Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-03
Tho Fourth D,str,ct.

Inv II Jul VA OlSNiASSs
The Norfolk Ledger says tina, In iis opin-
ion the Dispatch Ia right when it claims for
the Democratic State Executive Committee
the Fight 10 recommend the nomination OF
candidate for Congress IN the Fourth or
any other congressional district. But the
Ledger would qualify its statement as fol-
lows:
THE State Executive Committee Is sp-
pointed TO look after the interests OF The
party throughout the Commonwealth. IL
is reasonable 10 suppose that Us members
are fully posted as 70 the wants and wishes
Of the people In every locality, and when
questions arise that may affect the party in-
tCrests, % Is but natural that the members
q that body VIII advise, from Their central
pcSition. what line OF action is best 10 De
pursued.
..In ssying this much in defence Of the
recent advice given ny the Committee 10
the Fourth district voters we do not say
that any one has the right 10 dictate 10 the
people. But there is no dietau0n in the
present case. The delegates OF the Fourth
district will Teassemble in convention in
Petersburg next Monday. and they will
decide what is best for their own cons itt-
cnis. irrespective OF what outsiders may
say or do.
"Our own opinion is. that every district
should have a Democratic candidate. II
the Fourth.diS,rict people think they can
keep up their organization, bring out the
voters for President In November without
a candidate. we have no objection; but
such action is not according TO our notion
Of what Democracy means and what IL de-
mandS."
The Alexandra Gazette refers to the
same district as follows:
"The Democrat, Of the Fourth congress
sional district in this State ought 70 know
what is best for them better than anybody
else. But il NAV be In their case, rs in
some others. that those less directly inter.
csfed are better able TO determine what is
best for them than they are themselves. II
so, Il Is hoped that the Congressional Con.
yeDtion they will soon hold will make no
nomination. Let MahOne's white cand-
date. Brady. and Cameron'S negro candi.
date, Evans, have the contest to them
selves. That fight will do the Dem
OcT,lts more good than even the election OF
a Democrat. il such m impossible thing
were possible. That fight will keep
every NEGRO in the district there on
sleciIon-day. and the election OF the negro
would be a bitterer pill TO Malone than the
success of a Democrat. Then, too. the
great object Of the Virginia Democrats ist)
bury Malone under such a mai orlty that
even bis toe.nails-nOt so precious now 70
Governor Cameron rs they once were
won't stick up; and the possibilities incl
dent TO an active and embittered contest
between two Republican candidates i'm the
Petersburg district will De vastly conducive
to consummation so deyoutly desired"
Now, we do not believe In the policy OF
nominating candidates Just for the sake OF
nominating them. There ought to be
good and sufficient reasons thereto impel-
ling the District Convention. If BLAINE's
majority In the district is to be increased
by the nomination Of a Democratic candi.
date. none should be nominated. 1t
would be ineXcuSable to run a Democratic
candidate with the full knowledge that,
first, be would be defeated and, secondly,
his candidacy would add five thousand 10
the BLAINE vote to be overcome by the
Democrats in the Democratic districts.
This shows that it is q matter which con-
Germs all the Democrats in Virginia and in
the United States. We are [pace Proutl
not in the least alarmed rs to CLEvELASD's
prospects in this State, but we would pre-
fer to give him twenty thousand majority
rather than ten thousand.
The nomination OF a Democratic candi-
date might cause BRADY or EVANS to de-
cline TO run the race through. Is this
probabley No. it is the most improbable
Of improbable things. II It were known
that such would be the consequence OF
a Democratic candidate, then
one ought to be nominated. BIT in the
absence Of knowledge on the subject, it
were a perilOus venture. II would call out
for BLAINE every Republican vote IN the
district, and do nobody else under the sun
any good. That is a convincing argument
against the policy OF nomination.