Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-03-07
THE COMING VIRGINIA DEMO
CRATIC CONTENTION.


if reform issue, unexpectedly coopered
up for thu American Democracy at the
beginning of Congress this winter by
Morrison, Carlisle, Tucker aud others,
has been gradually leaking out through
the hoops since public attention was called
ic theorists, the movement" If it de-
serves to be called that, still has life
enough to make possible Democratic
defeat-which its success would have made
certain 1t therefore behooves those who
have hope for National Democratic vic
tory next fall to look we'll the coming
State conventions of their party. Hon.
W. r. Morri son of Illinois. who is by all
odds the ablest and most practical of the
distinguished Democrats who Inaugural
ted what at first was known as the Car
Isle movement, is an aspirant for the Pres
dental nomination, and has occupied
that position for some four years past
He is able and honest, and but one ohjec-
ton can be raised against his nomina-
tion, and that Is that with his present po-
litical creed, his nomination would mean
the overwhelming defeat of the party that
nominated him. He is by no means a
is an organizer. The following extract of
letter written by him in Washington,
May 2Sth, 1880, when he thought there
was prospect of his nomination as the
candidate for that year. shows it. In con-
Guiding sketch of the prospects of other
prominent members of the party. be says:
In short. the State may do something with me. not
with either of the other gentlemen Besides, now
that the thing has been so much talked up, want
the of the State delegation, and think, under
the circumstances, as a Democrat of the olden
time. ought 10 have it. If you think it is the
proper thing to do. want your assistance and CO.
operation in securing it, Please do MOI fail to give
the matter such attention as you conveniently may
have written several of our old Democratic friends
as write YOU and expect their help in the matter
Respectfully yours. WN. R. MORRISON.
To Gen L. B. PARSONS, Flora, Ill
We presume that there is little doubt
that his name will be again prominent this
spring, or thai an effort will be made to
make it so by bis friends; notably those
friends who were with him in the Speak
ership election IN December If not his
name, then some other representing the
same views. This calls ON Virginia Dem
ocrats for serious rel -ction in advance of
the selection of delegates to the State
convention which is to elect delegates to
Chicago. 1t is a fact that the people have
:, 30 ,,o I,
selection of delegates to represent them
but as our coming State convention is one
that will affect to a certain degree the ma.
terlal interest of all the people rather than
the sentimental, we hope for more Wise care
in their selection this spring. From The
earliest inception of the Carlisle move.
rnant this journal has been insisting that
it was in direct opposition to the platform
of the Virginia Democracy; that its sue
cess in the national convention would
mean the defeat of its nominee and that
! It should be discussed noao. in order that
the people might he informed as to its
| origin, its objects and its managers
| We were met at the threshold by the a.
sertion of its friends that it was not in
! opposition to the Virginia platform and
! that it could be carried out ard the Inter
| nal Revenue tax abolished at the same
time. That delusion has now vanished
1t is clear to all now that the Demo
cratic Congressman who support the
| Morrison bill do not intend to do away
with the revenue tax; they are with the
| Republican Congressman to that extent.
| Having abandoned their first position they
| now tell US that the ''hush policy" is the
| best for the party, and that we must not
| let the Republican party force the issue Of
protection on the Democracy. Let Us cry
| hush policy is for the Democratic party
| in Virginia, and how much there is il
| the idiotic idea that any party that has to
appeal to the people can avoid an issue
affecting the interests of the people.
| Months ago we warned the Virginia
| Democracy that one result of the Car
| lisle-Tucker- Morrison mistake would be &
| Republican assault On Virginia OF
gained upo n higher plane. with more
! digni6ed methods and led by commanders
| hitherto strangers to our soil. The open
ing was SO plain and so wide that th'
! blindest party managers could hardly
have failed to see it. There could he but
one leader of poll tical organization who
| could not have foreseen such campaign
in this State by the Republican party. and
that would be a Free Trade Ostrich
| with his head in the sand. We see that
| the New York Herald" one of the
papers which our Carlisle friends were SO
delighted with the utterances of, when
| they first attempted to take control of the
[ National Democratic policy, now advises
the Republican party IN the coming Vir.
ginia canvass to send their leading men
here. and Hon. John s. Wise writes let
ter to the same paper urging the sending
of such men as Blaine, Kelley of Penn
| sylvania, Kasson of Iowa. and others, to
stump Virginia this year for the Republi-
can ticket. Now the people of Virginia
must be prepared in advance for this
| sort of assault. Simply saying protection
| ''shall not be forced on US as an issue''
j if these men come is infantile folly. Shall
not be forced ? Why it is an issue mow.
| 1t became an issue the moment Virginia
! began to develop her mineral wealth, or
( rather when it began to be developed for
her. The people are not SO ignorant as
many politicians give them credit for. Does
any politician think that the land owner
of Augusta, with minerals of some sort
under every foot of his property, knows