Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-02
Not the Policy but the Possibility.

Not the Policy but the Possibility.
The question Is not as 10 the policy but
rs 10 The possibility Of eGecting change OF
rulers. said one Of the speakers at the great
German meeting in New York on Monday
night. The desirableness Of making such
change being conceded, the problem still
remains unsolyed. You make up your
minds that You will have a Democratic
President Of the United States but the
Republicans resolve that they will not sur
render the control OF the Government.
"wlat are YOU going 10 do about itf"
This was WILLIAM NJ. TwEED's question.
II Is the question Of ELKINs. JONES q Co.
We pointed out yesterday several in
stances in which tie Republican party had
IN one way and another defeated the people
in their effort TO "get u look at the books"
The same methods will problbly charac-
tcrize the conduct Of the Republican party
this year. II has grown old in sin. II has
become truculent because il has so fire.
Quently succeeded in setting OF naught the
expressed will OF the people. Is it any
wonder that a minority party which has
ruled the country for twenty.four years
should refuse TO surrender the offices Of
Government TO a majority party!
HAS the Republican party ever been for
four years other than a minority partyy II
hiss most remarkable record bearing upon
this interrogatory-a record well worthy
OF the serious attention Of the people of the
whole country. We do not write for Sec
ton in this matter, but for the Union in
its entirety.
In December. 1865, the war had ended.
Virginia. for example. had elected gentle
men 10 represent her in Congress, and had
sent them TO Washington. They were as
clearly entitled TO their seats as any other
members upon the theory upon which the
war had been fought-namely, that Nir-
ginia bad never for a moment been out
Of the Union, her pretended ordinance
Of secession being absolutely null and void.
But the case was still stronger for Virginia.
FRANCIS II. PEIRPOINT, who had been all
along recognized by Mr.. LINCOLN as Gov
ernor OF Virginia, was here in Richmond,
occupying the Executive mansion, and
governing the State without one man to
question his authority. Was Virginia al
lowed TO be represented in the House Of
Representatives No, indeed. The Re-
publican leaders saw that TO admit
members from all the southern States
would be to show them up as mi
nority party. They, therefore, deter
mined TO allow the southern States
no voice in making the laws which
were to govern them. These Republican
managers conferred with one another in the
hope OF deyising some method OF making
the southern States vote the Republican
ticket and elect Republican congressman
before their "admission to representation
in Congress" as old THAD. STEVENS phrased
II. The fourteenth amendment was the
first measure tried. The fifteenth. making
1t il worthy OF remark that even now the
Republicans claim all the negro voters as
Republicans, and will not for moment
admit that in any State the negro voters are
Democrats. Thus the people were thwarted
in their endeayor TO have a restored Union
az soon as possible after the war had ended.
But let us refer TO the actual figures which |
point the moral we ale attempting 10 en-
force.
In 1860. both BRECKENRIDGE and D0UG- |
LAS were bitterly opposed TO the Republic
can party. DorGLAs bad had q long and |
bitter contest with LINCOLN in Illinois, and |
was Democratic candidate for President,
a. was also BREcKINRIDGE. BELL was the |
old Wing candidate. What was the popu-
lar voter LINCOLN, 1,sG8,3j2. The other !
candidates. 2,s10,50l. or, stating the fact
differently, LINCOLN was a minority Presl- !
dent by 9i4, 149 votes. In other words, the |
majority Of his three opponents was nearly
one million.
In 1894, LINCOLN had 2,el6, 067 votes, and |
!, sos, 72j. Eleven States did
not vote. Had these voted MCCLELLAN
would have had a majority Of the popular
vote.
In 1865, GRANT had 3,0l5,07l and SEY-
NoUR :, 109,6l3, with three States not allow
ed to vote namely, Virginia, Texas, and
In 1872, GRANT had majority OF the pop.
ular vote, his opponent being HORACE
also Republican.
To 1876. TLpgS received 4,2S4, 1885 votes,
and HAYES i,033,9j0. In other words,
TIpEN's popular majority was 250,035.
TILDEN also had majority Of the electors,
but was nevertheless "counted out" OF the
office Of President.
In 1850 GAHFIELD's popular vote was
only T,01s more than HANcocK's. II was
sl3, 664 less than the combined votes OF all
The other candidates.
Now, isn't that a minority party? And
hasn't II ruled the country in defiance OF
the will Of the majority. that will being
sometimes expressed and sometimes sup
pressed!
Let the people reflect upon these facts,
and resolve to give this year such ma
jority for CLEVELAND as the Republican
will not dare TO treat with con-
tempt.
Ohio.
We would moi hy any means nislead onr