discussion OF thl
important question. The truculent do'
trnaires may think better OF II.